Hi Andrew!!
My "sharpening technique" is noteworthy only because it is so poor.
For THIS video, I really tried to get a nice edge, since I knew I intended to do close-ups. If you look real closely, you can see the sharpened part of the tool reflects light in about 4 different directions---the mark of very poor grinding!
However, I got it "close to sharp" by using my belt sander (stationary) and 120 grit paper. (For those who nearly passed out in shock or are accusing me of blasphemy, remember these are $20 skews!!!) Then, I have a "stone" from Harbor Freight, which I used to improve the edge a bit.
Your comment that I am using the skew like a scraper is not EXACTLY correct, but I wanted to explain what is happening. So, thanks for asking this on the thread!!!!
A scraper is used (at least by ME) by resting it flat on the toolrest and finding the best angle to cut just below the 9 o'clock position, on the blank. If it is a "square" scraper, the full width of the tool is cutting the blank. The tool is thick to provide the "dampening" of any vibration.
When I use a skew, only one point of the edge is touching (and cutting) the blank. While the camera angle does make it look like I am holding the edge horizontally, in truth it has about a 15 degree variance from the horizontal. AND I am very slightly ABOVE the 9 o'clock (maybe ten after nine
:biggrin
. Additionally, when using a scraper, your tool is, generally at a 90 degree angle to the toolrest (stated differently, perpendicular to the mandrel). When I am using my skew, that angle is closer to 70 degrees, pointing into the line of travel of the cut.
PLEASE!!! IF THIS IS NOT CLEAR---SAY SO!!! How one holds the tool will make a WORLD of difference in your success ratio!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed