I just ordered and received my Sorby tools.
Went with a 1/8" parting tool (13") long and
1/2" spindle gouge and 3/4" roughing gouge, both (18") long.
The gouges seem awful big and long, are these correct for rod building
or should I have ordered "mini" tools?
The cheaper tools I saw at PSI were a lot shorter.

Steven,

I think you'll like that Gouge. I have four different sizes from "mini" up to about 1" and use the largest one about 90% of the time. I'm mainly using them to cut 5/8" diameter reel seat inserts out of 7/8" or 1" square blanks. Yes the smaller tool will do it, but I do it a lot faster with the largest one. If for no other reason, it's got a much larger cutting surface, so even when I get to the point that I should be sharpening it, I can always turn it a little bit to get a fresh cutting edge and finish the blank before I need to re-sharpen, rather than shutting down mid blank.

The only "mini" tool that gets much use in my shop is the parting tool, just because it cuts such a thin kerf. MUCH quicker than the full sized tool that I have. Other than than, the mini tools pretty much feel like toys IMO.

If you're doing inserts, keep an eye out for a 1/2" round nose scraper too. They're very easy to use to reduce a round blank's diameter with while taking off even amounts from one ond of the blank to the other and leaving very nice finish.

Mark Griffin
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C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California

I have both and never use the short ones. IMO, The longer ones give much better leverage with much less effort and are much more comfortable

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

For myself I only use the larger tools as well. It will be much more comfortable using them. I have used the mini tools and I feel like I don't have the same control of the tool as I do with the larger tools.

Thanks everyone for the answers you provided.

There is a time and a place for the mini-tools, but it's generally for very, very small and intricate work such as chess pieces. Most anything you'd want to do insofar as rod building is concerned is best done with full sized tools.

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