Couple new tools - and, a rare glimpse!

[John Keeton]

After getting some input from fellow creekers, I purchased a Packard 1.25" German (Continental) gouge, and also a Benjamin Best 2" spindle roughing gouge. Just thought I would show a couple pics.

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My prior roughing has been done with my original Harbor Freight SRG, and while it works fine, one can not aggressively remove material with it. There just is not enough mass and width to permit that on a large squared off block. I really enjoyed roughing with this inexpensive big chunk of metal!! Much more comfortable, and much quicker. A caveat - it takes off wood in a hurry! I will need to get used to checking the status a little more often - nearly removed too much!

The German gouge was very pleasant to use. I didn't change the 45* factory grind, but touched up the edge. It leaves a very smooth surface, and I felt it was easy to control. One can get a nice, sweeping curve shaping an end grain turning. However, it did not want to behave as well coming across the top (end grain) and felt like one could get a catch if not careful in that presentation. I will experiment with the grind some and perhaps see how it does with a little different profile on the nose. I think this is going to be a nice add on to the tool rack! After using this one for awhile, if it continues to perform as I think it will, I suspect I might end up with a 3/4".
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And, now for that rare glimpse! For those of you that have visited my shop, or even noticed in various pics I have posted, this is an extremely rare sight - actual "stuff" on the ways of the lathe, and even on the floor!!:eek:

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And, here is the real shame of it all - except for blowing the shavings off the lathe, I left this mess when I came in a few moments ago.:o

I am sure I will regret revealing this, but sometimes confession is good for the soul.;) The sun shall not set tomorrow on this mess!!:)

[Nate Davey]

Who are you and where is John Keeton????? Thanks for the review, very interesting the differences in shape.

[Baxter Smith]

Those weren't green shavings were they?;):D

[John Beaver]

What mess are you talking about? Looks clean to me.

[CW McClellan]

With a mess like that Ms K would be so embarassed. LOL HA HA!!

[Jim Burr]

Oh merciful Heaven...someone clean that shop!!! What did you think of the BB?...the shank diameter always worried me, but the Packard seem stout.

[Dale Miner]

John,

That is pretty much the same grind as I put on my forged pattern gouge. Same thumbnail, and same angle, although I sweep mine when grinding, and it looks like this one may be just rolled.

When coming around the end of a piece, there is a tendency to only raise the handle, and not sweep the handle. This will cause the cut to move up on the nose and the bevel to lose contact. If the handle is swept and raised (move the tool rest first), the gouge cuts sweet on larger diameter items. I find a 1/2" is easier to control on 3" or so and smaller when making that cut.

You are going to like that gouge, and I'm betting get a 3/4" or 1".

[Hayes Rutherford]

Didn't really see any mess in the photo. John, I ground 1" BB SRG sort of like the Continental gouge and I think it works similiar on outside of hollow forms in spindle mode. But your Hamlet (Packard) would be viewed by others as safer.

[Roger Chandler]

Somebody call the police..........[shop police, that is.....:D ]

[Bob Bergstrom]

I think you have attain a new level in "lathe art". I love the flowing curves and well distributed subject matter.

[Sid Matheny]

Oh I'm shock!!!

[David DeCristoforo]

Mess??? LMAO! You won't even make the first cut with a "mess" like that. My sock drawer has more sawdust in it. I do like the new tools though. I got one of those big roughing gouges a while back but I'm askered to use it!

[robert baccus]

That's so clean it makes me nervous. glad you tried the cont. gouge. been wanting one for years. keep us informed on that momma. Avoid brooms, the IRS and copperheads. --------------Old Forester

[Bernie Weishapl]

Looking forward to hearing a review on it John.

[Kirk Miller]

Not only is the shop in horrible disarray did anyone set eyes on the dust collection setup/gadget behind the lathe? It looks like it was put together with a hose clamp, bailing wire and a few foul words. John Keeton you better get your act together. I hear this forum has some pretty high standards, and you’re dancing on a fine line of some kind of disciplinary actions, or something........lol

[Pete Jordan]

Shame...Shame...Shame....

