skew question

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funta

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Mckinney Texas
I'm moving into boxes from pens. I have made a box at a demo before and it came out really nice. I used a skew to cut the lid and tenons off, Is this the best tool to use? Whats your favorite skew? Thanks

PS. I started turning within the past year and have always used easy wood tools fwiw. I dont have much experience with "real" turning tools :rolleyes:
 
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My wife bought me a Robert Sorbey(sp). It works well but I think it is way over priced. You can find parting tools for around $15 or you can make your own out of a flat sheet of metal shaped at the grinder with a piece of rubber or a build up of duct tape for the handle.
 
Definitely make your own parting tool, and make a couple of different thicknesses. 1 /16 for fine line cutting if you want to make fingertip grooves on a pen. And a 1/4inch for parting off boxes, and peppermills and etc...
as for a skew. I have the radiuses alan lacer skew( the smaller of the two sizes) and I. Ground it straight. And wish I didn't now... but I do keep it almost razor sharp and have learned to rough out with it and make paper thin shavingswith it too
You don't need to pay for the lacer name. I just prefer my tools have weight to them. To absorb any vibration
 
Im with Ed B. on this one, do what makes you feel good. God knows that I use my tools in ways that they were never intended but hey, it works for me.
 
My favourite skew is one I bought at a woodturners club meeting for a pound ($1.50)

I use it constantly and it never seems to lose its edge!

It is old but it just seems to 'fit'.

I suppose the best skew is the one you are most comfortable with.
 
funta said:
I'm moving into boxes from pens. I have made a box at a demo before and it came out really nice. I used a skew to cut the lid and tenons off, Is this the best tool to use? Whats your favorite skew? Thanks

PS. I started turning within the past year and have always used easy wood tools fwiw. I dont have much experience with "real" turning tools :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Both a parting tool and a skew can be used for parting, they are used differently to complete the task. I find parting with a skew is more difficult to master, it is easier to get a catch. If it is working for you, continue doing what works.
Regarding your other question: my favourite skew is a 3/4" Sorby oval skew. It holds an edge well, is a versatile size for both small and large work and I love the way and oval skew moves along the rest. Everyone develops personal preferences with tools, I know many good turners who hate oval skews.
 
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I've taken several old kitchen knives that LOML didn't want anymore out to my shop and cut a couple of them on the grinder to make some thin parting tools... one I took off the original handle and added a longer handle and use it to part my pepper mill tops off the bodies... makes a very thin kerf and I lose less of my wood.

I don't have any name brand skews... mine is the original skew that I got with my first lathe from Home Depot.... the lathe is long gone, but still use all of the tools. Actually the set came with a 1" and a 1/2", both of which I use regularly... when I got my little lathe (it was a gift and came with same set of tools as my HD)... I took the 1" and ground it square across the end and made a flat scraper... it also gets lots of use.
 
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There is another techique for cutting lids loose on boxes -- an old timer showed me his use of a high tension hack saw -- point the teeth forward. take a bit of care to get it started straight, but leaves a cut surface and is thin so grain matches better.

also works for cutting that last bit when using a parting tool to avoid tearout.
 
That was a great video, I think i'll go that route. I have all the supplies i need in the garage already. I also thought about the hack saw method if I needed a really thin cut. Thanks for all the help guys! Ill be sure to post pics of the tool when I'm finished.
 
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