While Beth Ireland was here, she offered instruction for me to make more of my own lathe tools , so it is something I will be doing later with the students at Clear Spring School. In the photos at left are a spindle gouge and hollowing gouge I made following Beth's guidance. As you can see, the steel used is from 1/4 in. Allen wrenches, and the octagonal shape of the stock provides staging areas to begin grinding the shape of the tip. One of the important things about making your own tools is that you can shape the tool to control what you want to make, rather than allowing the tool to dictate shape. Making your own tools vastly improves your real creative opportunities. Making one's own tools also requires a craftsman to be particularly attentive to how it works and thus also become more knowledgeable about the materials to which the tool is applied. Make, fix and create.
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