[Russell Eaton]

I think his login was HACKED!

[Steve Schlumpf]

John - I have had the same BB 2" SRG for years now and it works quite well. I do wish the tang thicker at times though! Will be interested in finding out how well you like the continental gouge. Looks like it should work pretty good!

I imagine you managed to get back into the shop this morning and cleaned everything up ... before you left for work! As long as the curlies were dry, I suppose it was OK for a one time thing! Would hate to see this become a habit... cause then I would have to come down there!!

[Jason Ritchie]

Congrats on the new tools John! I have really enjoyed the Benjamins Best tools that I bought. That's some nasty stuff they pack them in though!

[Steve Busey]

And, now for that rare glimpse! For those of you that have visited my shop, or even noticed in various pics I have posted, this is an extremely rare sight - actual "stuff" on the ways of the lathe, and even on the floor!!:eek: Given your sterling reputation, John, this picture ought to be titled "Widow Maker II"! But this certainly should lay to rest any suspicions that you've actually been "offshoring" your work. ;^} (I'm sure you have a good excuse for leaving the mess, like running around chasing woodchucks around the barn...) Nice looking tools, too!

[Larry Pickering]

Last week, I spent several days trying to get my shop half this clean, my wife thinks something is wrong and said something about up dating my will.:)

[Thom Sturgill]

John, I've had that SRG for a couple of years and love it. this is a point where 'bigger is better'. I am interested in the Contenental gouge. I have the Haror Freight ones that came in a set and while I use them, their ability to take and hold an edge limits their use. I know the Packard (Hamlet?) tools are better steel and look forward to a review (and buying my own).

As to the shop - mine looks like that more often than not - I do clean between projects, just not immediately.

[John Keeton]

I hope to post a little more on the Continental gouge, but for my purposes, the use is going to be limited to shaping vessels. I would suspect if one did a lot of large spindle work - posts, legs, etc., this tool would be very, very handy!

[Reed Gray]

I prefer the continental style better for finish cuts, and the regular for more roughing cuts. I did take my continental gouge and made the nose profile more like this, ), which basically makes it a skew with an oval cutting profile rather than a straight one.

robo hippy

[brian watts]

What mess are you talking about? Looks clean to me.

that what i was thinking ..lol

[John M. Smith]

John, I think all these folks are just jealous of your clean (spotless) shop. I also have the same problem. It's been said my shop looks clean enough to operate in :). Maybe we'll have to visit each other sometime.

John Smith

[David DeCristoforo]

"Maybe we'll have to visit each other sometime."

Now there's a great idea. All of the OCD clean freaks could get together and form a group. Maybe even have their own special forum category. There could be meetings with discussion sessions about things like "Why they are so jealous of us." Or "How can they live like that?" Or "How can we possibly coexist with them???" You could go out at night and knock on doors and ask people if they have found cleanliness yet. If they would like to hear the word about how to bring order into their pathetic lives. And you could inspect their shops and tell them how they would see the light if only they would get more lights. How they live in darkness only because they know, deep in their hearts, how grim things would look if they could see more clearly the true nature of the path they have chosen.

I'm liking this idea a lot...

[John Keeton]

Wow, David - you've been reading my mind!!!! I have those exact thoughts daily. It is only through the guidance and restraint of Ms. Keeton, that I don't canvass the town to spread the gospel of the clean shop!:D As therapy, I am writing a book on the topic, it will be out in the fall...... Just looking for investors to cover the printing cost. One of the chapters is on proper use of the broom, another is on the technical aspects of dustpan usage. I look for it to be a top seller - perhaps to supplement the ministry!

[Jamie Donaldson]

Hey John, if we buy the book, do you throw in a Shop Vac as a buyer's incentive? I had a Continental gouge in my original Greenlee carbon steel tool set when I started turning, I wonder what ever happened to that thing?

[John M. Smith]

I'll take one of the first published copies.