4 Reasons to Make and Use the Versatile Oland Tool

Woodworking tool suppliers have risen to theregular chisels. The Oland tool uses a cutting tip
challenge of the woodturner's desire for more andthat lasts well and is easily replaced for one or
better tools. Most woodturners are self taughttwo dollars. Plus it is not necessary to get used to
with the result that beginners are not sure whata tool that steadily becomes shorter and then
tools to use and can become convinced that alearn to use a newly purchased tool of regular
new tool will greatly increase their woodturninglength. It is no great chore, but can be a bit off
ability. Quickly they realize that a great deal ofputting for some.
money can be spent on tools and in fact many3. Woodturners use gouges for spindles and
turners own tools with a value greater than thatbowls. These gouges are of different shape,
of their wood lathe itself. The Oland tool is asharpening style, and generally length. In particular,
change from this position with its value andbeginners usually start off with spindles and spindle
versatility.gouges almost always part of beginner
There are 4 things to consider when thinking ofwoodturning sets of tools. Soon the beginner
adding this tool to your woodturning tool arsenal.wants to try faceplate turning and usually bowls.
1. Typically the Oland tool is made in the homeThe spindle gouges are not suited for bowls and
shop. This a member of the family of toolsbowl gouges often cost more than the whole
known an inserted tip tool. Quite simply, these arebeginner set. Oland tools may be used for either
designed to be easy to make and maintain in thespindles or faceplate work and are ideally suited
home shop. A shaft is drilled and tapped to hold afor bowl turning and at a cost of less than most
high speed steel cutting tip, the shaft is insertedsingle gouges let alone a set.
into a handle turned by the woodturner, and the4. Tips for the Oland tool are easily replaced and
tip is placed in the shaft. Once sharpened it ismay be ground in an infinite variety of shapes and
ready to go for a fraction of the cost of mostangles. The most familiar is a side view of
commercial tools.forty-five degrees and a top view of the tip
2. Tools wear out with use and especially withslightly rounded. However it is simple to have tips
sharpening. Every time a tool is used, a bit ofwith sharper angles for speciality cuts, the edges
steel is ground away. Woodturners tend tobrought back for cuts similar to an Irish grind on a
sharpen much more often than most otherbowl gouge or less angle for scraping the inside of
woodworkers and use grinders instead of honinga hollow form. Individual, inexpensive cutting tips
stones. Grinders remove more steel than dowith various grinds are easily kept and quickly
stones and the tools wear away faster thanexchanged in a few seconds.