How to Use Wood Turning Tools & Their Purposes
Woodworkers use wood turning tools in combination with a lathe. The lathe spins the material at speed, enabling you to use the wood turning tools to shape wood, acrylic, bone, horn or imitation ivory. The finished project is usually round, but you also can use wood turning tools to create elliptical or eccentric shapes.
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Tool Alloys
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Wood turning tools are available in a variety of alloys but the two main types are M2 high speed steel (HSS) and ASP 2030 and 2060 series, which are sometimes referred to as powder metal technology steel. M2 high speed steel is the more economical choice. Both of theses alloys provide extended edge life when compared to traditional high carbon steel. M2 high speed steel edges last five to six times longer than traditional high carbon steel tool edges and ASP steel edges hold their edge up to four and a half times longer than M2 high speed steel. Both offer an excellent value but if you're turning abrasive timbers, or you prefer a longer edge life on your tools, ASP tools are worth the slightly higher initial investment.
Sizes and Profiles
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Spindle gouges are available in 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch shaft diameter sizes with straight or fingernail tip profiles. Bowl gouges are available in numerous flute width sizes with straight or fingernail tip flute profiles. Scrapers are thick and wide wood turning tools that are available in a variety of sizes and numerous shapes including straight across, full round end (bull nose) left and right skewed, spear point, half round, diamond side and various profiled scraper shapes. Skews are available in numerous widths and types including regular square cross-section, round, oval and round edge variations. Roughing gouges are available in several sizes including 3/4-inch, 1 inch and 1.25 inch and are usually ground in square across or fingernail (rounded) end configurations. Parting tools are available in two main styles, standard diamond or super thin kerf style and a wide variety of sizes.
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Primary Uses
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A spindle gouge's primary purpose is detailed spindle work, including coves, beads, concave and convex curves. Gouging out the center area of a bowl is a bowl gouge's primary purpose. A 1/2-inch deep fluted bowl gouge makes rough center cut work and bulk wood removal a breeze. A 3/8-inch bowl gouge performs fine cuts within the center of a bowl and delicate center work. Shear scrapers create smooth flowing curves on the inside of bowls. Skews produce clean, smooth cuts on end grain and side grain surfaces. Woodworkers use roughing gouges for converting square spindle blanks into round cylinders. They use parting tools for parting a spindle in half.
Secondary Uses
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Spindle gouges carve detail work on the outside of bowls, shaped legs, goblets, egg cups, vases and variety of other turning projects. Bowl gouges perform many spindle-turning tasks. Scrapers make center cuts on small boxes, scoops and small goblets. Skews produce straight and taper cuts on spindles. Woodworkers use roughing gouges for bulk wood removal and intermediate shaping on spindles. Parting tools cut square grooves into a spindle surface and, depending on the specific parting tool style, turn beads.
Typical Bevel Angles
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A spindle gouge's bevel angle should start at 35 degrees for bowl turning. Use a 45 degree front bevel angle for hollowing small goblet or box projects. You can cut bowl gouges to a variety of bevel angles, depending on the size, shape and depth of the bowl you are turning. A optimum starting point for beginner bowl turners is a 40 degree front bevel angle or you may prefer to have numerous gouges available with a variety of bevels. Many scrapers are double beveled. They come in a wide range of bevels from 45 degrees to 75 degrees. Try sharpening a skew to a 25 to 30 degree bevel angle for softwoods or a 55 degree bevel angle for dense hardwoods. When using roughing gouges for turning soft woods, a 35 degree bevel angle is the optimum starting point but when working harder woods, adjust the angle closer to 45 degrees. A standard parting tool bevel angle is 45 degrees.
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References
- Photo Credit Woodman at work image by CJD from Fotolia.com
