Spindle Roughing Gouge

Edge Angle

A positive rake angle is recommended by many as it reduces the chance to grab.

Be sure not to have the top of the curve to project forward from the center. To help with this, rotate in one direction only. Between rotations, lift the edge from the stone surface. This prevents working the centre more than the top edges.

Grind until you feel a burr raised along the entire edge, then hone the gouge to remove the burr.

General Guidelines
Edge α		Rake α		JS	P	Hole	Comments
α	Range	α	Range
45°	35° - 45°	20°	0° - 25°	6	55 mm	B	SVD-186 JR DUBUY on the Tormek forum recommended using the Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig with these settings. It works quite well.
35°	35° - 45°	20°	0° - 25°	0°	55 mm	B	SVS-50 with open seat Alan Batty recommended 45°, and this is generally recommended by many. I certainly recognize Mr. Batty's proven experience, but I've found that the 35° realized with these Tormek settings works extremely well. Use with the Tormek SVS-50 Multi Jig with the Open Seat.

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

Marty Kiminsky noted that an Edge α of 40-45° is generally recommended for this tool, and that his personal preference is 40°. See also, "Woodturning" magazine, issue # 352.

More Information

Books & Papers

• Alan Lacer wrote an article for the AAW titled "Learn to Sharpen Your Turning Tools" where he recommended 10° for the rake angle.


• "Woodturning" magazine, issue # 352.

Videos & Presentations

• Tormek Sharpening Classes: Part 5 - Woodturning Tools (YouTube video). Want to learn how you get your woodturning tools razor-sharp? In this week's sharpening class we take a closer look at the tools for the woodturner; Gouges, skews, parting tools, scrapers, cutters and more. Sebastien and Wolfgang will show you the methods for sharpening all these turning tools and how you achieve repeatable edges every time. Stay tuned and hit us with your questions during the stream.


• Tormek Live Sharpening Class - Part 9 - Sharpen a flat bevel with Tormek MB-100 on a diamond wheel (YouTube video). In this episode we learn how to use the Tormek MB-100 Multi Base to sharpen a completely flat bevel ▼, on the side of Tormek's diamond wheels DC-250, DF-250 and DE-250. For some tools, such as 🎻 luthier knives,🔪 Kiridashi knives, v-tools, chip carving knives and Japanese plane irons, a completely flat surface on the bevel is preferred over a slightly concave, which you get when you sharpen on the rounded part of the grinding wheel. For some people this is more of a personal preference.

  Regardless of what might be the reason to want a flat bevel, Sèbastian and Wolfgang show how to achieve it with your Tormek wet sharpening system, They will also touch upon the differences between the different types of bevels.



• 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.


• How to sharpen roughing gouges, skews & parting tools - Tormek SVS-50 Multi Jig - with Nick Agar (YouTube video). In this third episode, Nick Agar shows how to sharpen a roughing gouge with a few simple steps using the open seat of Tormek's Multi Jig SVS-50. Further, he shows how to sharpen a parting tool and a skew using the closed seat of the SVS-50. Nick also demonstrates how to use the Tormek Marker Method when setting the angle and how to sharpen a custom skew shape on the side of Tormek's Diamond Wheel using MB-100 Multi Base.


• Alan Holtham - Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig (YouTube video)


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


• Sharpen gouges with the Tormek Gouge Jig SVD-185 (YouTube video)


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


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


• Tormek Turning Tool Setter TTS-100 (YouTube video)


• Tormek AngleMaster WM-200 (YouTube video)

Web Sites

• TurnAWoodBowl.com is a pretty good reference site for sharpening bowl gouges, especially as it regards the bevel angle you might select. (But it does have a LOT of advertisements on the site -- bit on the annoying side.)