Part 1 of this article, titled ‘Bowl Gouge Flute Shape‘, can be found on our website. Below, in Part 2, ‘Bowl Gouge Grinds,’ we take a closer look at the various grind profiles and explore how the flute geometry influences the shape and usability characteristics of a bowl gouge.
Bowl gouge grind profiles are essential to a turner’s success, influencing everything from material removal rates to the quality of the final surface. By understanding the relationship between flute shape and grind geometry, you can optimize your tools for specific tasks and wood types.
The Traditional Grind
This profile features U-shaped wings that point almost straight up, closely resembling a spindle roughing gouge. With a blunt bevel angle (50º to 60°) and a shallow rake angle (0º to 25º), its longer, straighter cutting edge is exceptionally well-suited for smooth finishing cuts. It minimizes tear-out by cleanly slicing through irregular fibers, making it ideal for dry or highly figured woods.
A traditional grind combined with a U-shaped flute is an excellent choice for a bottom bowl gouge. While a bottom bowl gouge can also be ground using a parabolic flute, a V-flute is generally less effective for this specific task. This is because a V-flute wing doesn’t return to vertical like a U or parabolic flute, making it prone to catching a tip—especially the left wing. To prevent this, consider using an asymmetrical grind.
With a slightly steeper sweep (rake) angle of about 15º to 25º, the tool becomes highly effective at slicing the outside of end-grain forms. This specialized profile was popularized by Andre Martel; it is particularly effective when using a hook tool to create thin-walled items like lampshades. The wide flute bottom provides a significant amount of uniform edge, allowing you to rotate the tool to instantly access a fresh cutting surface.
The Traditional Grind
This profile features U-shaped wings that point almost straight up, closely resembling a spindle roughing gouge. With a blunt bevel angle (50º to 60°) and a shallow rake angle (0º to 25º), its longer, straighter cutting edge is exceptionally well-suited for smooth finishing cuts. It minimizes tear-out by cleanly slicing through irregular fibers, making it ideal for dry or highly figured woods.
A traditional grind combined with a U-shaped flute is an excellent choice for a bottom bowl gouge. While a bottom bowl gouge can also be ground using a parabolic flute, a V-flute is generally less effective for this specific task. This is because a V-flute wing doesn’t return to vertical like a U or parabolic flute, making it prone to catching a tip—especially the left wing. To prevent this, consider using an asymmetrical grind.
With a slightly steeper sweep (rake) angle of about 15º to 25º, the tool becomes highly effective at slicing the outside of end-grain forms. This specialized profile was popularized by Andre Martel; it is particularly effective when using a hook tool to create thin-walled items like lampshades. The wide flute bottom provides a significant amount of uniform edge, allowing you to rotate the tool to instantly access a fresh cutting surface.
The Swept-Back Wing (Irish or Ellsworth Grind)
Often referred to as the “Swiss Army tool” of bowl turning, this profile is the most versatile in a turner’s kit. It typically features a steep nose angle (50° to 65°) and wings that are swept back at a 45° to 60° angle. A Parabolic-fluted gouge naturally produces convex wings with minimal effort while grinding. This continuously changing curve on the cutting edge excels at heavy roughing and rapid wood removal, but it can also be used for elegant shear scraping to clean up tool marks. The nose of the Parabolic gouge is wider than a V-fluted gouge. This slightly wider nose is a good balance between the U-shape and V-shaped flutes and allows for versatility on various- sized projects.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the “best” grind is the one that feels right in your hands and delivers the results you want on the lathe. By understanding how flute shapes and grinding profiles work together, you gain the power to customize your tools for any task—whether you’re looking for aggressive material removal or a delicate, whisper-thin finishing cut.
Remember, these setups aren’t set in stone. The beauty of woodturning is that you can adapt techniques, like the versatile swept-back wing, to almost any tool in your rack. As you experiment with these profiles, you’ll find that your tools become a natural extension of your hands, allowing you to focus less on the technicalities and more on the art of the turn.
Happy turning!
