Replies

1. 
   Napie | Nov 26, 2003 04:41pm | #1

   It has to be a spindle gouge that is VERY sharp, and it will be tough with very hard wood.  I do it all the time making boxes, remember, rub the bevel.

2. 
   DennisS | Nov 27, 2003 07:16am | #2

   Wood -

   If yours is the same video I have, I believe he's doing that technique with green wood. I manage to hog out a *huge* amount of meterial using it to rough out hollow work on small pieces but that, again, is with green wood. Once dry, it's more difficult.

   But like the other post mentioned, you have to use a tool that will allow rubbing the bevel in that position. Otherwise you're trying to scrape and this won't happen up there with no tool support!

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

3. 
   jako17 | Nov 27, 2003 03:00pm | #3

   Haven't seen the video But I use a 3/8 spindle gouge ,starting with tool point at centre height, gouge on its side ,flute towards you.push into the centre and open the centre up by moving the handle away from  you.Once you have started the bevel will have something to rub on.I hope you can make some sense of this.5 mins demo would solve it.Ijust hollowed some ebony end grain last week using this technique.My gouge is  razor sharp and ground with a " high society" long fingernail

1. 
   wundernaloud | Nov 28, 2003 10:17am | #5

   The video starts with point at center gouge on side but the flute is facing away from him and he pulls the handle towards him and tip goes away and towards 2 to3 o'clock. Aside from starting at center your approach is the opposite, flute toward you, pushing the handle away causing the point to come towards you with the work rotating over the top of the tool instead of rotating up and into the edge. If I have interpted your description right and it works I would be willing to try it. It seems that they way I read it its just the opposite of what I gathered from watching the video. What's a high soceity grind. I have used both a 3/8 finger nail bowl gouge and a 1/2 inch detail gouge. The detail gouge has a flater bevel but a shallower flute then the bowl gouge. I finally got enough of a hollow to begin using the scrapers, but getting the hollow was nerve racking. I am sure green is easier but this walnut got to be jaust about as hard as ebony.

1. 
   jako17 | Nov 28, 2003 04:00pm | #6

   Hi there Wt, First lets try to get your method sorted.If I am correct You have got the wood in a cylinder and the end squared off using a parting tool or preferably a skew.Then you present the spindle gouge as in your first description,Bingo it digs in cuts a spiral,kicks out and scares the crap out of you producing elegant firewood.All you are forgetting is that any gouge has to be supported in two places.1 the toolrest ,2 the bevel in order that the tip cuts with any control.There are two ways of addressing this, first take a parting tool and cut a groove in about a 1/16 deep.This gives you a shoulder to start the bevel rubbing and follow Ernie's video.The cutting is done just below the tip on the low side of the gouge. The second (which don't like) I seem to remember Cris Child likes is to drill the top of the tool rest ,back from the surface used to run the tool on and put a 11/2in fin nail to use as a back stop.With practice E C methods work but try the parting tool method first to build confidence. On my spindle gouges I grind the wings back giving a long pointed fingernail look.Check out a few turning books E.C turning for furniture has some info on sharpening.But don't get too obbsessed with sharpening systems. Read and burn up some cheap gouges learning to sharpen freehand.The best way to learn to turn well is to have someone show you live. It is a 3 dimensional movement of the tools that is hard to appreciate in 2 dimensions.Sorry about the verbose answer get back if you think I can help

   Producer of elegant firewood to the stars!

4. 
   ron61 | Nov 27, 2003 06:32pm | #4

   I am learning myself and started turning end grain with a 1/2 spindle gouge with not much luck .  Have you a bowl gouge? It help me - but not sure what you are doing?

   Ron

   Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins