Spindle gouge Bowl gouge

[johnf]

Spindle gouge or Bowl gouge whats the difference or is one just shorter

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi John,

There's a bit more to this question than meets the eye. I'll have a go at helping though:

Spindle Gouges are measured by the bar diameter, so a 3/8 (best alround size) is the diam of the bar. A 3/8 Bowl gouge (also best alround) is actually 1/2" bar but measures 3/8 across the flute.

Bowl gouges are usually deeper fluted allowing better waste removal, as well as being longer and generally heavier.

Rule of thumb is to go with the name, so use Bowl gouges for (you guessed it!!) bowls and (need I go on :wink: ) spindle gouges for spindles. There are times when you can swop but to begin with stick with what the label says.

Grinds and angles are a whole other kettle of fish but personally my spindle gouges are ground to around 35 deg and Bowl gouges to 65 deg (very aprox!!) Both have a semi long grind, ie not very long and not square!!

Top 2 are bowl gouges, 3rd is a spindle gouge and bottom is a SPINDLE roughing gouge.

HTH

Richard

 

[Bodrighy]

Well put Richard. As a cautionary note, a bowl gouge is much stronger than a spindle gouge (includihng the roughing gouge) and so spindle gouges should never be used anywhere if it involves the cutting edge being very far over the tool rest e,g, bowl, hollowing pieces out etc.

Pete

 

[johnf]

Hi Richard
thanks for the information I will have to take a good look at my and decide which is a bowl tool and which is spindle tool

 

[CHJ]

Bowl gouges will be similar to this in profile, always ground from solid stock

Spindle Gouges will be similar to this if ground from solid stock

Or: this if from forged stock

Pictures from the Toolpost web site

 

[wizer]

John post some pics and we'll tell you