Need help on using a parting tool

[PSNCO]

My son started turning pens about a month ago. All self taught or through videos. He's done quite well with the single barrel pens and slimlines and cigar pens. He now has a kit that he needs to part off a section.

We have a small HSS parting tool, skews and the carbide easy tools at our disposal. I've tried to find a video for using the parting tool for pen turning just to see how to hold it and use it correctly, but not coming up with much luck. Does anyone have a link to a video or an instructional link that will show him how to use the parting tool properly?

 

[healeydays]

Here's a start

Turning a European Style Pen (3) Fitting the center Band - YouTube

Video: Wood Turning: Parting Tool | eHow UK

 

[KenV]

Two parts to this --

1. your son's learning turning
2. Your role as his instructor and Mentor!!!

http://woodturner.org/Member/TeachingGuide_a.pdf

American Association of Woodturners has a teaching guide that will help you be sure to teach him the best practices for all the uses of the lathe.

The parting tool is on Page 16 --

The written materials is good support for videos, but given that many videos show poor practices, the AAW guide is a good anchor point to compare and identify bad practices. Bad practices are those that are risky and have opportunity to have people get hurt.

And -- look for an AAW chapter meeting near you and take your son. There are pen turners hanging out at AAW meetings.

 

[jttheclockman]

I was a little surprised at Rex's video. He shows you the tool but does not show you how. Basically the tool is for adding decorative strips or for parting pieces from waste blocks. Other tools such as a skew can do the same function. But the basic principles of the tool is present it to the work piece with again like all tools the bevel riding on the wood. Now lift the back end of the tool up for the cutting action. The thing with this tool is there is no side to side motion. It is a straight forward tool. When you need to cut next to the previous cut you must pull the tool back and present it again in the same motion as the last cut. It is a specialty tool and they come in various sizes. Remember keep the tool straight 90 degrees to the wood. ride the bevel and lift the backend of the tool to cut. Rinse and repeat.