good tool for the money and then some

I have a lot of Robert Sorby tools and Crown tools. I am a tool nut. I have to have one from every producer if possible. I got this bowl gouge some time ago I believe about 1 yr. I sharpened it when I got it as I do with all tools. If used properly it does as good a job as any of my tools that I paid a lot more for. After sharpening when I got it I have turned 12 bowls with it. I finally sharpened it again tonight. I love this gouge and keep it on the bench with my other tools I use allo the time now.

Poor quality

Purchased two of these for use in high school shop. Neither would hold an edge well and the flutes were so poorly ground that they never came off the grinder very sharp. One of the handles fractured with a single solid catch in the first week. I do not recommend until quality control improves.

Nice

This is a very good tool. Really worth the money. Does need sharpening before using but need to learn that any way.

BIG

This is by far my biggest lathe tool. Comes halfway up my forearm for really digging in, and that it does well. Removes serious turf big time. Semi sharp right out of the box. This is my first bowl gouge and I find it tends to *travel* somewhat unexpectedly. Perhaps I need to study how the edge is ground. All in all not a bad deal.

Great Gouge

I bought this gouge cause I needed a 1/2" bowl gouge. Just what I needed.

Bowl Gouge

I ordered the Benjamins best bowl gouge and was very pleased with the quality and price of the tool. It worked good with my last bowl that I turned.

1/2

Exactly what I wanted. Fit and finish are completely adequate. No frills--a workman-like tool for a workshop, not a museum. It's a replacement for a worn-out tool.

Marked

I thought that the price was too good for this to be worth getting. I ordered this one and a 1/2 Spindle Gouge and they came in yesterday. Couldn't wait to try them out, till I got them out of the box and saw that fatal marking, "MADE IN CHINA" They were dull as a butter knife to start with. And once I got all the creosote cleaned off the shank it looks like crap. It still has rough forage marks on over half the shank because they didn't finish grind it enough to clean it up. the part that was ground, and would be polished on a quality tool, looked like it had been done by hand with file. I'm kinda new to wood turning but I was a machinist for over 20 years and I know what it takes to make good tooling, and this ain't it. After touching up the edge on it I tried this one out on some simple soft pine. The edge didn't last as long as it took to get one on it. I didn't think it would hold an edge because when I took my diamond hone to it the metal seemed pretty soft for HSS. I think its just plain mild steel bar stock with a grove cut in it and a handle put on it to make LOOK like a tool. Don't waste your money on this! Put some more with it and get some quality tools that are worth getting.

Benjamin's Best 1/2

Good tool for the price..

good tool

For the money this tool performs well. I first put a fingernail edge on it prior to use. The edge holds up fairly well and resharpens well. I am new to turning but would recommend this tool.