A bit of skew practice

[Tazmaniandevil]

One of the things I have most difficulty with is the skew. Not surprising it would seem, as loads of other turners seem to avoid them completely. My biggest problem was always with the skew digging in to the workpiece. My bad, of course, but after many a battered and black fingernail I decided enough was enough. I decided to sacrifice a pile of pine I have stuck under my bench to the skew.
I am getting better, but my goodness it is taking a while.
I turned this little beech goblet yesterday evening, and finished the outside entirely with the skew. I'm quite chuffed with the result, and intend to continue practising on the pine logs until I am happy I can do this without fear. I also need to practice holding the bowl gouge to allow the bevel to stay in contact with the work.

and showing the walls & inside....

Not a good angle, but I was trying to show the uniform wall thickness. Turned out not looking uniform at all.

Goblet is 4" tall, cup is 1½" diameter at the lip, as is the base. The stem is 3/8" at the thinner parts.

 

[nev]

To paraphrase Jaws, you're going to need a bigger pile of pine :wink:
I've just about got the hang of a straight or slightly curved planing cut , but if i try any shaping at all, the inevitable happens :evil: usually just as i am adding a final 'finesse' to something #-o
But as they say - practice makes perfect! (or as near as we'll ever get 8) ) Good on yer for pushing yerself =D>

Edit: I love the second line of the intro here from M. Sorby - The skew, famous for the spiral patterns that cross a work piece when a smooth surface finish is the required end result!

 

[woodyturner]

That's the way forward practice and more practice then even more till tour at the point that it becomes second nature and as you stated many turners have the same problem even after mastering the tool and I'm one of them I still get the odd surprise blooming dig-in after 20 odd years

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

Cheers fellas. Don't worry nev, the pile of pine is huge.... :lol:
My ring finger and pinky of my left hand bear testament to just how many times I got it wrong. I've adopted the Cap'n Eddie convex bevel on the skew, which makes a difference IMO. I give it a quick rub on the belt sander almost every time I use it too, making sure the edge is nice & sharp.
I currently have the remains of an egg cup which started out as a goblet, but kept getting shorter and shorter........
I say remains, because there is a nice hole in the side from where I decided it would be nice a little thinner.

 

[Bodrighy]

As you say many turners avoid the skew and yet it is probably the most versatile and useful tool you can have. Doing a long curve as in the goblet is not the easiest way to practice either so well done on that. Try practicing by making something like a knitting needle or even a trembleur to get used to keeping the angle right and getting that smooth planing cut. Digs are the norm and I defy any turner however experienced to say they never get a dig in with the skew LOL.

pete

 

[woodturnerEric]

nice job,it does take a bit of getting used to working with the skew chisel,and I agree with Pete,you do on occasion get a diggin,but normally coincides with a momentary lapse of concentration,and we`ve all done that,I don`t know if it`ll work but have tried to add a pic of offset turning done entirely with the skew so you can see what can be achieved with practice,regards Eric.