Question about skews

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snyiper

snyiper

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I have a Craftsman set of turning tools I have had for a while and the skew in that kit is about 1 1/4-1 1/2 wide which is ok for a mandrel but just too darn big for between centers. Now are most skews sharpened from both sides or is one side flat? Mine is from both sides and even though it is HSS it dulls very quickly. I would like to find a good 1/2 in wide skew for doing pens any suggestions? I have all the other tools like gouges and parting tools I also have a carbide tool but finishing with it seems awkward I prefer my skew for the finish cuts.
 
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Skews are generally sharpened with a bevel on both sides unlike bench chisels which typically have a single bevel.

There are plenty of nice skews in the 1/2" to 3/4" range. I use a Thompson 1" for between centers and it is fantastic. I also have a Thompson 1/2" but need to get off my lazy butt and make a handle for it.

Are you using the current skew with a scraping cut or a planing cut? If you are doing a scraping cut, any skew you chose will dull quickly.
 
1/2" skews are common and not too $$$. I have an oval skew from woodcraft (woodriver brand). I rarely use it though. I typically use my 1 1/4" inch and I only TBC. I personally think a bigger skew is better; because of the longer cutting edge, you have a bigger "sweet spot". I rarely get a catch with the bigger skew because the heel and tip of the cutting edge are never close to the blank.

Just my opinion, though. You have use the tool that makes you most comfortable.

Good luck!
Chris
 
Eric I had to think, I guess I use it as a scraper either using the heel or the toe to cut drawn across the piece. To tell you the truth Im not sure the only time I use the whole surface is to make sure the blank is the same size and smooth other than that I use one end or the other.
Chris I like the size It just is cumbersome to me for the small slimline blanks towards the ends...perhaps I just need more practice.
 
I also use a 1 1/4" Oval. I have a Sorby and really like it. I use it for mandrel and TBC and I do a planning cut. I have not used a skew much but I am trying to figure it out. I have a 3/4" Oval also but I have yet to use it. I like the extra weight and cutting surface of the 1 1/4"
 
If you are using the skew in a scraping mode, I'd suggest just getting some firewood or some sticks and roughing them round abd then practice making nice tapers and gently flowing curves using a bevel riding cut.

If you want to practice cutting to a bushing, just get some flat washers, cut a small tenon on one end of the spindle to just fit through the hole in the washer, and practice cutting to the OD of the washer.

Start with the blade angle around 45 degrees, riding the bevel with no blade contact. Slowly rotate the edge into the wood untill you start to get fine shavings, keeping the cutting area in the middle 1/3 of the blade. With a couple hours of practice on basically free wood, you will find that you can make nice cuts this way. You will find that different angles work better with different wood. Once you are comfortable doing this, see how the tool size works for you on a pen blank. Then if it is still too big for comfort look to switch to something smaller.

Hopefully you know someone who has some skews of different size and can try out something smaller and see what is comfortable. One thing to keep in mind is that the length of the cutting edge can make a big difference in controlling the cut. If the edge is too short, relative to the diameter of the wood, you run the risk of digging in the toe or the heal, but if the tool is too big relative to the turning it can be challanging to use.

For pen blanks, it would be a real challange to go smaller then 1/2". I've done it with a 1/4" round skew that I made myself, but that really took a lot of control. For a large diameter spindle piece like this 3" diameter candle holder

http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=58673

I used my big 1 3/8" Skew

hmm...

I think I have more skews than any other tool! 1-3/8" Lacer, 1" Thompson, 3/4" Oval Sorby, 1/2" Thompson, 1/4" round homemade.
 
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