What am I doing wrong???

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

one other comment. As well as making sure that you ride the bevel, look into putting the IRISH/ Elsworth grind on your bowl gouge. It will make the process MUCH better. Also, as you get to the corner where the side and bottom meet, utilize a round nose scrapper to blend them together.

Hope it helps,

Bruce

[Steve Schlumpf]

Tim - lots of good suggestions! One additional bit of advice - when you decide to start your cut - be firm. You don't have to apply a lot of pressure when using a sharp tool but you need to start the cut and then keep the pressure the same throughout the cut. If you back off the forward momentum a little bit - it is easy to get a catch if you are not paying attention when you start moving forward again.

Hope you can get with a local turner that can show you some basic techniques. It will save you a lot of time if you don't have to figure it out for yourself!

[Steve Mawson]

One other comment on the tool rest. Keep the rest as close a possible to the work. As mentioned before its like a teeter totter and your bowl gouge is much easier to control when the rest is close to the work. I believe Bill Grumbine talks about this in his DVD. Keep at it, it gets better.

[Chris Stolicky]

All of the above advice is very good.

One observation, you are cutting cocobolo, a very hard wood! Chances are your tools are not staying sharp for very long. It is also a difficult wood to practice on. Practicing on softer woods ("firewood", above) is definitely a good way to go.

Good luck.

[Mike Minto]

tim, are you using a 'standard' or 'fingernail' bowl gouge? i use a fingernail grind, and was having some of the same problems as you until i spoke to an aquaintence, Bill, who ownes the WoodCraft in Virginia Beach, VA. He told me to hold the gouge horzontal, with the flute turned at a 90 degree angle (being a righty, that meant the flute was open facing me). it worked wonders for me, and i learned how to bring the technique into my own. just keep the upper edge off the blank, and cut with the lower. hope this helps, mike

[Jeff Nicol]

Tim, If you could get someone to take some pictures of how you are presenting the gouge to the wood it would give me, at least, a better idea of your setup with the tools and wood. Everyones suggestions are great but by not being able to see what is happening at the time of the catch and where the catch is occurring we are all in the dark. The best suggestion is to get in touch with a more seasoned turner to show you some tips.

For Curtis, You can use whatever you want where ever you want so long as you have become competent with the tool in the situation you are choosing to use it in. Many people will use a spindle gouge inside a bowl for certain things so don't count things out with such certainty! For we have to go from stickmen to the Mona Lisa and to get there use everything inbetween!

Jeff

[Bob McClurg]

Sounds like you tool rest is too high or low. Also you need to find the bevel on the tool, approach the wood with the bevel high on the wood and slowing bring the tool into the wood by keeping the bevel on the wood. Practice on some cheap wood. You are most likely getting a catch when you allow the bevel on the tool to drop down below center into the wood. Ride the bevel and do the woodworker dance by moving you body not the tool. Sound hard but it's not - you'll get it. No matter whether right or left hand. Right handed wood turners learn to turn with their left so that they can turn either right or left and verse for left handed turner. GOOD LUCk!!

[chris ormsby]

I have just gotten into turning to the point that I fely I was fighting more than enjoying my shoptime. I have learned a ton throuhgh this site and joined the Central Ct Woodturners. I think I have learned more talking to experienced turners face to face than all the books and articles I have read. I would strongly suggest you attend one of our meetings. It be a great help to you I am sure.