When Not to use a Woodturning Tool!
- David Condon
- Feb 11, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 1
I spent months looking for a particular woodturning tool, not to use, but to show as an example of what not to use.
During lessons, I often talk about cheap tools, bad tools, and repaired tools. I kept mentioning this one spindle gouge as a perfect example of something dangerous, but every time I went looking for it, I couldn’t find it. My workshop isn’t the easiest place to keep organised, so that didn’t help.
Then one day, while getting set up for a student, I finally found it buried under the bench.
The moment I picked it up, I knew I needed to write this post.
The Beginning for Every Woodturner
When you first start out in woodturning, you have ideas about what you want to buy and what you think you can afford.
That usually changes very quickly when you see the actual prices.
The natural reaction is to try and stretch your budget as far as possible, and that often leads to cutting corners. Nearly everyone goes through this phase, so if you’ve done it, you’re not alone.
I was no different.
Back in the 90s, a friend offered me a broken and repaired Sorby gouge. I already had three chisels at the time, so adding another one felt like progress.
At the time, I didn’t think twice about it.
Bad Woodturning Tool. What's Wrong with it?
So what exactly is wrong with using a tool like this?
Firstly, the steel had been welded back together after it snapped. Welding introduces extreme heat into a very small area, which can weaken the surrounding steel or make it brittle. There’s no practical way to test that at home, so you’re taking a risk every time you use it.
Secondly, the brass ferrule was damaged during the break.
Thirdly, the ash handle was cracked. It looked like it had been glued and clamped at some point, but that kind of repair won’t stand up to real use.
From what I remember, the tool would cut, but that’s not the point. Any catch could have caused it to fail completely, potentially being thrown back at me while standing at the lathe.
Thankfully, that never happened. Take a look at the images below, would you have risked using this tool?
So What is the Lesson Learned?
The lesson is simple.
Don’t use broken or repaired tools like this. They can be dangerous.
Looking back, I can’t believe I used it. As a carpenter, I should have known better, but I didn’t think about the risks at the time.
Like a lot of beginners, I was focused on having more tools, not better ones.
I’ve written about that mindset in more detail in Why More Tools Didn’t Make Me a Better Woodturner, and it’s something I see all the time.
Using poor or damaged tools doesn’t save money. The cost of an injury will far outweigh the price of replacing a tool properly.
A Common Pattern I Still See
I try to warn students about this, but I can often see the hesitation when the conversation turns to spending money on proper tools.
I understand it, I’ve been there myself.
Most of the advice I give now comes from mistakes I’ve already made. I’ve had more than a few near misses over the years, and I’ve been lucky.
Experience teaches you quickly, but sometimes the hard way.
Takeaway
If possible, buy new tools so you know their history.
Second-hand tools can be fine, but only if you know what to look for.
● The tool is straight and in line with the handle
● The tang is properly seated with no gaps
● The brass ferrule is intact, not cracked or chipped
● The handle is not split where it meets the tang
The condition of the steel and the shape of the cutting edge will also tell you a lot about how the tool has been treated.
Scuffs and marks are normal. My own tools are well used at this stage.
Structural damage is not.
Any tool showing the issues above should be taken out of use immediately.
If you’re unsure what tools you actually need starting out, or you want to learn a bit more before buying anything, take a look through my woodturning guides and articles page.
If you’re buying tools, buy once and buy right.
Thanks for Reading,
David
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About the Author
I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.
Over the years, I’ve learned that woodturning is as much about patience and problem-solving as it is about tools and technique. I work mainly with Irish hardwoods, teach woodturning full-time, and spend most days learning something new in the workshop myself. On this site, I share the same practical knowledge I pass on to my students, shaped by experience, mistakes, and time spent at the lathe. If you’re interested in learning in person, I offer woodturning lessons in Tralee, with details available on my Woodturning Tuition page.
© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.
More Woodturning Pages to Explore
● Hampshire Sheen - Fine Finishing products that will highlight your project pieces
● Hamlet Tools - Fantastic Woodturning Tools from a well trusted brand
● Woodcraft Hub - View my woodcraft creations for inspiration of gift buying.
● Sanding Essentials - Essential sanding products for Woodturners & Woodworkers.
● Woodturning Blanks - A fine range of Hardwood Spindle Blanks & a few Bowl Blanks too!
● Woodturning Pen Blanks - A huge assortment of Acrylic & Irish Hardwood Pen Blanks.
● Crafter's Haven – A vast range of craft supplies for crafters and gift givers!
Original content © David Condon Woodcraft — Written by David Condon. Please credit and link if shared.
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