Richard Raffan on the uses of a ½-in spindle gouge

If I was forced to choose just one tool for turning wood it would be a ½-in spindle gouge. With this gouge I can turn big and small spindles - you see a very small spindle, and reduce square spindle blanks to round. (You don't need a roughing gouge.) This is my preferrd tool for hollowing into endgrain and shaping bowl profiles, and it can hollow small bowls.

[@debbiecoull6957]

When I first started turning, the tool I used for mostly everything was the 1/2" spindle. I was comfortable and proficient with it. About 18months into turning, we had a professional come to our club to do a demo, and a hands on session. He slated me for using the 1/2" spindle gouge, actually taking it off me and insisting I used a bowl gouge. Being reasonably new, I was a bit embarrassed and felt flustered. I then went through weeks of trying to become comfortable using the bowl gouge. My beloved spindle looking on forlornly. It's very satisfying to have you state that a spindle gouge is a perfectly good tool to use, and know that I was not turning badly. Debs

[@malbun3275]

Hi Richard Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge on the spindle gouges.for years I’ve bumped my way round the outside of a bowl blank with my bowl gouge,now I use the spindle gouge method,it’s so fast to create the bowl shape it’s amazing it’s great to learn from you with your clear demonstrations.you’ve taught this 81 year old dog many new tricks. Thank you Regards from NZ

[@stevenholton438]

Thanks for this Richard, especially the last sentence! The more I watch your videos the more familiar I become with your techniques and the more experienced I seem to become!

[@glencrandall7051]

Thank you Richard. As a bowl turner I haven't paid much attention to my spindle gouges. This video has encouraged me to look into using them more. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@jorisdemoel3821]

It is amazing to see you use a single tool for so many things. Many thanks for another entertaining and instructive video.

[@johnnyb95678]

Thank you for the master class in using, sharpening, and selecting gouges. Thank you for sharing!

[@robertprobert7236]

Another. Good one. From. Richard. On how to made. Easy. Always. Good. To. Watch

[@emgiwoodworks]

At first I wanted to start regrinding my gouge but now I have learned I need more than one. 😯 Thus far I have only one that's decent. My hopes are on Santa. 😎

[@cooperken11]

Brilliant video Richard, beautifully demonstrated as usual and so well explained. Thanks for sharing.

[@paulplager9498]

Thank you Richard, again your have taught me a tremendous amount. Your knowledge is very much appreciated and not taken for granted by myself.

[@danielelse3914]

Always a joy to watch a master at work.

[@dianadougherty7187]

I love the way that you teach us along the way.

[@andredupuis8497]

Look very easy when we see you I would like to be a little of your experience thanks very much

[@edwardukleja4583]

Another useful video. I “acquired” a 1/2 inch spindle gauge after watching several of your ear.liber videos, I know use it on almost everything.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

An excellent demo, thanks Richard.

[@MarklTucson]

Thank-you for this very clear exposition of the versatility of this tool. I really like that angle tool you showed, am going laser cut something like it to use, seems much more user-friendly than an angle gauge.

[@bradbyers7505]

Very useful information. I do a fair amount of spindle work as well as faceplate (chuck, actually) turning, although I’m just a hobbyist. This demonstration really helps me personally. Thank you, Sir. 👍🏼

[@douglasperry1226]

I’ve got to try your grinds! I always use a bowl gouge for all my bowl turnings. The spindle gouges sit on my rack. Occasionally I will cut a tenon. Lol Thanks Richard your the best!

[@MASI_forging]

Another great video. Such a beautiful piece of work 👍👍

[@josephpotterf9459]

Thanks I always learn from your videos.

[@jackthompson5092]

Great lesson Richard.

[@bernardfutter5327]

Thanks,Richard. So some of my practices are not outrageous after all.(30 degree bevel; asymmetric tips). I liked the way you ripped off the bark for your second blank. I know you are renowned for speed turning. Bernard.

[@jimgill1105]

Another Master Class - excellent!

[@henrysscrollsawworks6917]

Thank you for for another great video

[@randyscorner9434]

So many of these techniques require a certain amount of courage to try, but seeing Richard do them has incentivized me to try... with so far no injuries... The back grain hollowing seems fraught with problems but works great....

[@kitwarren2493]

Perhaps you've already considered this and have decided against it, but I sincerely believe that you would do very well with KZbin shorts - people of that format are mad for this sort of mastery and the mesmerising and satisfying nature of the work. Of course I would't risk mentioning it if it came at the expense of these wonderful longer form videos - just a thought. Thank you!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I"ve made a few short videos but Google doesn't see them as such. I need to look into shorts again.

