A Quick Guide to Bowl Gouge Grinds & Flutes
For many turners, myself included, the bowl gouge is heavily used and well loved. While being a key asset in our tool arsenal, the various bowl gouge grinds and flute shapes are oftentimes clouded in mystery. While it's true that every turner has their own grind preference, there are 3 widely held bowl gouge profiles and flute shapes that are worth exploring. Perhaps you'll even discover your new favorite grind!
A Quick Guide to Bowl Gouge Grinds & Flutes
For many turners, myself included, the bowl gouge is heavily used and well loved. While being a key asset in our tool arsenal, the various bowl gouge grinds and flute shapes are oftentimes clouded in mystery. While it's true that every turner has their own grind preference, there are 3 widely held bowl gouge profiles and flute shapes that are worth exploring. Perhaps you'll even discover your new favorite grind!
Traditional Grind
With a nearly straight across grind, similar to a spindle roughing gouge, this profile is simplest to sharpen. It excels at handling end-grain fiber and other difficult grains, and can be used to finish the interior bottom of a bowl. A u-shaped flute takes well to this grind.
Fingernail Grind
While a slightly more difficult profile to grind than the traditional, mastering the fingernail profile is worthwhile simply because it's very versatile. From roughing to detailing the fingernail grind can do it all. The tool on the right has a "v" shaped flute, which takes well to a fingernail profile.
Swept Back Grind
Although this profile is challenging to grind, it's recognized as the most versatile. Excellent for roughing, scraping and finishing - it's used by many professional and production turners. Grinding the long wings first and finishing with the nose is a helpful technique. A parabolic flute takes well to the swept back grind.
Traditional Grind
With a nearly straight across grind, similar to a spindle roughing gouge, this profile is simplest to sharpen. It excels at handling end-grain fiber and other difficult grains, and can be used to finish the interior bottom of a bowl. A u-shaped flute takes well to this grind.
Fingernail Grind
While a slightly more difficult profile to grind than the traditional, mastering the fingernail profile is worthwhile simply because it's very versatile. From roughing to detailing the fingernail grind can do it all. The tool on the right has a "v" shaped flute, which takes well to a fingernail profile.
Swept Back Grind
Although this profile is challenging to grind, it's recognized as the most versatile. Excellent for roughing, scraping and finishing - it's used by many professional and production turners. Grinding the long wings first and finishing with the nose is a helpful technique. A parabolic flute takes well to the swept back grind.