Best Oval Skew

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knowltoh

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My daughter wants to get me a lathe chisel for Chrismas. I would like recommendations on a 1/2" oval skew. I was thinking Sorby, but wonder if there are others you have used and would recommend?

Thanks,
 
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Depends on your budget and how you sharpen.

More expensive tools seem to hold an edge longer, and, if you use a wet slow speed, you are not removing a lot of steel--so it's probably worth the investment.

Benjamin's Best (which I also use) need to be sharpened more often. And if you DON"T HAVE slow speed, wet, you might as well remove cheaper steel, rather than expensive steel.

That's just MY thinking---FWIW
 
I have used both and prefer the better steel ones -- but I use a diamond hone to keep the edge and grind less often.

I do like Doug Thompson's skews and the Alan Lacer style skews but they are not oval. Regardless, rounded edges to roll the skew is a must for me.

I do not like the carbide skews because of difficulty sharpening and chipping when dropping them.

I do like Harbor Freight and Ben's Best for experiments in sharpening -- grinding away good ideas that do not work out with low cost tooling feels better.
 
Another vote for the BB 3/4 oval. Got mine of Ebay, IIRC. Figure since I sharpen it on a belt grinder, usually at 80g, no sense burning up an expensive tool.

But, If I was talking to Santa, I might mention one of these;
Cryogenic treatment of steel does amazing things to knives. I've seen it demonstrated many times by custom knifemakers who knew way more metalurgy than I ever dreamed of. Would like to try one of these.
http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Cryo...ower-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1290629560&sr=1-3

Some people swear by Alan's skews, others swear at them, but either way, they are nice without a doubt, and if you don't like the radius, you can always just grind it straight.
http://www.alanlacer.com/

CPM technology, or "powdered metal" is another very real advance in metalurgy for cutting tools. I don't know how good a job Crown has done of adapting it to lathe tools, but would like to find out, if it was somebody else's dime.
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2003728/24324/CROWN--PROPM-1-Skew-Chisel.aspx
 
My oval is a Hamlet. I seldom use it, My favorite skew is a 3/4" hamlet I bought also at LV, actually I have three 3/4 flat skews from LV, each with it's own bevel, I select them based on using them on wood, acrylic or stone.
 
I have the Sorby oval skews a 1 inch and a 1/2 inch. I also have an off brand (not sure what it is) 3/4 inch. If I ever get them sharp, can't tell the difference, but the Sorby seems to go longer between sharpening. Especially the 1/2, don't know why.
 
aggromere said:
I have the Sorby oval skews a 1 inch and a 1/2 inch. I also have an off brand (not sure what it is) 3/4 inch. If I ever get them sharp, can't tell the difference, but the Sorby seems to go longer between sharpening. Especially the 1/2, don't know why.
Click to expand...

I sharpen my BB 3/4" skew on a Wolverine jig, and it will shave the hair off your arm right off the grinder.........it's even sharper if you touch it up a bit with one of the small diamond whetrocks.
 
The thing to remember with all Sorby tools is they are flat ground. This means they are ground on a belt snader with a solid platen behind the belt. If you grind them on a circular type sharpening system you are slightly changing your tool. This is considered a hollow grind. A flat grind provides more support at the tip of the tool.
 
To answer your question - a 1/2" oval skew

I started with a PSI "pen turning" 1/2" oval skew. I then got the Sorby 1/2" oval skew and really like it. I feel it is better steel and holds an edge longer.

I sharpen skews with a wet sharpener and use a diamond hone several times in between sharpening.

Note, IMO, Sorby tools are over priced for what they are, but they are decent, respectable, tools. I am a fan of Thompson tools, but he does not offer an oval skew. I have asked him about it and he feels there just is not a large enough demand for them.
 
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