Shopsmith Forums

Roy OKC,
Yes, in Cincinnati...

I have a Shopsmith lathe chisel question. Why is the 1" roughing gouge profiled like a shaping gouge? Or does the Shopsmith set not have a true roughing gouge?

Many turners profile their roughing gouges that way. Makes it less "catchy". I have a Sorby roughing gouge and the Shopsmith, I prefer the Shopsmith gouge, but admit that the steel isn't the greatest at holding an edge. It is of the older variety steel. Perhaps the new Shopsmith lathe tools are better (high speed steel or M2?)

I agree with the previous post about a mentor. Contact the local turning club and attend a meeting. It will save you tons of frustration and make for a much more enjoyable experience. The art of turning begins and ends with the chisels. There is no doubt that SS turning tools are not the very best steel. But that just means you have to sharpen more frequently. Other than that they work fine. Learning to sharpen the chisels is where you begin. There are many methods to sharpen and they probably all work fine. The important factor is you perfect whatever method you choose. There are as many different profiles as there are turners. This is where the club will really help. There you can be exposed to a lot of different sharpening systems and profiles and through trial and error develop your own preferences. If you don't already have it I highly recommend the heavy duty SS tool rest. It makes for a whole different experience. The main thing is to have fun !
Paul

I ordered the heavy tool rest last week.