Jon Murphy
11-18-2013, 2:53 AM
I understand the basic difference between a "U" and a "V" shaped bowl gouge, but there are so many variations I'm a bit buffaloed when looking at vendor's descriptions and the various reviews on the web. I see "deep flute" and "super flute" and "U" and "V". On a forum I see that the Thompson "V" is a bit more elliptical than the Glazer "V" (I think they mean that the V shape is "pointier" on the Glazer".
Obviously the "U" and the "V" are the extremes of flute shapes (don't think an upside-down capital Omega would work). A true "V" would be unsuitable for turning (although I have several for wood carving). A true "U" should work, although I'm not sure if any of them are.
Another variable in the shape of the flute is the depth - the percentage of the diameter of the gouge (a spindle gouge is about 50%, a detail gouge less and a bowl gouge more).
My question is sort of academic for the time being as I've got lots of life yet in the gouges I have, but I'd like to understand the nomenclature for the future. It seems that the terms "deep fluted" and "super-flute" are historical and that the "U" and "V" are current (with variations as to how "Uey" or "Veey" they are, and those by maker). The profile drawings or photos from the maker are almost impossible to interpret. My Ellsworth Signatures from (is it Henry Taylor or Crown?) look almost like my Benjamin's Best from PSI. David refers to his as "super-flute", PSI doesn't bother to describe them. BTW, the Benjamin's Best are great buys for utility gouges that you want to regrind to a purpose. Good steel that holds an edge but cheap enough that you don't mind wasting metal when you want a specialty grind.
Let me emphasize that I'm not asking about grinds, I take care of them myself. Come to think of it, that is why I don't buy tools from some makers who price their factory grind and "simplicity of use" into the product (Sorby a good example). I'm asking about the shape of the flute. If I had my "druthers" I'd buy the tools unground and unhandled (I get half of that from Doug Thompson, but haven't had a need for a bowl gouge from him yet).
Sorry for the ramble, I'm sort of "thinking out loud". I think all my future purchases will be from Doug Thompson or PSI (the former for tools I want to shape, the latter for utility tools I want to re-shape regularly) but I like to understand the nomenclature and the differences. Perhaps there also is a difference in terminology depending on the country.
Best, Jon
Obviously the "U" and the "V" are the extremes of flute shapes (don't think an upside-down capital Omega would work). A true "V" would be unsuitable for turning (although I have several for wood carving). A true "U" should work, although I'm not sure if any of them are.
Another variable in the shape of the flute is the depth - the percentage of the diameter of the gouge (a spindle gouge is about 50%, a detail gouge less and a bowl gouge more).
My question is sort of academic for the time being as I've got lots of life yet in the gouges I have, but I'd like to understand the nomenclature for the future. It seems that the terms "deep fluted" and "super-flute" are historical and that the "U" and "V" are current (with variations as to how "Uey" or "Veey" they are, and those by maker). The profile drawings or photos from the maker are almost impossible to interpret. My Ellsworth Signatures from (is it Henry Taylor or Crown?) look almost like my Benjamin's Best from PSI. David refers to his as "super-flute", PSI doesn't bother to describe them. BTW, the Benjamin's Best are great buys for utility gouges that you want to regrind to a purpose. Good steel that holds an edge but cheap enough that you don't mind wasting metal when you want a specialty grind.
Let me emphasize that I'm not asking about grinds, I take care of them myself. Come to think of it, that is why I don't buy tools from some makers who price their factory grind and "simplicity of use" into the product (Sorby a good example). I'm asking about the shape of the flute. If I had my "druthers" I'd buy the tools unground and unhandled (I get half of that from Doug Thompson, but haven't had a need for a bowl gouge from him yet).
Sorry for the ramble, I'm sort of "thinking out loud". I think all my future purchases will be from Doug Thompson or PSI (the former for tools I want to shape, the latter for utility tools I want to re-shape regularly) but I like to understand the nomenclature and the differences. Perhaps there also is a difference in terminology depending on the country.
Best, Jon