Russell Neyman
08-06-2023, 12:22 AM
What are the top ten tools for a beginning turner on a budget?
This question comes up all the time and perhaps it’s about time to gather a consensus and put it out there for consideration. I figure Newbies will benefit from a healthy debate among the more experienced turners. Now, before we climb into the debate fully, let’s agree that if the beginner in question is intending to get into specialized woodturning — things like penmaking or handles for kitchen implements— the selection of tools and equipment would be very different. For purposes of this discussion, we’ll consider items for making fundamental bowls and jars. I fully expect others to have a shopping list that has a completely different bent.
Offering a budget number is a slippery slope. For new tools, I picked Robert Sorby quality items with high speed steel, but I'm aware there are premium products available as well as cheaper ones through Amazon. I'm betting someone offers a list that replaces many of these tools with carbide cutters.
It's also assumed that the most fundamental items will already be on hand starting with a lathe. Machines almost always come with three accessories, a faceplate, spur drive, and live center.
Here's my list:
1. Spindle/Roughing Gouge*— Most projects start with roughing raw wood, and a sturdy, long-handled tool with a sharp tip is typically the best tool for that job. Cost is about $75 new.
2. Bowl Gouge with Fingernail Grind— A deep flute with a sweptback grind will take care of most bowl shaping. For many veteran woodturners, a good bowl gouge is a multiple-use shaping tool that can be used for everything from rough turning to adding decorative details. HHS is a must. Cost for a few one is about $95-110.
3. Square Scraper— This has all sorts of roughing and finishing uses, especially for the interior of jars and bowls. New HSS ones are available in a variety of sizes and cost about $55-95 each.
4. Round Scraper— Great for creating subtle shapes, both interior and exterior. New HSS ones cost about $50-100 each.
5. Scroll Chuck— Life is so much easier if you can hold the wood in a chuck. A basic new one can cost between $100 and $175, but cheap off brands sometimes don’t have optional jaws in convenient sizes. Specialized jaws can go for $40-100 a set.
6. Jacob’s Chuck— The ability to drill a hole on your lathe is invaluable, and these are remarkably inexpensive. As little at $50 new.
7. Bench Grinder*— Sharpening your tools is essential, and grinders have other uses beyond woodturning. New ones sell for as little as $100 and used ones are nearly free. In time, you may want to add a sharpening jig (see below) but there’s nothing wrong with hand sharpening your tools.
8. Sharpening Jig-- This item might seem to be an extravagance, but it will create consistent gouge shapes and save a ton of time.
9, Parting Tool*-- While not something that removes bulk or creates major shapes, this is an inexpensive investment (about $35) and can be used as a detailing tool.
10. Skew*— This tool drops down to the bottom of my priority list simply because most of it’s functions can be accomplished with other tools, but it is a fundamental and traditional cutting tool. Simple ones are only $55 new.
*items noted with an asterisk are frequently sold used for bargain prices.
This question comes up all the time and perhaps it’s about time to gather a consensus and put it out there for consideration. I figure Newbies will benefit from a healthy debate among the more experienced turners. Now, before we climb into the debate fully, let’s agree that if the beginner in question is intending to get into specialized woodturning — things like penmaking or handles for kitchen implements— the selection of tools and equipment would be very different. For purposes of this discussion, we’ll consider items for making fundamental bowls and jars. I fully expect others to have a shopping list that has a completely different bent.
Offering a budget number is a slippery slope. For new tools, I picked Robert Sorby quality items with high speed steel, but I'm aware there are premium products available as well as cheaper ones through Amazon. I'm betting someone offers a list that replaces many of these tools with carbide cutters.
It's also assumed that the most fundamental items will already be on hand starting with a lathe. Machines almost always come with three accessories, a faceplate, spur drive, and live center.
Here's my list:
1. Spindle/Roughing Gouge*— Most projects start with roughing raw wood, and a sturdy, long-handled tool with a sharp tip is typically the best tool for that job. Cost is about $75 new.
2. Bowl Gouge with Fingernail Grind— A deep flute with a sweptback grind will take care of most bowl shaping. For many veteran woodturners, a good bowl gouge is a multiple-use shaping tool that can be used for everything from rough turning to adding decorative details. HHS is a must. Cost for a few one is about $95-110.
3. Square Scraper— This has all sorts of roughing and finishing uses, especially for the interior of jars and bowls. New HSS ones are available in a variety of sizes and cost about $55-95 each.
4. Round Scraper— Great for creating subtle shapes, both interior and exterior. New HSS ones cost about $50-100 each.
5. Scroll Chuck— Life is so much easier if you can hold the wood in a chuck. A basic new one can cost between $100 and $175, but cheap off brands sometimes don’t have optional jaws in convenient sizes. Specialized jaws can go for $40-100 a set.
6. Jacob’s Chuck— The ability to drill a hole on your lathe is invaluable, and these are remarkably inexpensive. As little at $50 new.
7. Bench Grinder*— Sharpening your tools is essential, and grinders have other uses beyond woodturning. New ones sell for as little as $100 and used ones are nearly free. In time, you may want to add a sharpening jig (see below) but there’s nothing wrong with hand sharpening your tools.
8. Sharpening Jig-- This item might seem to be an extravagance, but it will create consistent gouge shapes and save a ton of time.
9, Parting Tool*-- While not something that removes bulk or creates major shapes, this is an inexpensive investment (about $35) and can be used as a detailing tool.
10. Skew*— This tool drops down to the bottom of my priority list simply because most of it’s functions can be accomplished with other tools, but it is a fundamental and traditional cutting tool. Simple ones are only $55 new.
*items noted with an asterisk are frequently sold used for bargain prices.