Shopsmiths 518733 bowl turning kit

[reible]

There have been some discussions about these of late so I figured I'd do a posting so we can find some other details out about them, well that is if anyone wants to share.

I got a set some years back and I still have to get in to bowl turning. Mine reside on a shelf still in the box they came in. I don't recall the price and well I don't think you can get them anymore from shopsmith.

I was able to find a page with them at the site but.....

ScreenHunter_96 Feb. 14 15.07.jpg (125.88 KiB) Viewed 4530 times

Now if anyone wants my set for $9999.99 I will throw in free shipping, first come and all that sort of stuff.

Yea I thought not.

So the finish on these is nothing like the normal spindle tools they sell. Very nicely done. The handles have a very different shape as well. Perhaps someone can guess who made these for shopsmith?? I think if one looks at the catalog images some brand seems likely.

The bowl gouges come in at about 23" long, the other tool are shorter but then that is the nature of the use of these.

They are labeled HSS, from all accounts M2 steel (based on the results of test done on a set of these AAW 2008).

I know some of you own these and they have been discussions it the past. I'd like to here so current information on this set and how you use it.

Ed

[ibskot]

The ones I have come across were Robert Sorby.

[Mike907]

I have that set, and the tools are fine. For best results, the tops of the scrapers should be polished like you would polish the back of a plane blade. Whether or not you want to raise a burr on the scrapers will probably need some experimenting. If you use a burr, it should be small and not like the burr on a cabinet scraper. I recently attended a class with Al Stirt, a professional turner from Vermont, and he raised a burr with two quick upward passes with a diamond hone. The Shopsmith bowl gouges are good as well, but have a more convention grind. It seems like most bowl turners are using an Irish grind, aka Ellsworth grind, with longer wings. Some people can freehand that grind, but not me. I have a Tormek, which is good for sharpening, but very slow at reshaping. The Oneway Wolverine jig seems very popular, and Ellsworth sells a jig, as well. The Irish grind is more useful in some ways, but the conventional grind is often better in the bottom of a bowl.

Anyway, the Shopsmith bowl set are good tools, and I think you will enjoy using them.

Mike

[reible]

I have a few purchases on my list related to turning this year. One is the wolverine with I think the newer vari-grind2. I have a variable speed grinder but want to get some norton wheels for it. Say good bye to a couple of hundred dollars for that alone.

Then I want to get a few new tools and get in to using the ellsworth or like style grinds. It will take a while as I can only spend so much every month and I've already over spent this month for a new router. I think the wolverine needs to come before getting any more new tools.

I'm also looking into getting the tools un-handled and making a handle that allows them to be removed to be stored separate and sharpened that way too. One handle can then service several functions and save a lot of space.

The shopsmith bowl gouges I will leave with that same grind as they now have. Well at least for now.

Ed

I have that set, and the tools are fine. For best results, the tops of the scrapers should be polished like you would polish the back of a plane blade. Whether or not you want to raise a burr on the scrapers will probably need some experimenting. If you use a burr, it should be small and not like the burr on a cabinet scraper. I recently attended a class with Al Stirt, a professional turner from Vermont, and he raised a burr with two quick upward passes with a diamond hone. The Shopsmith bowl gouges are good as well, but have a more convention grind. It seems like most bowl turners are using an Irish grind, aka Ellsworth grind, with longer wings. Some people can freehand that grind, but not me. I have a Tormek, which is good for sharpening, but very slow at reshaping. The Oneway Wolverine jig seems very popular, and Ellsworth sells a jig, as well. The Irish grind is more useful in some ways, but the conventional grind is often better in the bottom of a bowl.

Anyway, the Shopsmith bowl set are good tools, and I think you will enjoy using them.

Mike

[Mike907]

I've left the Shopsmith gouges with their original grinds, too.

As far as making your own interchangeable handles, that is a good idea. I have Oneway, Thompson, and Bosch interchangeable handles, and they all use allen screws that take the "Shopsmith Toolkit". I recently purchased some cam-lock tool holders that I need to make handles for. The drawback to the cam-locks is that the tool shank has to be the correct diameter, or the lock won't work. Each tool manufacturer seems to use slight variations in tool stock. The allen screw handles handle the variation with ease.

Mike

[wa2crk]

I have that set as well and I remember that when I bought them the instructor said that they were a Sorby tool.
I now have the Sorby Sovereign handle system and have reground the larger bowl gouge to an Ellsworth grind. The Oneway Wolverine sharpening guide made the regrind very easy.
Both of the bowl turning gouges fit the Sorby handle using the appropriate collets in the handle.
Bill V

[rpd]

For those of us on limited tool budgets, Cap'n Eddie has a video and plans to make a jig for the Ellsworth grind.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i9RDnJHz9g[/youtube]
I made one last fall. I used a 3/4" iron pipe nipple.

elsjig.JPG (182.85 KiB) Viewed 4383 times

elsjig2.JPG (204.65 KiB) Viewed 4383 times

I've only used it a couple of times but it has worked well so far.

[Mike907]

Pretty much identical to what Ellsworth sells.

Mike