Gouges for Beginner

[Mr Eddie]

I need some help!  I have decided to buy my wife a lathe for Christmas.  She is very crafty and likes to do stuff in the shop.  She has been talking about turning pens and small items and has been asking a lot of questions so I know there is some real interest. I am going to buy her a Jet 1221VS.  Where I need help is selecting a starter set of gouges.  I am a tool junkie so I know there are some beautiful gouges to be had but . . . I would like to keep the cost around $100.  I have been looking at the Benjamin's Best line from PSI.  They have a few sets that get good reviews but I don't know if one is better than another for a beginner's first set.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lonnie

[Arlin Eastman]

To me you would same money and get a better lathe by getting the 12" from PSI

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/KWL-1218VS.html

or $50 more and have a long extension for it

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/KWL-12WB.html

I never had a problem with my 10" back 7 years ago and would go for the 12" instantly

Now if she can sharpen gouges pretty easy then buy a the parting tool

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LX410.html which is free if you buy the lathe

The 3/8" spindle gouge

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LX320.html

and a 3/4" roughing gouge which I think is great for pens

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LX250.html

or if she can not sharpen then this set

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/carbi...tools.html

Which is what I have all the vets use all the time and I am very glad I did get them to.

I am pretty sure with the Lathe and tools you will be in for $500 and with the carbide then $650

Arlin

[Wipedout]

I'll have to disagree with Arlin and say stick with the lathe you choose initially. It's a great Lathe.

[AHill]

I'll have to disagree with Arlin and say stick with the lathe you choose initially.  It's a great Lathe.

+1.  Turncrafter lathes never show up as Editor's Choice or Best Buy in the lathe ratings.

For a beginner's tool kit, I'd go with Benjamin's Best.  You don't need full-sized tools for turning pens or small crafts.  A basic set would include a skew chisel, spindle gouge, scraper, and parting tool.   If you want to turn bowls, you'll need a bowl gouge.  A 1/2" bowl gouge is a good multi-purpose tool.  Don't forget sharpening!  A slow speed grinder with an appropriate tool stand will do you well.  Turning without sharp tools is like peanut butter without jelly.

[Steve K]

I'll have to disagree with Arlin and say stick with the lathe you choose initially.  It's a great Lathe.

Plus one on the Jet, I have to disagree with Arlin on this as well.  Our club has four of those jet lathes, they get beat up daily and just keep working.

[MichaelMouse]

Still favor these configurations. http://www.rockler.com/turning-tool-set  Especially for pen turning.  The roughing gouge is 1", where I would prefer a 1.25, but it's much nicer for slicing than a smaller diameter, as are the broad sweep traditional gouges.  For beads, I favor taking one of the scrapers - spear point, and grinding it to a straight chisel.  High-carbon steel may be kept in tip-top condition with stones alone, honing by hand.  No funny changing of angles required if you sweep them across a stone, should that be your preference.  Same angle side to side, though I like longer bevels on the 3/8 and 1/2 sizes to work in both coves and planning operations.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/G...Bevels.jpg


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/G...e-Left.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/G...ughing.jpg  The broad sweep gouges leave behind a surface comparable to a straight or skew chisel when used properly.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d160/G...eeling.jpg  The beading tool - straight chisel - works convex surfaces whether it's narrfow, as with the parting tool, or broad.

[Mr Eddie]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  Lots of good info.  Here's what I'm considering to start:

All from PSI

Carbide Chisel Set which includes:
3/8" Gouge
1/2" Skew
1/8" Parting

1/4" Spindle Gouge
3/8" Spindle Gouge
1/2" Bowl Gouge
3/4" Roughing Gouge

Cost $122.75 w/free shipping

What do you think?  Am I leaving anything out?

Lonnie

[Angus]

I'm going to be one of those other opinions. This set from harbor freight has all you need to turn pens and then some. You haven't mentioned if you have some type of powered sharpening set up. The set I linked to has to be non-HSS so you could use a stone on them to sharpen. I still use the roughing gouge from that set as my primary pen tool and it has to have at least 15 years on it. You will want better tools eventually but theirs n o point wasting steel on expensive tools while you learn to sharpen.

[gear jammer]

I got a new Grizzly 12xi8 for half the cost of a Jet. Wife loves it and l tinker on it also. I have to agree with Angus on the Harbor Freight but to get the HSS ones. The Windsor with the red handles. I started with these and still grab them to do small spindle work.

Edit to add, I use the scary sharp to touch up my chisels. Sandpaper on glass for the skews and parting tools. Different sized PVC with sandpaper glued in for the gouges. I use spray adhesive to  attach the paper. It only take a couple of passes to give a sharp edge. I made a sled but have shied away from it over time.
 It is so-so on the bowl gouges. Gives me a quick sharp edge. I use the grinder still to make changes.

A sharp tool is a must and makes the hobby most enjoyable. You will find out soon enough about this.

[NCPaladin]

JMHO but...
You do not link to the set of carbide bit tools at PSI.  I looked at some and they are certainly for small items.  Do you have a way to resharpen carbide?
I rarely use carbide but lots of folks love them.
You list a 3/8 gouge in the carbide and another in the HSS?
A 1/4" spindle gouge is very small, I do have one that came it a set and it has never been used.
If you aren't doing bowls to start with I would skip the bowl gouge for now.

I would want a....
3/8" spindle gouge, 1/2" spindle gouge, 3/4" or 1" roughing gouge, narrow parting tool. and a 3/4"-1" flat skew.
I would prefer full (normal) size tools as they will be needed in the future.
I have not used PSI but they seem to get good reviews in general.  Hurricane also makes decent HSS tools at affordable prices.
Here is a link to some projects that may be worth a look; most are spindle orientation and smaller items.  Lots of small items other than pens or stoppers.

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning...videos.php