sharpening angle for a continental spindle gouge

[Chris Zarnitz]

any help appreciated---tks.

[George Tokarev]

Probably not the precision you're looking for, but it depends on the use to which they're put. On mine the bevel gets longer as the tool gets narrower. I use the 1" for working the outside of bowls and steeper inside cuts, so I grind it just a bit over 50 degree included angle - bevel is about as long as the tool is thick. The 3/4 is a bit longer, say 45 degrees, and the 1/2 is over 1.5:1 bevel to thickness.

Real important thing is the angle should be constant. Allows you to peel with a great deal of stability, because the gouge supports at the same angle all through the cut and even beyond. Second is to decide on a comfortable radius for the nose. My larger is a bit shorter radius than the medium, and the smallest has so little nose it almost looks like a chisel. This is a bit longer that I'm using now in the nose department, but should give you an idea.

[John Taylor]

Mine are between 40 and 55 degrees depending on how well I set the sharpening jig.:)

Hope this helps.

john