I am a self taught turner and have learned by trail and error, videos, books, etc.

I have a nice assortment of turning tools and have learned to use all of them to achieve some nice turnings. However the tiny gouge pictured has me baffled.

I have tried several times to use it and always end up digging or bending. I'd like to use it to make something but want to do it knowing much better than I do now about how to proceed.

Does it require special rules? Things like speed, size of stock or just something that requires patience. A small twist of the wrist can inflict damage.

Any advise is appreciated

 

Thanks

 

 

I would think it would be used for very small and/or detail work. As you said, a catch could easily damage the tool. The tool rest would need to be kept very close to the turning.

Dumb question here Ron, are you sure it's a turning tool and not a regular chisel?

That is a good question. I checked and it is part of my Jet turning tool set. I double checked that. However I think that the suggestions of putting the tool rest very close to my tiny work will work. It makes sense. I guess I wasn't thinking of how tiny and delicate it was. I'll try again using a lighter touch along with the suggestions.

Greetings Ron

My ex father-in-law, may he rest in peace, bought 1 of those chisels and only thing we could use it was doing very small decorative beads to bowls, but you gotta be super careful or you damage your piece, tool and your fingers. I wouldn't use it in normal turning at all.

 

 

That was my thought Jari, just by the sheer lack of girth on that tool it seems like it would be a dangerous tool to turn with. When there are so many other safe tools that could do the same job with a thicker shaft and a narrow cutting tip. That tool Ron has looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

How does it feel Ron when you use it, are you comfortable with it?

 

 

NO I am not comfortable with it. Not wanting to give up on it, I tried several times and just figured that I had to be doing something wrong. Now, with the advise I have gotten here, I may play with it a bit more. However I won't use it much and it certainly won't be a part of my regular cutting tools

thanks

 

 

Maybe they are intended for very small work like chess pieces and pens.

I think you are right

I have several small tools because I often turn incredibly small things. Tools that size take a lot of skill to use. You use them just like any other tool but can't hang any length over the tool rest. By any length I mean probably not more than about 1/4". You have to take very light cuts and don't use it as a scraper. I think it's actually much easier to use if you make a new handle and mount it so that only an inch or so is out of the handle.  This will reduce the chatter tremendously.

 

To sharpen it, turn on your grinder, then turn it off. As the wheel slows down it will reach a point where it will be running slow enough to not over-grind the tool. As you can imagine a high speed or even slow speed grinder will take a lot of steel off the tool very quickly.

 

I did use it briefly on a small piece and it did ok. I intended to try again soon, but summer has limited my projects inside.

Thanks to all who offered advise. When I get back into it, I will try what has been suggested and let you all know.. In the mean time I have been building summer things.

@Ron Altier, I still think it's a chisel. For carving.

I agree it is a beading tool.  When used the tool should be about level and used similar to a scraper.  See this video starting at 3:40 for how it is used.