How To Sharpen A Bowl Gouge Without A Jig

Adjust the light so you can see easily.

How to sharpen a bowl gouge without a jig. These sharpening jigs give consistent grinds. Its a good idea to have bowl gouges with different grinds. 1 Position the bowl gouge in the jig with the pointed leg of the jig facing backward and down.

Sharpening for a workflow which uses multiple bowl gouges - consider A relief ground into the bottom part of the gouge helps reduce bruising the wood as the turner comes around the inside curve of the bowl. My method of sharpening the Bowl Gouge. Put on your faceshield turn on the grinder and place your gouge on the toolrest at an angle so the middle of the bevel will touch the surface of the wheel.

Place a pen or pencil along the side of the bowl gouge and use your thumb to mark the width of the gouge. Sharpening without a Jig This is fairly the same process as before less the adjustments of the gouge to the jig. Now that I have considerable experience with free-hand sharpening Im more likely to approach the wheel with the tool at an angle of 30 - 45º as opposed to having it almost horizontal as described above.

Bowl gouge material will need to be removed to make this new angle. Yes you can. I touch the heel of the bevel to the wheel first and then tilt the bevel toward the wheel until I feel it make full contact.

If the gouge profile is one you like then sharpen heel to nose following the bevel all the way aroudn the curve. The jig makes sharpening a gouge almost. Practice keeping the angle fixed on the wheel quite a few times before you turn it on.

You might want to try keeping your hand steady while sharpening. Place the flat portion of the protractor base flush against the center of the bowl gouge flute. Adjust the swinging arm until it is snug up against the bevel angle.