New to wood turning
- Thread starter pjwillms
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Phil Pascoe
Established Member
A skew chisel, a 3/8" spindle gouge, a 3/8th bowl gouge, a 3/4" roughing gouge and a parting tool. If they come your way singly, fine - it can be an advantage not have identical handles.
alex robinson
Established Member
Turning tools are expensive - there isn't really much getting away from this. I would suggest avoiding cheap sets made of rubbishy steel. I had a go with a friends Sorby set recently and it was really good. Nice to use and a sensible selection (almost identical to what Phil suggested above!).
https://www.yandles.co.uk/sets/robert-sorby-67hs-6-piece-turning-tool-set/
Twice the price of unbranded junk from Amazon / Temu, but holds a decent edge and you won't want to throw it away a month later.
Buying individually can made sense. I started with just a roughing gouge and bought unhandled tools as I went along. Saves money, instant use projects to practice on and easy to tell apart!
Have a think about what you want to make. No point buying loads of skews and other spindle tools if you only want to make bowls.
Also, it is surprising how few tool you actually need (and how many we all end up buying over the years...)
https://www.yandles.co.uk/sets/robert-sorby-67hs-6-piece-turning-tool-set/
Twice the price of unbranded junk from Amazon / Temu, but holds a decent edge and you won't want to throw it away a month later.
Buying individually can made sense. I started with just a roughing gouge and bought unhandled tools as I went along. Saves money, instant use projects to practice on and easy to tell apart!
Have a think about what you want to make. No point buying loads of skews and other spindle tools if you only want to make bowls.
Also, it is surprising how few tool you actually need (and how many we all end up buying over the years...)
Stigmorgan
Established Member
Don't waste your money on a big set, you can start out with just a bowl gouge and parting tool if that's all you can afford to start then over time you buy extra tools, alternatively keep an eye out for 2nd hand sets for sale.
Beware of good looking deals, make sure of what you are getting
I have been looking at hollowing tools, saw a really good deal…. Only when I read the small print I found that it was the cutting blade and arm. I would have to buy the handle separately at more than the price of the first part. Overall cost would be more than a Sorby one piece version
I have been looking at hollowing tools, saw a really good deal…. Only when I read the small print I found that it was the cutting blade and arm. I would have to buy the handle separately at more than the price of the first part. Overall cost would be more than a Sorby one piece version
Tris
What am I doing here?
These would get you started, look to have had very little use
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18691213...XwgzqajSc-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18691213...XwgzqajSc-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Phil Pascoe
Established Member
Try to join a club, you'll get a bit of experiece before you start wasting/spending. What you think you need now may be different to what you think in six months time you'll need, you might decide your future is miniatures rather than 500mm deep bowls and you might even pick up good tools cheaply. I don't know where you are, but a lot of clubs are listed here -
https://www.awgb.co.uk/clubs/
https://www.awgb.co.uk/clubs/
Paul Hannaby
Established Member
If you are just doing spindle work, the minimum would be a spindle gouge (1/2" or 3/8"), a spindle roughing gouge (3/4" or 1") and a parting tool (1/4").
If you want to expand on that, you could add a 1" skew chisel but it isn't essential to start. You could also add either a square scraper (3/4" or 1") or a half round scraper (3/4" or 1/2") but neither are essential.
If you expand your repertoire into bowl turning then add a bowl gouge (3/8" or 1/2") but you would need a chuck to turn bowls.
You can buy a set or you can just buy individual tools. There are always plenty of second hand tools if you look at the usual places online. Good quality second hand tools would be better than cheap, low quality new tools. Stick to the well known Sheffield brands and you can't go far wrong.
If you want to expand on that, you could add a 1" skew chisel but it isn't essential to start. You could also add either a square scraper (3/4" or 1") or a half round scraper (3/4" or 1/2") but neither are essential.
If you expand your repertoire into bowl turning then add a bowl gouge (3/8" or 1/2") but you would need a chuck to turn bowls.
You can buy a set or you can just buy individual tools. There are always plenty of second hand tools if you look at the usual places online. Good quality second hand tools would be better than cheap, low quality new tools. Stick to the well known Sheffield brands and you can't go far wrong.
I've got this set, got them 4 years ago not felt a need to upgrade them still going strong
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29697909...h7_YregSMS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29697909...h7_YregSMS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Bob Chapman
Established Member
+1 for what Paul said. Also, remember that brand new tools are NOT sharp.
When I started I wasn’t too sure exactly what I wanted to turn so I bought tools as I went along. Most of mine were Record Power, some of which I still have, only a bit shorter!
I would suggest starting with spindle work first. Bowl turning can be a challenge to newcomers. Join a local club if you can and maybe get a lesson or two? Good luck at the start of your wood turning journey.
I would suggest starting with spindle work first. Bowl turning can be a challenge to newcomers. Join a local club if you can and maybe get a lesson or two? Good luck at the start of your wood turning journey.
