JES WoodCrafting

There are as many different types of tools as there are different wood turners.  One of the most common types is called a "gouge".  And it does just what it sounds like it does - gouges out material.  In the photo to the right I am using a "roughing" gouge to take a lot of material (called "stock") off quickly.  In this step I simply want to round the antler as much as possible and get it close the the finished diameter indicated by the bushings.  To add fine detail, a "spindle" gouge is used (picture below) to add coves and beads, curves and to bring the ends of the blanks down to the bushing diameter.

The lathe is turning at about 2,000 rpm from start to finish.  It can go faster or slower, but faster isn't needed and slower just is slower!  On a project this size it is very safe.  However, on large projects such as bowls which are much heavier, the rough "blank" must be turned very slowly so as not to cause it to come flying off the lathe due to an imbalance in weight distribution.  Heavy pieces of wood can shake a lathe enough to make it walk across the floor - or worse - become an airborne projectile with you face only  a few inches away!