The Secret to a Perfect Gouge Grind Every Time

If you’ve ever bought a secondhand bowl gouge or spent a little too much time at the grinder trying to fix a dull edge, you know how easy it is to lose your way. Before you know it, your gouge has a “spear point,” a “scooped nose,” or a bevel with more facets than a diamond.

A poorly ground gouge isn’t just an eyesore - it causes skating on entry cuts and inconsistent results at the lathe. In our latest video, Mike from Craft Supplies USA shares a simple “pro tip” to take any poorly ground tool and restore it to a perfect factory edge.

Identifying a Bad Grind

Before you can fix the problem, you have to diagnose it. Most sharpening issues fall into two categories:

1. The Overground Nose (The “U” Shape): When too much material is removed from the tip, it creates a blunt U-shape. Without a fine point to establish contact, the tool will skate across the wood rather than cutting in.
   
2. The Spear Point: This happens when the wings are ground back much further than the nose. This creates an aggressive, pointy tip that is difficult to control and doesn’t match the parabolic curve of the tool’s flute.

The “Secret” Tip: Grinding a Reference Map

The hardest part of re-profiling is “chasing” the edge by eye. Mike’s solution? Create a map.

1. Flip the tool: Turn your gouge so the flute is at the 6 o’clock position (facing down).
   
2. Lightly “kiss” the wheel: With the grinder running, lightly touch the entire cutting edge to the wheel. When re-profiling we recommend using a stone grinding wheel over a CBN wheel. It will shape your tool much faster.
   
3. Find the curve: This creates a tiny flat, shiny spot all the way around the edge.

Because the inside of your gouge (the flute) is already a perfect parabolic curve, this flat spot shows you exactly where the steel needs to be removed. You no longer have to guess the shape; you just grind until the “shiny line” disappears.

Step-by-Step: Re-Establishing the Edge

1. Set Your Geometry

Consistency is key. For a standard bowl gouge, we recommend a 50-degree grind.

• Set your tool to protrude 2” from your sharpening jig.
  
• Use a setup tool (like the Raptor) to ensure your V-arm is at the correct distance from the wheel.

2. The Grinding Technique

When you start grinding, don’t just swing the tool wildly.

• Grind one wing at a time, moving from the back toward the nose.
  
• Once the wings are established, use a smooth motion to blend them together at the nose.

Safety Tip: Keep your hands on the bottom of the jig. This keeps your fingers safe if the tool happens to skate off the side of the wheel.

3. Watch for the “Glimmer”

As you grind, stop frequently to inspect the edge. You will see that flat, shiny line you created earlier getting thinner and thinner. The moment that “glimmer” of flat steel disappears, your tool is perfectly sharp.

Why Consistency Matters

When your grind is repeatable, your muscle memory at the lathe actually means something. If your grind changes every time you go to the sharpener, your hand position and body movement have to change too. By using the “flat-spot” method, you ensure that your tool feels the same every single time it touches the wood.