Learning from Competition

[Dalboy]

Things I have learnt from entering the competition.

First and foremost read the Bl---y rules properly
Next I managed to learn how to use my spiralling tool (not perfectly but acceptable enough)

So this is a good thing for people to enter well the second one at least in as much that it can teach you new skills (In my case maybe) :lol:

Any way I said I would post my fisherman's priest which would have been disqualified.
1 for texturing
2 using colour
and 3 not from 1 piece of wood.
All my own fault

 

[nev]

Thats what its all about
You've learnt, You've enjoyed and you've created a fine looking tool =D> , and by not reading the rules thoroughly you get to do it twice!
Win Win :wink:

 

[Soylent1]

I have learnt how not to use a skew chisel !

 

[Dalboy]

I have learnt how not to use a skew chisel !

I know what you mean :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[winemaker]

Thats what its all about
You've learnt, You've enjoyed and you've created a fine looking tool =D> , and by not reading the rules thoroughly you get to do it twice!
Win Win :wink:

I agree 100% =D>

 

[Spindle]

I have learnt how not to use a skew chisel !

You're half way there then

Stick with it - the best bit of advice for me was to only use the third of the edge closest to the heel when planing.

Regards Mick

 

[monkeybiter]

That looks very nicely turned, I like that spiralling a lot. It's a shame [for you :twisted: ] that it's not allowed.

I'm also glad that you made it's intended purpose clear, a fish dispatcher might not have been the first thing to come to mind.

 

[Grahamshed]

It is a shame that it is not allowed, that is one nice looking piscebasher. But have to agree with Nev, lucky you gets to do it all over again.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Lovely Dal. I really like that and I would be very happy to use that on any trout I catch...love the spiralling I think the colouring is pretty subtle too...very nice.

 

[Soylent1]

I have learnt how not to use a skew chisel !

You're half way there then

Stick with it - the best bit of advice for me was to only use the third of the edge closest to the heel when planing.

Regards Mick

Thanks Mick, That's exactly what I've been trying to do as it explains it really well in my book (don't go near the toe, don't go near the heel don't do this don't do that !) unfortunately I keep getting nice spiral patterns - no need for me to buy a new spiralling tool :wink:

The book does say however that's It's a difficult one to learn and perseverance is the key. So if I don't end up entering this month's challenge it's probably because I've beaten myself with a poorly shaped, half finished fisherman's priest! (hammer)

 

[Dalboy]

The book does say however that's It's a difficult one to learn and perseverance is the key. So if I don't end up entering this month's challenge it's probably because I've beaten myself with a poorly shaped, half finished fisherman's priest! (hammer)

I found the video "Turning Projects with Richard Raffan" very useful for how to use the skew

 

[Soylent1]

Thanks Dalboy,

I'll check that one out, when I manage to sort a problem with flash player (won't let me watch any video).

 

[Grahamshed]

There are several good fide on youtube stressing the dangers of using the top of a skew.
Using the competition to learn is what I intend to do. As soon ass I have my lathe I will be entering that month. No chance of winning but gives me something to aim at and concentrate on.

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

unfortunately I keep getting nice spiral patterns - no need for me to buy a new spiralling tool :wink:

Ah, yes... I had problems with that for a while. In my case it was chatter caused by the piece flexing. Try supporting the work from behind using a finger. (take care, finger will become hot) Make sure the tailstock isn't too slack or too tight too.

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

This video helped me get to grips with the skew. I get far better results now, especially when doing pens which I generally use only the skew on now.

 

[Soylent1]

unfortunately I keep getting nice spiral patterns - no need for me to buy a new spiralling tool :wink:

Try supporting the work from behind using a finger.

Thank you, but I don't think I'll be putting my fingers anywhere - apart from being wrapped around the tool with a really tight white knuckle grip! I'm trying to relax while turning but I think It's going to take a while because every time I relax a bit, get a bit more confident/cocky I end up getting a catch and then I'm back to square one!

Tony

 

[Dalboy]

As we came onto the subject of the skew chisel I thought that maybe I should have a quick revisit to the dreaded tool and made this finial from a pen blank I had in beech. I turned it all with the skew from roughing to completion. This I did to see if I still could use the skew correctly.



All I need to do now is turn something to put under it :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Soylent1]

That's brilliant! what size skew did you use? that bead can only be a couple of mm! also did I read correctly when you say you roughed with a skew? If so how on earth do you do that?

 

[CHJ]

... If so how on earth do you do that?

The same way as you would approach a square blank with a round gouge, from the centre towards the ends to reduce the catch and splinter risk.
Apart from that, with care, the faster it's spinning the easier as you have less time to dip the cutting edge too deep between the rotating corners.

Says he who has mastered the skew to the point he spends 90% of his time on bowl and face turning :lol:

 

[Dalboy]

That's brilliant! what size skew did you use? that bead can only be a couple of mm! also did I read correctly when you say you roughed with a skew? If so how on earth do you do that?

For the detailed work I used a 1/2" skew but roughed down with my 3/4" skew.
As CHJ has describe it is not that difficult the only thing I would add is take small sweeps at the blank and move along until nearly at the opposite end then reverse the chisel for the last 1" to 2".

If I was to use a skew for a larger piece then I would use my 1 1/4" skew. Even though I used the 1/2" for detail I feel that I could do with a much smaller one for the next Competition piece so I am having a go at making some tools for that.

And have just measured the bead and it is 2mm