The High Cost
of Over-Complication
Now,
look, there’s a certain kind of "progress" that’s been
haunting us since the first guy decided a round wheel could use a
few more corners to make it "edgy." We’ve all seen it.
You start with something that works—something honest—and then
someone decides it needs an upgrade. Then an
"optimization." Before you know it, you’re standing
there holding a high-tech paperweight that couldn't cut butter on
a July afternoon.
That’s
why I get asked about the setup blocks we use. Why limit yourself
to just three bowl gouge grinds and one for the spindle? Well,
it’s simple: because they work for most people, most of the time.
The Big Four
1.
Standard
Bowl Gouge Grind
2.
Ellsworth
Grind (The "workhorse" of the bowl
world)
3.
The Bottom
Feeder (For those hard-to-reach places)
4.
Spindle
Gouge (The classic fingernail grind)
I
spent thirteen years on the Wood Show circuit, talking to more
than a million folks. After a while, you start to notice a
pattern. These four grinds are the ones that get the job done
for most turners, most of the time, regardless of the mess
they’re trying to clean up.
Now,
I’m a fan of listening to the folks who actually do the work. My
customers asked for a better way to get that 40-40 grind on their
gouges using the most popular sharpening jigs, so I built a setup
block for it. It’s been a hit, even with the pros. But here’s the
rub: just
because you can add more bells and whistles doesn't always mean
you should.
We
have a tendency to get buried under the "latest and
greatest" gadgets. We trade the fundamentals for a shiny new
jig or grind and then wonder why the wood is fighting back. If
your gouge used to sing and now it just screams, do yourself a favor:
KISS. Keep It Simple,
Silly.
Back to Basics
When
the fundamentals are solid, you’ve got a foundation to build on.
If you lose your way, go back to a basic grind. Test it. If it
works, change things slowly.
I
see this a lot with skews and gouges. I don’t take a straight
skew to the grinder unless I’ve done something truly spectacular,
like dropping it point-first onto a concrete floor. Usually, a
simple diamond hone and a little patience will give you that razor-sharp
micro-bevel without grinding away your tool’s soul. As for the
curved skews? I’ll hone those ten times before I even think about
touching the wheel.
The
bottom line is this: If the work isn't turning out
the way it used to, stop looking for a more complicated tool.
Go back to
the basics. Ensure your foundation is level and
your edge is true. And remember... wherever you go, there you
are.
Here
is my inspiration for this week’s message:
(Deut
4:2 [NIV2]) Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract
from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give
you.
(Prov
4:26 [NASB77]) Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways
will be established.
(Jer
6:16 [NASB77]) Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and
ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you shall find rest for your souls.
|
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.png)
%20(Large).JPG)
.JPG)
