GB2379899A

GB2379899A - Tubular roughing out gauge

Info

Publication number: GB2379899A
Application number: GB0123024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fred Rentz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-25
Filing date: 2001-09-25
Publication date: 2003-03-26
Also published as: GB0123024D0

Abstract

A tubular roughing out gouge particularly suited to wood turning, with up to 360 degrees of cutting edge. The tubular configuration of circa 360 degrees allows the full cutting edge to be used thereby reducing the need for re-sharpening and reducing wastage of tool steel. Chips are directed down the tube and thus away from the operator's face, which provides for overall safer operation. A replaceable cutting head version can also be provided.

Description

TUBULAR ROUGHING OUT GOUGE 1. This invention relates to a tubular roughing out gouge, particularly but not solely applicable to woodturning.

2. Typically, blades of wood turning gouges for roughing out are in cross section an arc of up to 180 degrees, sharpened around the whole arc to form the cutting edge. In use, only about one quarter of the cutting edge is used to avoid catching the work piece and also to help direct chips away from the face and eyes. The gouge requires regular sharpening by grinding the whole of the cutting edge including the unused sections. The regular sharpening by grinding necessitates regular gouge replacement.

3. When in use existing gouges produce many chips which can fly towards the face of the operator thereby producing a hazard. Present gouges are typically made from high speed steel but alternative materials that are suitably hard may also be used.

4. This invention entails a tubular cross section gouge typically in the range 270 degrees to 360 degrees with the preferred arc being 360 degrees to provide a fully circular cross section.

5. The cutting blade is sharpened around the whole of the arc. With a 360 degrees cutting edge the whole of the edge can be used, as there are no corners to catch in the work piece. Using the whole of the cutting edge reduces the interval between sharpening, wastes less tool material through the grinding process for sharpening and requires the tool to be replaced less often.

6. When the tool is in use, the chips are directed downward and through the tube, thus providing an added measure of safety for the operator.

7. A tubular gouge of slightly less than 360 degrees will provide most of the above benefits.

8. A specific embodiment of the invention is described in Figure 1, which provides for a basic tubular gouge, stirrup and handle.

9. A further embodiment of the invention is described in Figure 2, which provides for a detachable cutting head and guidelines to help locate starting points and used areas of the cutting edge.

10. Typically the stirrup has two arms to help optimise clearance of the chips but a stirrup of more than two arms could also be used.

11. The cutting head of the tool is necessarily made from steel or other material to provide suitable hardness to allow the gouge to operate and not readily

develop dulling of the cutting edge-high speed steel is a preferred material while carbon steel and other materials can be used.

12. The diameter of the tubular section is typically in the range of 4cm to 6cm but may be as low as 2.5cm and as high as 15cm. The length of the cutting head tubular section is typically in the range of 5cm to 25cm. The stirrup provides an open space for the chips to clear readily through the tube. The attached handle requires sufficient length for two handed use and control by the operator. The overall tool is balanced for ease of use and operator control.

13. The work piece may be non-cylindrical initially and the method of use comprises forming the work piece into a cylindrical or circular shape using the said gouge.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of woodturning using a hollow gouge having a tubular cross section as described above. The operator using the gouge typically uses two hands urging the tool into the work piece, usually with the aid of a tool rest, to bring the work piece to cylindrical or circular shape.
2. A method of wood turning using a gouge as previously described to bring a work piece to a cylindrical or circular shape.
3. A wood turning gouge of tubular shape with a sharpened cutting edge typically for a full 360 degrees to allow the whole of the sharpened edge to be used before sharpening is required.
4. A wood turning gouge of tubular shape which typically directs chips down and through the tube and thus avoids chips being directed towards the face of the operator thereby providing a safer operation.
5. A wood turning gouge of tubular shape, sharpened to typically 360 degrees of cutting edge which allows full use of the cutting edge and thus a reduction in wastage of steel through sharpening by grinding and provides maximisation of tool life.
6. A wood turning gouge of tubular shape which avoids catching in the work due to the absence of corners.

7 A wood turning gouge in an alternative presentation with a detachable and replaceable cutting head.