[@robertreihsen9096]

Thanks for the lesson! What's the difference between a deep fluted spindle and a bowl gouge!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Modern bowl gouges are machined out of round bar, whereas deep-fluted spindle-roughing gouges are formed from flat section steel and have a pointy tang. You see two deep-fluted roughing gouges in kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmXIo4Wba9mIqpo

[@STMwoodturning]

Well… I’m sold 😂 Question: If you could only have one grind on your 1/2” spindle gouge what would it be?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I can do almost anything with the middle one used for hollowing endgrain.

[@MichaelKieweg]

Thanks for the lesson! Your videois make me more and more wanting to try my hand on turning and add a woodlathe to my tools. One question, when hollowing the endgrain, hoe wood you go about hollowing the vessel from the direction of the smaller diameter, to create something like a classical inkwell? Seems to be extremely diffcult to get a hook into it. Greetings from Germany

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Hollowing a big space through a small opening requires specialist hollowing tools so you can undercut the rim. I don't use hook tools. You can make your own specialist hollowers but for small hollow vases I use a McNaughton Undercutter which you can see far right in my Essential Tools video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3LdYnmcdtmko6c

[@MichaelKieweg]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning : OK! Thanks!

[@Pato290763]

Hello Richard! As always, I thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I have a question. At what height should the tool rest for the spindle gouge be placed?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It's generally just below centre for facework, slightly above for spindles. You need to set the rest so you're comfortable, so the height of the rest depends partly on your height in relation to the lathe centre height and then the diameter of the spindle you're turning. There is no 'correct' centre height.

[@Pato290763]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Understood! Thanks again!!

[@kenvasko2285]

I am still little confused about a spindle gouge and a detail gouge. If a spindle gouge has a 40° angle, does that make it a detail gouge? If it has a fingernail shape is it a spindle gouge? Does the flute depth make a difference? I don't know. Do you have a video on the difference between the two?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The detail gouge has a shallower flute and generally a much longer bevel so the nose of the tool can get into tighter spaces like vee-grooves and function almost like a skew chisel. I feel a video coming on.....

[@kenvasko2285]

​@@RichardRaffanwoodturningShould any gouge have a pointed tip with a 45° bevel? Or is the fingernail the shape for detail and spindle gouge?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@kenvasko2285 If you want to turn narrow grooves using a standard ½" spindle gouge you'd have a longer bevel typical of a detail gouge. A 45° bevel with rounded wings - an embryo fingernail - is a good starting point from which to develop a shape most useful for what you want ot turn. My gouges are mostly asymmetic with a longer left wing and shorter right wing and varying bevel angle.

[@howardpaulhudson2297]

Can i turn a ball gouge to a spindle

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@howardpaulhudson2297 You can grind a long bevel and swept-back wings so the gouge can be used for turning spindles. I know one professional who turns all spindles using ⅜" and ½" deep fluted bowl gouges ground this way. You won't get the narrow details you can achieve using a spindle gouge or detail gouge, but your spindles will definitely have a uniqueness.

[@howardpaulhudson2297]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thankyou....on it tomorrow...to many gouges not enough spindles thankyou...

[@zenletter]

What is the shaft diameter, 5/8? I sure hate the differing gouge measurement methods.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I was wrong: it's sold as a ½-in spindle gouge and that's the overall diameter - 12.5mm. the flute is 10mm.

[@williamno.1450]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning In the United States, one tool supplier has a couple listings for spindle gouges. There are more options than most retailers, but that is because Doug Thompson probably wants to have options precisely for everyone. Anyhow, I was wondering which of the options would be the most similar to your 1/2 spindle gouge. Would you consider the gouge that you use to be a "spindle gouge", "deep-fluted spindle gouge", "detail gouge", or a "shallow detail gouge"? I am assuming that it would be a "spindle gouge", which says it has a flute depth of 50% of the diameter. Sorry about the confusion, you are a true master and a pleasure to watch!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@williamno.1450 The spindle gouges I use are ½" diameter with a ⅜" flute. Some are Henry Taylor, some Hamlet, some Sorby who each market these as ½" spindle gouges as opposed to detail gouges that are the same diameter but with a shallower flute. I have a Thompson gouge ⅝" diameter with a ½" flute which is nearer a Sheffield detail gouge than spindle gouge and excellent as a bowl gouge.

[@garyjanes2358]

I wood have given you 2 thumbs up if it were allowed! Thank you.