Carbide scrapers don't retain their ultimate sharpness for long, so consequently rarely produce a clean surface off the tool, even when turning timbers pried for their workability. People tend to forget that it pays to seek out decent timber to turn, rather than using any old 'free' wood that comes their way.

I'm delighted to be able to help any one avoid the problems I've had.

Thank you. It was before the pandemic and probably my last demo in Britain. I was on my way to the Norwegian Cruise which is on again next year. Highly recommended.

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Does that mean you will be on the cruise and demonstrating?

@@WhoGnu08 Probably not. My 80th birthday, should it occur, will be mid-cruise and anyway chances are I can't afford the travel insurance to get there.

​@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Alas, my loss. Like many others, you were my guide to woodturning. I have all your books and your videos and it is through them that I learned what little I know of this craft. I would have loved to see you in person. But these youtube videos are pretty good and each one, to me, is like a master class. Thank you.

Enjoy the shavings

Hello, what do you do with all these bowls that you turn Tim? Also, what finish do you use, if I may ask? Best regards.

@@johnmitchell1614 I'm a professional turner so everything I turn gets sold. My finish on everything is a mix of boiled linseed oil and beeswax.

I still like the aluminium oxide for freehand grinding using a bar rest. CBN is better for jig and platform users.

This video is all down to me. Glad it works for you.

Don't we all!

No way of knowing until you try..... then it's all practice.

A dedicated scraper video is on my list.

I was never in the business of selling tools because I was always too busy turning bowls to fulfill orders. Manufacturers generally have standard gouges on which you can grind any bevel you like. Rarely is a factory grind the most useful. So select the gouge profile you prefer, then shape it to how you want it. Having said that, Henry Taylor do make asymmetric bowl gouges as part of the Raffan Signature range, originally made for Craft Supplies USA but for many years more widely available.

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Thank you, Richard (Appreciated)

The main thing is to have a 45° bevel on the nose that becomes steeper on the right wing, then make sure the left wing is convex rather than straight. As you push the gouge up the grinding wheel the left side bevel should take care of itself. I've never measured it - you don't want it thin enough to be fragile.

I developed this grind in 1970 but didn't fully appreciate its advantages over other grinds for over a decade. It's major advantage is that it makes entry cuts easier and can be rolled to maintain bevel contact all the way to centre, although I generally prefer scrapers across the bottom of a bowl for greater control over the shape, It saves having two gouges with different bevels.

The deep flute just make for a stronger tool when turning well over the rest. It hogs out effeciently when hollowing because of the short right wing. The swept-back left wing enables pull cuts on bowl profiles.

I use edges straight off the 80-grit CBN and the 60 grit carborundum that came with the grinder for shaping. 36-grt would be more effecient.

In 1970 deep-fluted bowl gouges were ground straight across. When hollowing bowls I kept catching the left corner so I removed it. After that I had many fewer catches and ribbons of shavings meters long off the still-square right wing. Then I found the swept back left wing could remove a lot of waste each pass when shaping the bowl profiles. And finally that rounding the right wing might reduce catches when making back-cuts up a bowl profile. Which it did.

That's a good idea I'd not considered. Freehand sharpening isn't that difficult. It just requires a steady hand and minimal tool pressure against the wheel. Let the wheel come to the tool. Freehand edges tend to be more useful than those achieved using a jig.

The included angle on my skews is about 30°. Have you seen the skew sharpening video? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fq2YdLNq3M69eY0.html

The precise presentation depends on several variables including the bevel angle, the rest height, your height in relation to centre, and the size of the gouge. I start a cut with the bevel heel contacting the wood, then raise the handle to pivot the edge into the cut using the bevel heel as a fulcrum. At this stage the blade is typically tilted slightly up when taking a heavy shaving. As I roll the tool to bring the flute facing up for the back-cut (with the vertical side rubbing the wood), I tend to bring the blade to horizontal as it's easier to steer around a curve. When horizontal, the tool is slicing at center height.

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Many thanks for your detailed reply-it is now a matter of practice on my part. Your demonstrations are absolutely top quality-and the best I have seen in close-up clarity. I also watch two others in the 4-way team demonstrations, one fellow I had not found, Mike & Angelo are regular’s, I will track down the fourth member. Great idea, I am looking forward to their contributions. If you have any comments to make on the best final finish to used on Huon Pine, bowls I am power carving end grain blanks, rock hard and far too big and heavy for my mini lathe. Ranges about 10” in max diameter and various thicknesses from 1.5 “. I acquired 40 odd blanks at a price too good to pass. Huon Pine is very popular down here and up in Queensland. Kind regards-Greetings from Tasmania 42 South.

Yes, and most shallow/spindle gouges too.

I'm not an American, so it flute width. Hopefully manufactureres will eventually come to some universal agreement on terminology using metric.

Thank you

They go on the garden as mulch.

So, do I ake o e or purchase one?

@@roberthortin5357 I didn't understand your question original question. If you have a gouge all you have to do is reshape it. However for many years Henry Taylor have made asymmetric gouges as one of the collection of Raffan Signature tools. I don't sell tools but Henry Taylor will tell you where your nearest dealer is.