Look along the shank of the bowl gouge or the handle for a mark or a stamp indicating what type of steel was used to make the gouge. It is believed that the cryogenic steel tempering process conditions the steel altering its properties better than all other processes. Recently, Cryogenic M2 steel has been introduced to bowl gouges as yet an even harder, longer lasting option. There is another type of steel, referred to as M2 steel, which is a particular formulation of HSS designed to be even more resistant to wear, easy to grind, and long-lasting. HSS is a steel alloy made from elements like molybdenum, tungsten, and chromium which can withstand high temperatures without losing its hardness as quickly as high-carbon steel. Today, the most commonly used bowl gouge steel is known as High-Speed Steel or HSS. Older gouges were made of high-carbon steel and required sharpening often, which wore the tool down quickly. The steel used to make the bowl gouge shaft or shank can be made from many different metals. Most wood-handled tools usually have a ferrule or collar around the wood end where the shaft or shank connect.Ī ferrule, many times made of metal, prevents the wood handle end from splitting. More massive bowl gouges, designed for removing larger amounts of material at one time, typically have longer and heavier handles which increase leverage advantage for the turner. The length of a bowl gouge handle contributes to the balance and leverage available when turning. Handles for bowl gouges are traditionally made from hardwood, but can also be made from metal or other materials. This area is usually ground out of the solid steel as part of the gouge milling process. In the center of the bowl gouge is the hollowed out concave area called the flute. The shank or shaft of a bowl gouge is formed from steel rod that is then milled to shape and hardened. Let’s jump in and start with identifying the various parts of a bowl gouge. In this article we are covering the following topics: It is better to have multiple bowl gouges of different sizes and different grinds to make wood bowl turning as efficient as possible. The leading edge, or tip, of the bowl gouge is ground with an angled bevel which makes a sharp cutting edge that cuts wood as it rotates on a lathe.Ī bowl gouge can be used to make an entire bowl without the aid of any other turning tool if needed. The metal shaft has a center groove along the top portion known as a flute. The bowl gouge consists of a handle connected to a sturdy metal shaft. What is a bowl gouge? A bowl gouge is a hand tool used to cut and shape wood bowls on a lathe. The bowl gouge is probably the number one most recognized wood turning tool and for a good reason.

Bowl gouge basics are the foundation of wood bowl turning.

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