How Much Time Turning a Piece?

[GIPPER]

I'm trying to turn a straight cylinder out of Sepele Mahogany.  The block is 3.25" x 3.25" x 5" long.  The finished piece is to be 3" diameter.  I chamfered the corners to reduce wood.  So, my question is this.  How long would it take an experienced Turner to finish this piece?  Which tools would you most likely to use?  Gipper

[Jeff Farris]

Roughing gouge and skew. 5 minutes.

[GIPPER]

Whew!!!
No wonder I thought 5 "hours" was way too long!!!  Now to figure out what's wrong?
Looks like I'd better find out what a Roughing Gouge really looks like.  Thanks Jeff.  Gipper

[GIPPER]

OK, now that I've done a little research, I'm more confused than informed.  So, let me ask the question.  I want to buy a Roughing Gouge for general applications.  Describe the gouge I ought to buy.  That is, bevel angle, flat or fluted, etc.  Anything else?  Gipper

[Jeff Farris]

See this page about 2/3 the way down.

http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/

A roughing gouge is a forged gouge, rather than a milled gouge. I like mine sharpened with a rather short bevel angle...about 50 to 60 degrees. The Robert Sorby 1-1/4" is my preferred roughing gouge.

[Ken S]

Good post, Jeff.  Would it be possible (practical?) to do the entire operation with a well maintained roughing gouge?

Ken

[GIPPER]

Hi Jeff F.
How would you compare a Sorby 1 1/4" Roughing Gouge to a Sorby 3/4" Gouge?  Gipper

[Jeff Farris]

Ken,

The cylinder could be turned to size with a roughing gouge, but a skew (when used properly) will leave a perfectly polished surface on the stock that will need no sanding.

Gipper,

Nothing wrong with the 3/4". The 1-1/4" just gets you from square to round a little faster. It has more cutting surface and more mass to absorb the shock of irregular contact. You can turn little stuff with big tools, but you can't turn big stuff with little tools. While I own about 50 turning tools, I carry about 9 when I demo, and quite honestly could turn happily the rest of my life with just those 9. One of those 9 is a Robert Sorby 1-1/4" Roughing Gouge.

[Ken S]

Nice reply, Jeff.  I have used both size roughing gouges (a little), and definitely prefer the mass of the larger size.

Just out of curiouslty, would you describe the other eight turning tools on your "top nine" list.

thanks,

Ken 

[Jeff Farris]

...
Just out of curiouslty, would you describe the other eight turning tools on your "top nine" list.

thanks,

Ken 

I lied, my tool roll holds 11 tools, not 9. The last two on the list are somewhat redundant, so if I had to pare it down to 9, I could.

2 - 1/2 Bowl Gouges, one ground at setting #4 and one ground and setting #2.
3/8" Bowl Gouge ground at #4.
1-1/4" Roughing Gouge
1/2" Spindle Gouge ground to 30º fingernail ground
3/8" Continental Gouge with straight grind at about 40º
1-1/4" Oval Skew
1/8" Parting Tool
Robert Sorby RS-200KT Scraper/Hollowing Tool

1/2" Oval Skew
1" Bowl Scraper

[Ken S]

Interesting, Jeff.  I suspect most of our "nines" are really "elevens".  I wouldn't have thought of having two 1/2" bowl gouges ground differently.  Clever; you must have access to a good sharpening system!

I have never really become comfortable with the skew.  (operator inexperience)  Your 1 1/4" choice is uncommonly large.  Do you like the added mass, like with the larger roughing gouge?

Sorry, Gipper, I didn't mean to hijack your post.

Ken

[GIPPER]

Hi Ken S.
I'll forgive you this time.  LOL.
Jeff said something that stuck with me.  He said, "You can turn small stock with big tools, but you can't turn big stock with small tools".  Other experienced turners agree with that statement.  So looking for that 1 1/4" Roughing Gouge, I found I just can't afford the cost of a "Robert Sorby" gouge right now.  So I opted for a "Pinnacle" 1 1/4" Roughing Gouge instead.  Let's see how that turns out.  Of course, any comments, pros or cons, are always appreciated.  Gipper

[Ken S]

Gipper, thanks for graciously forgiving me.  Several months ago I found a pair of (Sorby) roughing gouges on ebay.  The smaller gouge, 3/4" was bent.  The larger was fine.  It looked like the smaller gouge was caught "catched" while trying to use it for bowl turning, a no no.  After quite a bit of thought, I held the bent gouge in my woodworking vise and gently leaned on it.  The gouge is now straight and ready for service.  I expect to use the larger gouge most of the time.  (The two used cost about the price of one new one, a fair deal, but not a steal.)

Enjoy your new gouge.  I'm sure the Pinnacle will probably outlast the turner, as mine will.  I think the tormek really shines with sharpening turning tools.

Ken

[Jeff Farris]

Ken,

Yes, I like the mass of the 1-1/4 skew. I increased the skew angle a bit, which gives me very good access into small areas, even though the tool is large.

Watch that bent and straightened gouge very closely.  It has a very weak point in it now.

You're right that turning face grain stock with a roughing gouge is a "no-no".  For a tool to be bent or broken, however, the larger sin is that it was extended too far over the tool rest without repositioning the rest closer to the work.

[GIPPER]

Hi Jeff.
I don't know what "face-grain" stock is.  Reason I ask is because, while I'm waiting for the new gouge to arrive, I've set two short blocks up to test the gouge.  One block, I have the grain running parallel to the long axis.  The other, I have the grain running perpendicular to the long axis.  Will there be any problem using the rough gouge with either of these two block?  I'm basically going to be turning a "classical urn" shape for both blocks.  Gipper