One Tool Away from Greatness

This statement makes a great T–shirt slogan, but a very poor tool acquisition strategy. When I first began learning to turn wood I attributed superior results to specific tools.

The truth is that a superior craftsman could select any one of many different tools to obtain excellent results. A superior craftsman could probably walk into your shop and use the tools you already own to produce a masterpiece right before your very eyes. Granted, such a master craftsman may do a little grinding, shaping, and sharpening, but the chances are he wouldn’t have to go get a special tool.

Friends, my counsel is seek to understand how the master craftsman is able to accomplish those fantastic results first rather than just trying to add more tools to your arsenal. Avoid the trap of becoming a tool chaser/collector. Simply owning at Ellsworth bowl gouge will not give you the ability to create magnificent hollow forms any more than owning a Cindy Drozda spindle gouge will allow you to create spectacular finials. You will find this great advice in The Reference Manual at “Proverbs 4:7 KJV Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

I just went to the shop and did a rough count on the number of lathe tools in my shop and the count exceeded 125. And that is just what I have left! As a new wood turner I made the mistake of attributing results to the tool and not to the skill of the person using the tool. So every time I saw a demonstration or a videotape I acquired those tools. My hope is you won’t fall into that trap. Just like most of you, I don’t use more than tend to 15 of these tools on a regular basis.

There are only six categories of traditional turning tools. Even if we consider the new generation of carbide tools, which are actually just fancy scrapers, the only other category is deep hollowing tools. I have reduced this to an easy to understand document which is available as a free download from www.RonBrownsbest.com. The document is entitled “Turners Reference Guide”. If you haven’t already done so I would encourage you to download this free file today.

Those six categories are: 1) spindle roughing gouge, 2) spindle gouge, 3) skew chisel, 4) parting tool, 5) scraper, 6) bowl gouge. Everything else is a variation on a theme, larger, smaller, wider, thicker, etc. if you will look at your turning tools through this filter it will be much easier to acquire the proper understanding of their use. This categorization is extremely helpful when it comes to learning to sharpen your traditional lathe tools. Once you learn to sharpen one spindle gouge you can automatically sharpen all sizes ¼ , 3/8, ½ etc. The same with bowl gouges, scrapers, etc.

As most of you know, I have been a touring professional turner for many years and have done many thousands of demonstrations before live audiences. Still, I jump at the chance to be a student in classes offered by the likes of Stuart Mortimer, David Ellsworth, Jimmy Clews and Mike Mahoney. My singular purpose is to gain understanding and insight into how these individuals are able to do what they do with essentially the same tools and equipment which I have. I have never been disappointed.

In closing let me say don’t be afraid to buy a new tool, just make sure to also obtain the understanding of how to use it. The magic does not lie in the tool itself but rather in the hands which use it.

Because “Wherever you go, there you are.”

Your friend, Ron Brown

Bonus: I hope you enjoy “Ron’s Pearls”.

Ron’s Pearls:

There are exceptions to every rule except this one. Six types of chisels are needed to make up a basic turning set (Spindle Gouges, Roughing Gouges, Bowl Gouges, Skews, Scrapers & Parting Tools). Sharp Lathe Tools are more fun. Speed formula: diameter in inches X speed in RPM’s should equal 6,000 to 9