I went to a local (70 miles away) AWW wood turning meeting last week for the first time. One tool that I was fascinated with but didn't ask about was the Ellsworth gouge. The Ellsworth gouge is like the fingernail gouge but the grind/shaped edge is slanted back far more.
So my question: Is the difference in the grind only? Can a fingernail/spindle gouge be shaped/sharpened into an Ellsworth gouge?
I took a softwood bowl blank that I was having trouble with, and the experienced turner picked up the "ellsworth" (he didn't call it that but rather "spindle" gouge) and proceeded to show me how to hold and turn, and where to let the wood cut from on the spindle/fingernail gouge. Scrapers cut rough when the bowl is on the end grain side and I was trying to figure out why. I asked about using a skew but he said use the spindle gouge.
By the way, what is the difference in a fingernail and spindle gouge? Are they the same?
I just purchased a 3 spindle gouge (Hurricane) from Amazon. They most certainly must be sharpened before using. But it is too cold out to give it a try this week.
So my question: Is the difference in the grind only? Can a fingernail/spindle gouge be shaped/sharpened into an Ellsworth gouge?
I took a softwood bowl blank that I was having trouble with, and the experienced turner picked up the "ellsworth" (he didn't call it that but rather "spindle" gouge) and proceeded to show me how to hold and turn, and where to let the wood cut from on the spindle/fingernail gouge. Scrapers cut rough when the bowl is on the end grain side and I was trying to figure out why. I asked about using a skew but he said use the spindle gouge.
By the way, what is the difference in a fingernail and spindle gouge? Are they the same?
I just purchased a 3 spindle gouge (Hurricane) from Amazon. They most certainly must be sharpened before using. But it is too cold out to give it a try this week.
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