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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: The Skew Reply #30 - Feb 10^th, 2018 at 7:50pm Don Stephan wrote on Feb 10^th, 2018 at 6:54pm: in the last couple years I've become more comfortable with it, and find it is extremely versatile. for what?
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Don Stephan

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Re: The Skew
Reply #31 - Feb 11^th, 2018 at 11:00am

Flipping burgers? Chipping ice off the sidewalk? Smashing cloves of garlic?

I'm using it more and more on spindle work after the spindle roughing gouge. Getting a smoother surface, marking out beads with V cuts, the flat surfaces of fillets, tapering the ends of magic wands, bringing down the long taper of wands, and parting off wands and spurtles. And now that I'm comfortable rolling beads with a spindle gouge, it's time to learn how to roll beads with the skew so I don't have to stop and change tools from skew to gouge and back again.

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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: The Skew Reply #32 - Feb 11^th, 2018 at 11:14am That's great Don, for now I'll stick to smashing garlic.
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Ron Sardo

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Re: The Skew
Reply #33 - Feb 11^th, 2018 at 7:40pm

I've used skews right from the very bring and don't want to imagine turning without them. I was luck enough to be shown how to use one on the very first day I learned how to turn.

Like with any tool, if you are getting catches its because one is not approaching the tool to the wood properly.

If one wants to become adapt in turning finials using a skew is a must.

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Dick Bernard

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Re: The Skew
Reply #34 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 6:28am

I envy you Ron. You were fortunate to have started from the beginning with a mentor by your side.
As for me, the skew scares the heck out of me. I've watched many videos but still manage to get catches. It goes without saying that it's me, and not the tool.

I'm moving to Virginia in about a month and there is a woodturning club that meets every month and it's less than 2 miles from my house. I'm hoping that a member takes me under his wing and teaches me the proper way to use the skew.

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Ron Sardo

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Re: The Skew
Reply #35 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 8:23am

Dick Bernard wrote on Feb 12^th, 2018 at 6:28am:

I'm hoping that a member takes me under his wing and teaches me the proper way to use the skew.

That's is the best way to learn and would recommend that to everyone that gets a chance to find a mentor to show them.

I would add that if you keep the cutting area in the center of the skew you would get less catches. Its the heel and the tip that causes a catch during a cut.

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brent ashcraft Junior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 30	Re: The Skew Reply #36 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 9:20am As I posted on another site on a similar thread: The skew is an evil tool, and all ye that use, be witches Brent Ashcraft
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Ralph Fahringer WR Addict Offline I'm the "Burly" Man!! Posts: 1,629 Ellsworth Maine USA Gender: PM3520b	Re: The Skew Reply #37 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:08am [quote The skew is an evil tool, and all ye that use, be witches Brent Ashcraft [/quote] DILLY-DILLY!!!
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George Stratton Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 322 Gender: Old Delta 12" 46-701 in great condition. Had it about 20+ years and turned 1 part.	Re: The Skew Reply #38 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:14am Question to Ron. Doesn't the diameter of the piece your turning effect how safe the skew is? Seems like a small diameter would be easy to use it but the outside of say a large bowl makes it hard to use the center of the skew?
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Ed Weber

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Re: The Skew
Reply #39 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:17am

George Stratton wrote on Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:14am:

Seems like a small diameter would be easy to use it but the outside of say a large bowl makes it hard to use the center of the skew?

Skews are meant for spindle turnings or things turned in spindle orientation with the grain running parallel to the ways of the lathe.
I would not suggest trying a skew on the outside of a bowl.

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George Stratton Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 322 Gender: Old Delta 12" 46-701 in great condition. Had it about 20+ years and turned 1 part.	Re: The Skew Reply #40 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:18am That makes sence Ed. Thanks.
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Ron Sardo

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Re: The Skew
Reply #41 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 10:57am

Ed is right George, skews are for spindles.

Although I have used a skew as a negative rake scraper on the outside of a bowl since the wood doesn't care what you call the tool. (The Skew Needs To Be Laid Flat On The Tool Rest)

I have 7 skews ranging from 1/4" to 1-1/4"

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This is my 1/4" skew

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Ed Weber

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Re: The Skew
Reply #42 - Feb 12^th, 2018 at 11:25am

Ron Sardo wrote on Feb 11^th, 2018 at 7:40pm:

If one wants to become adapt in turning finials using a skew is a must.

Ron, I perform the same cut as shown in the photo but I do it with a small spindle gouge.
While we can respectfully disagree on which is the "better" method, my point has always been it can be done without a skew, for those that aren't comfortable using them, for whatever the reason.

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