Shopsmith Forums

Where can I purchase just the lathe gouge blades without handles?

I can make my own handles. That's pretty easy and fun.

Just last month I purchased a 3/8 (10 mm) Beading and Parting tool from Robert Sorby, through Amazon. The HSS tool came without a handle, so I turned one of oak, and used an inexpensive 11/16 socket from an old set as the ferrule. Stuck it all together with epoxy and it works great. I believe it is possible to buy pretty much any tool that Robert Sorby offers without a handle, although this is the only one I have done that way so far.

Here are a couple of sources for high quality turning tools without handles:

https://thompsonlathetools.com

https://oneway.ca/products-category/tur ... ng%20Tools

Don't know where you are, but you may be able to find the Oneway gouges at a woodworking store that sells Oneway lathes, the tools from Doug Thompson are easiest to buy online.

Happy turning,

Mike

all ways had good luck finding tools at flea markets and garage sales .

Not cheap but really good quality:

https://d-waytools.com

Ed

Another good source: https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/

Another option is to purchase the little carbide cutters and make the handles and shafts yourself so you have complete carbide tools.
https://www.rockler.com/shop?w=easy+woo ... de+cutters

I own this set and haven't experienced any issues apart from the usual headaches for beginners of trying to figure out how to sharpen them and what grinding to use on the gouge in the bowl. The steel appears to be of decent quality (holds the edge) as well as the handle is comfortable. I've turned a few off-balance parts that I shouldn't be using on my lathe but haven't been able to break anything.

However, I'm not certain if I'd even consider buying the entire set if it was something I needed to go through it again. The tool that I keep in my pocket the most frequently (by by) is the 1/2 inch bowl gouge (I used an swept back grinding on it). Then it's the one of the two skews (with an angled grind). I utilize it for spindle work beads, recesses, and bowl tenons, negative scraping using rakes. ....Next is most likely that spindle gouge. I don't utilize the spindle gouge a lot and tend to use my own thin tool for parting over the parting tool included in the kit. The larger skew replaces the smaller skew occasionally, or I'll employ it to roughen the spindle.

I own this set and haven't experienced any issues apart from the usual headaches for beginners of figuring out how sharpen them and what grinding to use on the gouge in the bowl. The quality of the steel appears to be good (holds edges) while the grips are comfortable. I've turned some off-balance pieces I shouldn't be using on my lathe but haven't been able to break anything.

However, I'm not certain if I'd even consider buying the entire set if it was something I needed to go through it again. The tool that I keep in my pocket most often (by the most) is the half-inch bowl gouge (I applied an swept back grinding on it). It's then the less slender of the two skews (with the radiused grind). I utilize it for work with spindles beads, recesses, and bowl tenons, negative scraping with rakes. ....Next is likely to be an abrasive gouge for the spinning. I don't employ the spindle gouge a lot and tend to use my own thin parting tool instead of the parting tool included in the kit. The larger skew replaces the smaller one occasionally or I'll make use of it to roughen the spindle.

Hmmmm!