I have no idea why, but the bowling dream from The Big Lebowski always pops into my head when I think about turning bowls. You are familiar with the scene I'm referring to aren't you? Well if not, don't worry because I've embedded it below for your viewing pleasures...so go ahead and give it a look...don't worry...I'll wait.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z92bykaeV4o]
See...how AWESOME was that? You're totally thinking about bowls now too aren't you!
Ok so probably not. But for whatever weird reason I am and do when I watch this scene. But why do I bring this up? Well, I've had bowls on the brain ever since I returned from Woodworking In America. I've always enjoyed turning and think I found a joy for it when I was in 9th grade wood shop with Mr. Woodward. Fast forward a few years and the purchase of my 1st lathe...which sat in the corner, neglected and unused for years...and I mean YEARS! The one thing I detest about turning, is sharpening of the tools. I detest this more than I detest sharpening in general. I've never been able to really get the hang of putting a good edge on turning tools and as such let the fact that I had dull, crappy tools keep me from enjoying my lathe.
Well no more I say! I've been meaning to pick up a set of Easy Wood Tools for a number of months now and just have never pulled the trigger....that was until WIA. I finally bit the bullet and bought a mid sized rougher while in the vendor area at WIA West and haven't looked back. This one tool has changed my entire outlook on turning! With this one tool and an R2 bit installed I've been turning bowls like a mad man.
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Glide Vise Pin & Maple Bowl[/caption]
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Tiny Guys in Bocote & Walnut[/caption]
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Anniversary Bowl in Cherry[/caption]
Ok so I'm not totally honest. The bowls pictured above were turned 99% with the Easy Wood Tools Rougher. I did use a 1/2" bull nose scrapper and 1/2' skew gouge...but only minimally. In all honesty the EWT rougher really did the majority of the work here and is an absolutely amazing tool.
My love and success with the EWT rougher immediately led me to order a mid sized finisher. I was happy with what I was seeing but wanted more curves in my bowl top handles etc. that I just couldn't get with the rougher.
So once the man in brown delivered I was set.
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Cherry Rolled Lip Bowl[/caption]
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A Walnut Apple?[/caption]
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Salt Cellars or Smurf Houses[/caption]
I'm absolutely amazed by the ease of these tools. When I started writing this post I had no intentions of this turning into a review of Easy Wood Tools, but I just can't help myself as they really make turning accessible to everyone.