AWGB Woodturning Forum

General Category => Tool tips & reviews => Topic started by: alpha1 on January 01, 2020, 12:44:44 AM

Title: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: alpha1 on January 01, 2020, 12:44:44 AM
Hi I'm totally brand new to woodturning on a wood lathe.
I have bought my first Axminster hobby lathe to help with my pen turning that for the last few years I have been turning out on a modified metal lathe.
I bought a chuck for it.
Today I bought the Axminster craft starter gouge set it comes with 6 gouges. Have I wasted my money or are they going to be OK to create some small bowls and pens? (I sell a lot of pens) I have never turned anything other than a pen.
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: seventhdevil on January 01, 2020, 01:00:20 PM
depends on the quality of the tool.

add a picture and we can see what they are.
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: Twisted Trees on January 01, 2020, 01:19:42 PM
If it is this set, they will do.

You will find the tools and handles that work for you over time, but you need something to start off with as your turning evolves you will decide simply on weight, length and feel if you prefer one brand of tool over another.

The most important thing is learning to keep your tools sharp. When something is spinning at 1000rpm you cut a lot of wood fibres in a day so need to be able to sharpen quickly and efficiently. I recommend if you see crappy second hand battered woodturning tools online or at a car boot sale etc. you buy them and sharpen them a lot get the technique sorted on cheap metal so your favourite tools only get sharpened properly and will last a long time.

In about 10 years time you will know which tools you like the most, as they will all be 2" long and you still can't bring yourself to replace them!

(https://cdn.axminster.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/920x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/0/106153_xl.jpg)
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: alpha1 on January 01, 2020, 04:29:26 PM
Yes thats the picture of the set I bought.
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: Les Symonds on January 02, 2020, 06:01:15 AM
Hello Alpha 1....I'm a little concerned that you refer to the tool set as being all gouges! This may have been the simple use of a generic term to cover all the tools, but it's worth pointing out that these are far from all being gouges, so at the risk of sounding a little pedantic, here's what you've got, reading down from the top of your photo...
.....it is well worth your while getting some assistance from a bowl turner before making the leap from pen-turning to bowl turning, but if you choose to go it alone, there is one golden rule regarding tool number 5 in the list. This is spindle roughing gouge.....never, never use it on bowls!

Les
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: Twisted Trees on January 02, 2020, 08:23:42 AM
Adding to what Les said, apart from the obvious training advantage, usually when you get some training you will also get to use different tools so will have a short cut to finding your favourite ones.

Oh and NEVER use a spindle roughing gouge on a bowl! and without training I wouldn't recommend the skew for a bowl either!
Title: Re: Axminster 6 gouge starter kit
Post by: alpha1 on January 02, 2020, 09:05:51 PM
Thanks for the replies. There is a long-established woodturning group local to me. I intend to pop along and introduce my self and get some guidance before I dive in.