Using the Skew - a short video

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Rob, I only have one skew and it looks to be about the same size as the one shown. If you use a larger skew you will have a larger surface area to cut with so you will reduce the chance of getting a catch on the tip as he demonstrated in the video.

I belong to the local turning club and the very experienced turners (25 years or more of turning and there are a lot of them) always say to use the largest tool you can. They say this becuase you will have a larger cutting surface and the size and weight of the tool will reduce vibrations and unwanted movement. They say small tools are only for detail work in very tight areas where a larger tool will not fit. These guys don't do many pens but those that do use full size tools.
 
I recently had to turn a 3" cylinder. I use a 5/8" Alan Lacer skew for pens, I like it a lot, and I thought I was pretty good with it. I had trouble with several slight catches of the toe on the 3" piece. This leads me to think that a large skew might be better for larger diameter turnings.
 
Thanks for posting this link. I checked it out when you first posted it.

It helped me visualize the process and I went to my little shop and gave it a try. It works well. With my past 4 years experience with a gouge and scraper, it didn't take but a couple of minutes to get the hang of it.

READING how to use a skew and even seeing pictures did not help. I bought a book on turning when I started 4 years ago and the pictures and descriptive words had different meanings than my mind did. Words like "rotate" "turn" "angle" "slide" "down" sure have different meanings in different contexts. I couldn't see buying video's at $20 for turning a pen when I was already accomplishing good results from my own customized scraper.

I actually tried the process and hit the nail on the head with the technique a few weeks ago when trying to make a few more "30 Pieces of Silver". It made the wood smooth but for some reason pulled out about 1/3 of the silver inlays. The scraper usually pulled out 1 in 30. I will not blame it on the skew but that my technique is not up to par yet. The wood sure was smooth but the slicing force pulled out the inlayed silver dots more than my customized scraper. I am going to work on my technique with the skew.

I have about 6 skews; I am going to modify a couple of them - to more angle pointed (rather than almost square at the end) and one to a rounded skew. I have the wet grinders and sharpeners to do it, along with a fair amount of experience in shaping and sharpening. Just need the time.
 
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The first thing I noticed was that he was using the skew backwards (and upside down half the time. I hate to say it but I don't think his skew profile has much to do with anything. He's having a certain amount of 'shear' luck.

Yes - wider skews are easier to use. The dude is right about sticking to the middle third of the edge. That's hard to do with a 3/8" skew.

Marc
 
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marcruby said:
The first thing I noticed was that he was using the skew backwards (and upside down half the time. I hate to say it but I don't think his skew profile has much to do with anything. He's having a certain amount of 'shear' luck.

Marc
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Marc,

I am about to copy bad habits. I probably need to buy a good video. Which 'one' would you deem best - to order, if I do that? I would like one of the CSUSA if I do decide to buy one.

You made a point about being "backwards" and upside down. (LOML is left handed and plays right handed guitars in an upside down and backwards looking way.) I would probably do that if I were to do that from your perspective. That brings up the question of how much does "natural or instinctive feel/grip" have to do with it?

I am "right handed". I write and eat right handed. Single handed tools, I use right handed. BUT . . . With two handed tools, I have trouble controlling that way.

I use and control "two handed" tools from a "left handed" perspective. I bat left handed, golf left handed, sweep left handed, love the left handed grip when backhanding in tennis, and generally grip in a left handed fashion.

However, If I am going to learn, I sure ought to learn it "right". Your input or suggestion would be appreciated.
 
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Lee;

The best video is Alan Lacer's 'The Skew Chisel'. I believe there's also 'Son of the Skew.' I generally follow him, but my first teachers advocated leading point up from right to left and leading point down from left to right and I'm at the point where I make that transition very smoothly. LAcer always leads with the short point down. Form a purely technical viewpoint, there's no real difference as long as the edge is at 45 degrees from the grain and you're riding the bevel.

I use a Lacer grind which backs off the leading point, removing one of the most common sources of catches. Skews are funny -- you struggle and struggle and then, all of a sudden they work like a charm. Anyway, you can't go wrong if you're learning from Lacer.

Marc

leehljp said:
Marc,

I am about to copy bad habits. I probably need to buy a good video. Which 'one' would you deem best - to order, if I do that? I would like one of the CSUSA if I do decide to buy one.

You made a point about being "backwards" and upside down. (LOML is left handed and plays right handed guitars in an upside down and backwards looking way.) I would probably do that if I were to do that from your perspective. That brings up the question of how much does "natural or instinctive feel/grip" have to do with it?

I am "right handed". I write and eat right handed. Single tools, I use right handed. BUT . . . With two handed tools, I have trouble controlling that way.

I use and control "two handed" tools from a "left handed" perspective. I bat left handed, sweep left handed, grip in a left handed fashion.

However, If I am going to learn, I sure ought to learn it "right". Your input or suggestion would be appreciated.
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Hank, from my experience (as little as that may be) the video shows the "correct" way. I'm not sure why Marc says he is holding it backwards or up side down. He always has the longer point facing up over the piece and the short end down. The edge keeps a consistent angle to the wood.

The one thing that may look weird is when he changes direction he flips the skew over but doesn't change his hand positions. For me, when I change directions with the skew I also change my grip form a right handed grip to a left handed grip. I don't usually do that with most other tools but with the skew I do.

BTW, the way he is doing it is how I have been shown by 3 different turners on 3 different occassions. All of them are very experienced turners with 10 - 25 years experience.

Of course there are also many other things that can be done with a skew as I'm sure you already know. Beads, scraper, parting, grooves for burn lines etc but that's a whole different video.
 
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