Turning gouges

[NorthernJeff]

Hi all,

Does anyone know anything about Benjamin Best turning tools sold by PSI? I am interested because of the reviews and the price, but am skeptical because of the price. Anyone use them or know how well they work? Thank you.

Jeff

[CarvedTones]

I have the 3/8" bowl gouge. I guess it works well enough but I don't have another bowl gouge to compare to. Since you are in raleigh, you are welcome to borrow it for a few days and decide for yourself. PM me if interested.

EDIT - Actually, I do have Sorby HSS spindle tools to compare to, which is not apples to apples, but closer than oranges, if that makes any sense. The BB gouge doesn't seem significantly different as far as holding an edge for a reasonable amount of time and being easy to sharpen without overheating.

[sawduster]

I have a couple of BB tools that I bought second hand and I think they are fine. i'm still very much a novice turner so take it for what it's worth
Learning how to sharpen has been the biggest challenge and in the long run the most satisfying but it has not been without it's expenses

[mquan01]

I just ordered some yesterday because my neighbor has had his for a long time and loves them. He is an excellent turner and uses them almost daily.

[boxxmaker]

I have some and there not bad tools,although most of my turning tools are Doug Thompsons and you can't beat em.Anyway I don't recommend buying a set as you may only use a few of them and the rest just set on the shelf,been there done it.If your turning bowls,a 3/8 an a,or a 1/2 gouge will just about do what you will need to do,I would suggest getting with a club and talk to some turners.no need buying tools you may not use.

[CarvedTones]

+1000 on what Ken said about sets. If starting from scratch there are a couple of spindle sets I would consider, but if a set has more than 3 pieces, it probably has at least one tool you will rarely if ever use. Someone gave me a rule of thumb about HP and gouge width and that was to stay at or below HP in inches. In other words, don't get any gouge larger than a 1/2" for a 1/2 HP lathe. I have a 1/2 HP VS and it seems a little weak when at the lowest speed so I went with 3/8". I don't regret that; I have to back off sometimes and let it spin back up even with the 3/8".

[jimwill48]

Have several and they are pretty good. Not as good as some, but better than others. No Thompson but your not paying the price either. Will buy more when needed.......james

[NorthernJeff]

Thanks to all for your advice. I will indeed take the plunge and buy a 3/8 bowl gouge for my work. I appreciate the comments.

Jeff

[aplpickr]

BB are OK, but not as good as Sheffield steel. The differences between good and better HSS M2 can be only a few parts per thousand in the minor ingrediants. High dollar metallurgy does not come out of China at BB prices. They will not keep an edge as long. I have three 1/2" bowl gouges, BB, Crown, and Packards. I rotate them thru the same project. The BB is always waiting for the other two to get dull. I then sharpen all of them.

[sawduster]

for what it's worth , Hartville Tools is having a good sale on turning tools http://www.hartvilletool.com/
i have bought quite a few Crown tools from them and really like them a lot ...they are my primary tools these days

[CarvedTones]

I see Hartville has some of the Sorby tools on sale also. I do like my Sorby spindle tools. That seems to be what BB and HF ("Windsor Designs") imitate, BTW. The handles are pretty much the same shape/size (even the decoratives rings) and the same wood. I took a picture of 3 of my turning tools a while back:



that illustrates that. Only the little one is a Sorby. The skew is HF/Windsor and the bowl gouge is the Benji in question...