New Spindle Gouge

[Patrick Tipton]

I have been busy working on 90 balusters for a new staircase in my house. I have been using a 1/2 inch spindle gouge for much of the work, but found it just a bit too big for a couple of the details.

I have been admiring Thompson turning tools and figured this was a good excuse to buy a 3/8 spindle/detail gouge. The tool is made from A11 steel - don't know anything about "powdered steel", but folks are making pretty big claims about how well it wears once sharpened. The tool came unhandled, so I made a handle last night out of some walnut I had lying around. I put a dab of epoxy on the handle when I mounted the gouge and didn't want to disturb it so I did not get to use the tool last night. I had about 5 minutes this morning before work so I played a bit but not enough to form any opinions.

The tool is beautifully made - I will be happy if the steel is as good as HSS.

Regards, Patrick

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[Jim Koepke]

Patrick,

Did you intend to post this in the Turner's forum?

Your work looks great BTW.

I have made the same mistake myself in the past.

jtk

[Patrick Tipton]

Patrick,

Did you intend to post this in the Turner's forum?

jtk

Not so much......although maybe I should have! There is so much talk of making handles and tool steel, etc., that I figured it was appropriate. Maybe I should ask an admin to move it....

Regards, Patrick

[David Weaver]

I have a couple of powder gouges (different maker), because most of what I turn is exotics. They do last a bit longer than standard HSS.

I have never heard anyone have anything other than super stellar opinions of thompson turning tools. I am pleased with mine, but for how much I turn (not much), it doesn't really make too much of a difference.

I don't notice any lack of sharpness in any of them (powdered metal included) or any tendency to be harder to sharpen than any plain old HSS gouge.

[Jim Koepke]

There is so much talk of making handles and tool steel, etc., that I figured it was appropriate. Maybe I should ask an admin to move it....

Good enough reason to post here.

Why move it?

If you want to share with that conference, just post a new one in Turner's.

jtk