I'm trying to do more of my turning with a skew chisel. For one thing, I understand it limits the amount of sanding necessary. And for another, I just want to practice and get better with the skew.
The skew I'm using is a 1" HSS. Nothing fancy; it came in a set from Harbor Freight. I've gotten a good edge on it using a Tormek, so I believe it is good and sharp.
My problem is that I'm having trouble moving the skew along acrylic and acrylester blanks. It seems to require a good deal of force to move the skew while cutting the acrylic, and even then I experience a lot of hitches. (Note that these are not "catches," where the skew bites in to the blank and creates a gash or chip. Rather, these are more like starts and stops where the skew seems no to want to move through the material.)
I'm turning on a Grizzly 10x18 benchtop lathe at the highest speed setting (about 3300 RPM). I'm using the six-inch tool rest that came with the lathe, and it has dawned on me that this may be the problem as the tool rest is not entirely smooth. I have tried a combination of underhand and overhand grips, and I've varied where I place my outside hand along the length of the tool handle. Finally, I'm doing my best and am fairly consistent with the "ABC" method--Approach with the tool on the rest, place the Bevel against the material, and begin to Cut by lifting the handle of the tool while also slightly rotating the tool until "ribbons" begin to appear, then move the skew along the blank to cut.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I'd appreciate some of our more experienced turners pointing me in the right direction. I'd particularly appreciate any videos that I could watch of people using a skew properly on acrylic materials.
Thanks!
-Mark
The skew I'm using is a 1" HSS. Nothing fancy; it came in a set from Harbor Freight. I've gotten a good edge on it using a Tormek, so I believe it is good and sharp.
My problem is that I'm having trouble moving the skew along acrylic and acrylester blanks. It seems to require a good deal of force to move the skew while cutting the acrylic, and even then I experience a lot of hitches. (Note that these are not "catches," where the skew bites in to the blank and creates a gash or chip. Rather, these are more like starts and stops where the skew seems no to want to move through the material.)
I'm turning on a Grizzly 10x18 benchtop lathe at the highest speed setting (about 3300 RPM). I'm using the six-inch tool rest that came with the lathe, and it has dawned on me that this may be the problem as the tool rest is not entirely smooth. I have tried a combination of underhand and overhand grips, and I've varied where I place my outside hand along the length of the tool handle. Finally, I'm doing my best and am fairly consistent with the "ABC" method--Approach with the tool on the rest, place the Bevel against the material, and begin to Cut by lifting the handle of the tool while also slightly rotating the tool until "ribbons" begin to appear, then move the skew along the blank to cut.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I'd appreciate some of our more experienced turners pointing me in the right direction. I'd particularly appreciate any videos that I could watch of people using a skew properly on acrylic materials.
Thanks!
-Mark