I ordered a Robert Sorby 1/2” bowl gouge with the fingernail grind. The price was too good to pass up.

Wow I ordered it yesterday and got it this morning. I can wait to try it out. It is twice the size of the one I have been using.

Wow is all I can say. I don’t know how I got by all this time without it. My advice for any new turner who wants to make bowls is to buy one good 1/2” bowl gouge. It might save you money in the long run. I bought a set of cheap tools. I wasn’t very happy with them so I got some carbide tools. I like the carbide better. Now I finally bought a quality 1/2” bowl gouge and it is a game changer. I will still use the carbide for special situations buy I can see the new gouge being my main tool. So much easier to do the inside of the bowl and curved part of the outside. I can also roll it and do a pull cut with the wing and it makes a smoother cut than any other tool I have used. Ok rant over. I guess you all can tell I am happy.

Right tool for the job.  I have had many "ahaaaaa" moments with turning. 

It's amazing how big of a cut a sharp bowl gouge can take. I seldom use a spindle gouge, only when a bowl gouge just won't fit.

Steve I was getting a lot of vibration from the round carbide tool. This bowl gouge cuts so smooth. My small bowl gouge was 3/8” and too short.

Rusty thanks for confirming what I have been advising for a few years now. Buy one or two good tools and you will not regret it. I notice the Sorby has a nice grind on it. Now you need to decide if you want to setup to keep that grind or go with another one.

Yea I'm still browsing and trying to make the decision on the few good tools that I want to buy for myself.  I've also been looking at some of the Robert Sorby some of the other ones out there as well.  Just taking my time because that's a heck of a lot of money in a well worth tool to have.  So its not easily spent for me just as of yet with all the research going into it.

7 hours ago, AndrewB said:

Yea I'm still browsing and trying to make the decision on the few good tools that I want to buy for myself.  I've also been looking at some of the Robert Sorby some of the other ones out there as well.  Just taking my time because that's a heck of a lot of money in a well worth tool to have.  So its not easily spent for me just as of yet with all the research going into it.

I was going to buy the Thompson because it was only $15 more at $135. Woodcraft has the Sorby for $120. I got this one from Amazon for $85. That is the reason I bought it now. I was going to wait until next month and buy it from Woodcraft with my birthday discount buy they still couldn’t get close to this price.

9 hours ago, Gerald said:

Rusty thanks for confirming what I have been advising for a few years now. Buy one or two good tools and you will not regret it. I notice the Sorby has a nice grind on it. Now you need to decide if you want to setup to keep that grind or go with another one.

I couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know much about different grinds. It works so good the way it is I would be afraid to try to change it and mess it up. I have the Oneway jig with Vari-grind and it is very easy to keep the exact same grind and removes almost nothing.

1 hour ago, RustyFN said:

I couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know much about different grinds. It works so good the way it is I would be afraid to try to change it and mess it up. I have the Oneway jig with Vari-grind and it is very easy to keep the exact same grind and removes almost nothing.

 

Rusty, As impressed as you are with the bowl gouge it's only the beginning. The more you learn about it's use, about why there are different grinds and where to use them, the more useful and versatile it will become for you. Lyle Jamieson on youtube has a series of videos that help explain grinds on a bowl gouge. On Vimeo, Stuart Batty has some very good videos that are well worth watching. I personally like Glenn Lucas' bowl gouges and try to follow his philosophies  on my gouges.

Thanks Steve I will check those out.

Steve is right in that many do use several grinds. However there are also many who use only one. For instance Cindy Drozda is now using the 40 40, but she also has other tools for specific purposes and these are not gouges. So you see now is a long vortex into all  those tools you will "need".

      I use the same grind on all my bowl gouges, but a slightly different angle for detail and spindle gouges. The whole point tho is to keep them sharp and learn to use the grind you have. Changing grinds may help in some cases but try to learn to use what you have first.