Sharpening Handbook

Fluteless Gouge

Edge Angle

This guidance covers Skewchigouges & the Sorby Spindle Master.

The fluteless gouge is typically used in the same manner as the skew chisel (without the tendency to catch), or a spindle gouge.

Sharpening the fluteless gouge Image courtesy Robert Sorby

Note: Some turners advise not grinding the bottom, curved edge when sharpening this; rather they advocate sharpening the tool by grinding along the top, flat side. They will use a fine-grade diamond plate to do this (as shown in the picture to the left).

The life so short, the craft so long to learn.

Hippocrates

Guidelines shown below are for use with the Tormek SVD-186 or SVD-185 Gouge Jig.

General Guidelines
α	β	SVD-186			Comments
α	β	JS	P	Hole	Comments
30°	n/a	2	55 mm	B	*End view* This is the more typical approach when sharpening this tool.
60° - 70°	5° - 10°				*End view* Reed “Robo Hippy” Gray recommends this angle for cleaning up the bottom of a bowl. The one he uses for this is more of a half-round tool, and he uses it as a scraper. The second video below shows it well.

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

Relief Grind

The use of a relief grind (β) is recommended but not critical. If one is used, +5° to +10° is recommended.

Concave Top Face

One school of thought is to grind the top face to be slightly concave. This is shown in an exaggerated view to the left. I am not a fan of adding this grind as it changes the angle of attack too drastically as the tool is rotated in use.

More Information

Books & Papers

Some information presented is from the Tormek handbook, Water Cooled Sharpening of Edge Tools, © Tormek AB.

Published Articles

These are really good articles in American Woodturner, a magazine published by the American Association of Woodturners.

“In Defense of Smaller Sharpening Angles” by Mike Darlow. December, 2024. Mike's comments regarding ore acute angles (~25°) are based on some good reasoning.

“A Guide to Gouges” by Joe Larese, in the October 2011 edition. In it, he outlines very well differing gouge shapes and angles for α, and the impact these have on bowl turning.

“Modern Tool Steels and Grinders” by Tom Wirsing

“Refining the Edge: Skews and Gouges”, by Alan Lacer with Jeryl Wright. Summer 2009

Sorby's document about the SpindleMaster is a useful reference.

Tom Wirsing wrote really good article, Modern Tool Steels and Grinders, which was published though the American Association of Woodturners.

Books & Papers

Videos & Presentations

Jeff Farris

Sharpening with the Tormek SVD-185 Gouge Jig (YouTube video)

Robo Hippy

Fluteless Gouge Tips (YouTube video)

Alan Holtham

Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig (YouTube video)

David Peters

Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig Review and Comparison to the 185 (YouTube video)

Tormek

Tormek Sharpening Classes: Part 23 - Reshaping woodturning tools on a bench grinder (YouTube video). In this episode of the Tormek sharpening classes we explain how you can quickly and with full control, re-profile your turning tools on your bench grinder. The BGM-100 Bench Grinder Mounting Kit allows you to use the same jig settings as on your water-cooled Tormek sharpening system. It is therefore easy to do the rough shaping on the bench grinder and then continue to sharpen and maintain the edge of your Tormek machine.

Sharpen short edge tools with the Tormek Short Tool Jig SVS-32 (YouTube video)

Tormek AngleMaster WM-200 (YouTube video)

Tormek Turning Tool Setter TTS-100 (YouTube video)