|
In this article, I will be doing a review of woodturning
tools by Hamlet Craft Tools. These tools are manufactured in Sheffield,
England and are available from
many retailers in Britain. Craft Supplies USA are the sole distributors
in the States. The tools are of very high quality and they are well
balanced with handles that feel right. A tool that is not balanced
and with a badly designed handle will not lend itself to good turning.
When I first saw the Hamlet range, I noted the handles were sturdy,
and nicely shaped. Purchasers can specify ash, beech or rosewood;
the latter looking really good with a beautiful sheen and gold lettering.
The Hamlet tool range is extensive with an HSS (High
Speed Steel) tool for every job in woodturning! They also have a
good range of carbon steel tools for those who prefer the traditional,
if somewhat softer material. I prefer high-speed steel out of the
two. Recently, though, I have been introduced by Hamlet to a new
steel called ASP (ALSA STORA PROCESS). The ASP tools are much harder
than HSS, and are now available in a choice of 2030 or 2060 HSS.
More about this later.
THE SPINDLE GOUGE
Some times called the shallow fluted gouge, but
most commonly referred to as the spindle gouge. This tool comes
in many forms for doing exactly the same job. The
|
|
|
Factory grind
|
|
|
|
Re-ground to fingernail
profile
|
standard spindle gouge, the long and strong, the profile gouge, and
the European spindle gouge to name a few. I find that the standard
grind on the spindle gouge straight from the supplier is a little
shallow. I prefer to re-grind them to a fingernail profile before
I use them. Take a look at the photos to the right to see the difference.
If any one were to ask me to choose one tool from
the many that I have collected over the years, I would have no hesitation
in choosing the 1/2" ASP 2030 spindle gouge from Hamlet. As
far as I am concerned there isn't a more versatile tool in the woodurner's
arsenal. In the following project, A Plant Stand, I will be using
only two tools. I will bring the timber to a cylinder using the
Hamlet 1/2" HSS roughing out gouge. To form the body I'll use the
1/2" ASP 2030 HSS spindle
 |
|
1/2 inch ASP 2030 spindle
gouge, re-ground to a fingernail profile.
|
gouge. I make no apologies for claiming that the 1/2" spindle gouge
from Hamlet Craft Tools is the finest spindle gouge that I own. The
ASP steel is a high-alloy, high speed steel that contains cobalt (CO).
It is metalurgically manufactured powder, which makes the tools exceptionally
resistant to wear. The steel is atomized, compacted, and processed
to the dimensions required. The result is an extremely homogeneous
structure, which enhances such properties as dimensional stability
and shape stability during heat treatment, as well as improving grind
ability and toughness. Hamlet Craft Tool claims that these tools (ASP
2030) will last approximately 2 to 3 times longer than conventional
M2 steel (HSS). The body for the plant stand was formed from a 3"
x 3" length of dense Hemlock, which was lying in the workshop for
some months. The gouge cut through it beautifully without having to
sharpen or hone after I reground to the fingernail profile.
The spindle gouge can be used for beads, coves,
v-cuts, planing cuts, and shear scraping.For those of you who are
beginners to woodturning and are a little confused about what tools
are used for various cuts and forming various shapes, I will be
explaining how to use some of the most common tools over the next
few months in the projects that I have chosen to demonstrate the
tools in the reviews.
The project A
Plant Stand shows photos of turning beads, coves and v-cuts
and the way they are blended together to form a beautiful profiled
body for the plant stand.
Oskar.
|
 |
