One of my garage sale finds is a very small (one eight inch) Jet gouge. It is very difficult to use. I have been trying to turn very small stock with it and have had limited success. It digs in more than I'd like and I know it is me messing up

 

.ARE there some tips should anyone could share?

 

Some questions and observations

Does RPM make any diff?

It seems to do much better well above center line.

I keep my tool rest as close as I can. 

The slightest twist on the gouge can get me in trouble.

I must get close to see because of my vision, maybe a magnifying glass would help

 

I don't have any projects going, but could if I get better.

Could you post some more pix of the gouge tip. Side view and end. It looks to me that the grind might be causing you some of the problems

After looking at my picture, I realized that the tool rest is too far away from the piece. It is home made and round. I'm sure it would allow such a small tool to vibrate and thus produce many of the unwanted things I have been seeing.

After close up, I notice that the front cutting edge is a little flat.

That's sorta of what I thought, too. Maybe grinding a swept back wing on the gouge along with steepening the front angle may help. The picture shows what I think you have "vs." what you could do.

 

I made a temporary rest that went very close to my work. Made it worse.?? Now I am wondering if the guy who sharpened it has it at the wrong angle.

Here is a side view showing angle

That looks like it angles back too much. A steeper angle (closer to 90°- but NOT 90°) would make it easier to ride the bevel and reduce the likelihood of a catch.

Thanks, will give that a try. It will be a delicate grind with a magnifying glass

are you sure that is a turning gouge and not perhaps a carving gouge?

I was kind of thinking along the lines as John Hechel, but I was thinking even further along the lines that it may not be a turning tool at all. But a wood carving chisel that was sharpened to use as a turning chisel. Notice the bend in the chisel, it is bent in a way that would suggests that is was originally used as a carving chisel, with downward applied pressure as you would use while carving, the downward pressure would cause the bend you see. Just a thought.

Lew I followed your advise and resharpened to a steeper angle and it worked MUCH better. Then I slowed the speed down and then I was able to control it very well. It could be a carving tool, I don't know. After much practice I can now use it effectively. Being so small, It is much harder to see for me, I have had a lot of eye problems and do not see up close as good as I did. I may have to go with reading glasses if I get  serious about small turnings. There are few things that you can build out of tiny turned pieces, but I will be looking.

 

Thanks for all of your advise

Glad it helped, Ron.

I remember you posted about this tool some time back. When I first saw the tool, from that post, I thought it might be a carving tool but, it looked it looked like it was quite long. Most carving tools, that I have seen, are fairly short so I'm not totally convinced it was a carving tool. I remember researching some information on the size of the gouge and they definitely make a 1/8" gouge.

Anyway, a tiny tool like that will be great for making very small beads and coves.

 

Years ago, before I finally resigned my self to bi/tri focals, I got something like this

 

Like a dummy, I bought mine from the eye doctor- $60+. Here's a link for a more reasonable price-

http://www.staples.com/Clip-Flip-Magnifying-Glasses-2-25xmag/product_28147

I've had 3 detached retinas, 3 retinal tares, cataracts and eyelid surgery. I thank God I can still see good, however I see differently thru each eye. One sees closer than the other. My brain blends the two images for distance view, however close up requires different magnifications for each eye glass lens. I solved that at the dollar store. I found 2 identical reading glass frames and each pair of glasses had a different magnification, I combined them and that worked fine. I now have prescription glasses that do the same, however not as well when working with very small stuff. I will find those old dollar glasses or break down and spend 2 bucks again

Thanks for all the Good advise