The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource

Ned A from South GA

WR Addict

Offline

Formerly Nappen who said...Sleep
is for wimps

Posts: 1,584

Gender: male

What do you watch?
Oct 5^th, 2005 at 3:32pm

I was actually turning a little a couple of days ago...finish turning a walnut bowl that had been calling my name...and I noticed that when finish turning the inside of the bowl and especially with finishing cuts I tend to watch the opposite side of the bowl as opposed to the tool and tool side.

Is this normal and akin to watching the "ghost" when shaping the outside? I just seem to have a better feel and look for what is going on watching the other side.

What do you guys do?

Back to top

I'm not addicted to coffee, it just keeps the headaches away.

IP Logged

E. Bud Gillaspie WR Addict Offline Where'd I put that round tuit? Posts: 1,182 Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #1 - Oct 5^th, 2005 at 3:49pm Me too
Back to top	E. Bud Gillaspie Umpqua Turning Club IP Logged

Jeff Matter

Senior Member

Offline

I got a new lathe for
my wife!! Good trade
eh?

Posts: 475

Gender: male

Re: What do you watch?
Reply #2 - Oct 5^th, 2005 at 5:04pm

Im still new to this stuff and may not always do whats right (LOL learned the other day Im usin most of my tools wrong!!) But , once I get the feel of the curve, whether it be the inside or outside, I watch some other point rather than the tool. It may be the opposite side or the quarter. when the tool is full of shavings, it kinda hard to see just what yur cuttin. I have a white piece of plastic guarding my shelf (behind the lathe)from sawdust that acts as a nice contrasting background to see the shape of the item Im turning. I always look over the top of the piece to see and shape the final cut. That is ,of course after I get the "point" on the tool rest for a consistant radius to swing, where as I dont havta look at the tool to see its position or placemant.

Back to top

« Last Edit: Oct 5^th, 2005 at 5:05pm by Jeff Matter »

IP Logged

Glenn

WR Addict

Offline

Posts: 583

Gender: male

Re: What do you watch?
Reply #3 - Oct 5^th, 2005 at 5:10pm

You're doing it right Ned. I have heard this from many turners much more experienced than myself. Watching the tool really doesn't show you as much as watching the 'result'. I always watcht he tool until I get the cut started and have confidence that the cut is going inthe right direction. Then I look at the opposite side of the bowl.

Back to top

IP Logged

badger Active Member Offline Woodbox 23 Posts: 137 Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #4 - Oct 5^th, 2005 at 5:57pm That was the first piece of advice that I got when I started turning, and it is one of the best. badger
Back to top	--==--==--&&Woodbox 23 (Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or )&&A daily weblog on woodworking, and woodturning. IP Logged

JimQuarles

WR Addict
WR Patron

Offline

WR Rocks, BIG Time!

Posts: 13,194

Glendale, AZ
Arizona
USA
Gender: male

Re: What do you watch?
Reply #5 - Oct 5^th, 2005 at 8:53pm

It's funny, but when I am doing the inside of a bowl, I am looking at the outside visualizing where the tool tip is relative to the outside. So far I have been fairly close to what I estimate as the thickness, but I sure I am going to get one TOO thin like SkyJ showed earlier this week. The natural edge bowls I have done have only been 1/8 or less in thickness. All 3 of them.

JimQ

Back to top

Mentor Basics, Pens, small stuff, Acrylics, EasyRougher.
Just Turnin' Around! Glendale, AZ Cool

"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright

IP Logged

texascop47 WR Addict Offline What happened to that web page? Posts: 733 Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #6 - Oct 6^th, 2005 at 3:06am Ned right on I also look at the ghost.
Back to top	keep the bevel rubbing IP Logged

Rick in Lincoln WR Addict Offline keep on turnin' Posts: 605 Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #7 - Oct 6^th, 2005 at 4:33am When I do the inside finish cuts, I look at the opposite side of the bowl to see what the cut is doing. That's after I get the cut initiated and have the flow going, much like Sky mentioned.
Back to top	A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door. IP Logged

Ned A from South GA WR Addict Offline Formerly Nappen who said...Sleep is for wimps Posts: 1,584 Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #8 - Oct 6^th, 2005 at 2:04pm Good to know I am not out there flappin' as they say.
Back to top	I'm not addicted to coffee, it just keeps the headaches away. IP Logged

Rev. Doug Miller WR Addict Offline Working flat so I can support my addiction. Posts: 9,601 Hardinsburg, KY Kentucky USA Gender:	Re: What do you watch? Reply #9 - Oct 6^th, 2005 at 7:58pm No flappin going on. Just good turning. Seeing the resulting cut is much more informative than seeing how big the pile of shavings is on your tool and hand. 8)
Back to top	Mentor, Hardinsburg, KY. Basics, bowls, platters, hollow forms, pens. Send PM for more information or make reservation Ears Are The Most Important Tools For Communication IP Logged

Chris Wright

WR Addict

Offline

Woodturners: 21st century
Druids

Posts: 3,725

Los Angeles, CA
California
USA
Gender: male

Re: What do you watch?
Reply #10 - Oct 10^th, 2005 at 5:46pm

I do both what Ned mentions and what JimQ brought up. During the majority of the cut on the inside I am watching the outside form to make sure I am following the curve and as I progress I will double check the tool action to make sure I am getting a smooth cut. You can really feel the action of the tool, so you know blind or not if the cut is coming out smooth, so I tend to watch the outside more, simply because with my pieces normally being pretty thin, if I don't watch the curve there is a higher chance that I will go through the side and that's no fun!

Back to top

Three Mutts Customs
Custom Leather, Wood & Metal gear
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing"

IP Logged

kidcolombia

Senior Member

Offline

Preferiria estar torneando!!

Posts: 440

Gender: male

Re: What do you watch?
Reply #11 - Oct 10^th, 2005 at 6:19pm

What you are doing Ned is what most beginners can't do, ie, lay the tool to the wood and watch the result of the cut in relation to the rest of the piece. Seems like one needs a lot of experience with tool technique to do that so that instead of watching the tool as to angle, bevel placement, etc., one feels those things and reacts automatically. Isn't that more or less the way it is? I think that I am just getting to that point. You, Ned (and others) have obviously gotten there. Leaves more concentration time for the whole matter of creation. Technique gives way to art.

Back to top

JIM

IP Logged