I have joined the round side - Which size tools.

[frugal]

After spending a couple of weeks looking for cheap lathes on EBay, and not finding any that were less than 100 miles away (well apart from the £600 CL4 which was a bitmuch for a first lathe ). We finally cracked and ordered one from Axminster, the little AWSL lathe.

Compared to the other tools in the workshop (bandsaw, circular saw and router) it is almost silent, it is nice to be able to hold a conversation.

At the moment we just have the little set of pen turning tools we picked up from Robert Sorby at Yandles (Roughing gouge, half round scraper and a parting tool). Looking online and at the turning books that my wife bought, the next tools we should be looking at are a spindle gouge and a skew chisel.

The nice people at Ashley Isles have sent there catalogue for us to drool over. They have a complete range of standard size tools and a range of minature tools. For the size of lathe we have (17" between centres) should we be looking at minature tools, or standard sized tools?

 

[cornucopia]

standard size's looky here at an earlier thread which has been made sticky!!

 

[CHJ]

IMO standard tools every time unless you are into 'Oldsoke' territory & make you own specials.

Have a play with your small set for a couple of weeks then visit a show, a stockist or someone local and handle some of the different makes.

It's surprising how the different handle patterns give a different feel, I have ended up with a whole mixture of brands and some homemade handles just because the balance felt right when I actually handled them.

 

[frugal]

standard size's looky here at an earlier thread which has been made sticky!!

Cheers, standard size tools it is then. Strangely enough the thread does not appear at the top of the forum as one of the stickies. I have spent most of this weekend going through everyone's list of starter tools.

I currently have the Robert Sorby pen set as they suggested it as a good set for starting on small lathes and pieces (we were originally going to use one of those dremmel style lathes, but it was rubbish). So I curently have

• 5/16'' roughing gouge

• 1/16'' parting tool

• 1/2" micro spindlemaster gouge

The last one looks all the world like a round nose scraper.

So now I need to phone up Ashley Isles and order a 3/8" spindle gouge and a 1" flat skew chisel and I think I have a basic set (until I need a bowl chisel when we summon up the courage to make bowls).

It is interesting to note that every time a set of tools is mentioned is always includes a skew chisel, immediately followed by lots of people stating that they never use it

 

[CHJ]

It is interesting to note that every time a set of tools is mentioned is always includes a skew chisel, immediately followed by lots of people stating that they never use it

The skew is a very versatile tool but one that bites very hard until you have learnt about the importance of correct bevel contact.

Best left until you have mastered good bevel contact practice with the round gouges unless you can get good instruction from an experienced user of the tool.

A couple of good catches with a skew can mistakenly convince you to hide it at the back of the shop but it is a tool more than worth the effort to master.

I'm not at all nervous using it after 4years :^o

 

[CHJ]

Strangely enough the thread does not appear at the top of the forum as one of the stickies. I have spent most of this weekend going through everyone's list of starter tools.

It's listed in the newbies help Sticky,
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26955

 

[frugal]

The skew is a very versatile tool but one that bites very hard until you have learnt about the importance of correct bevel contact.

Best left until you have mastered good bevel contact practice with the round gouges unless you can get good instruction from an experienced user of the tool.

So where abouts in the Cotswolds are you then :wink:

 

[CHJ]

So where abouts in the Cotswolds are you then :wink:

A very distant 17 miles NNE :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Frugal,

Now you've got the lathe why don't you try a club. Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm, at Hucclecote Rugby club. Apart from getting to see a great demonstration you'll also get the chance to buy turning blanks, finishes, abrasives, borrow dvds, etc. (not everything happens every month but after a few visits you'll have seen most of what is on offer)

You can see some of the newsletters at their website http://www.gaw.org.uk. If you do decide to come along and find it a bit daunting just have a word the the camera man. I've heard he's very friendly :wink: .

Plug over. If you want to try out any other tools, lathes, etc give me a shout. I'm only about half an hour from you.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[wizer]

Frugal. Have a look at Axminster's Perform range of tools. We use them at our club and tbh they are fine. I'm still learning, but when one of the others take the tool off me to show me where I'm going wrong, they make perfect cuts.

Persevere with the skew. It's a handy tool to master. I'm getting there. You can use it on pens and small spindle stuff.

By the way we have those small lathes at our club and you'd be surprised what you can do with them. The levers and stuff are somewhat light weight. But a long as your not too heavy handed it works well. We all have to start somewhere.

Be sure to post some pics

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Frugal,

I'd add a 3/8 Spindle Gouge to your list. It's the tool you'll probably use most of all for spindlework. I've never used one of those spindlemaster tools, I believe they are sharpened by just rubbing the flat top on a stone. They are supposed to be easy to use..... let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[frugal]

Hi Frugal,

I'd add a 3/8 Spindle Gouge to your list. It's the tool you'll probably use most of all for spindlework. I've never used one of those spindlemaster tools, I believe they are sharpened by just rubbing the flat top on a stone. They are supposed to be easy to use..... let us know how you get on.

I have ordered a 3/8" spindle gougle and a skew chisel from AI (and a couple of small dovetail chisels may have fallen into the order at the same time ).

the Spindle Master tool is a bit strange, it looks just like a round nose scraper, I am not quite sure how it differs. The sheet that comes with it does indeed say to sharpen it by rubbing the whole of the flat length of the tool on a stone, which seems strange to me as that will make the tool thinner each time and thus weaker, rather than just a bit shorter by sharpening the end...

 

[wizer]

I think it's like a scraper isn't it? By sharpening the flat you are removing the burr, which then needs to be raised. I don't think they mean for it to be heavily ground on the flat, just light swipes.

 

[Jenx]

Hi Frugal !

Welcome to spinnyville. 8) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
You got there with the lathe then, excellent !

Look forwards to seeing your work in pics, bud ... well done and magic to see you over here ! :lol: :lol: 8) 8)