Sharp edged groove in soft wood

[AllenK]

Hi

I am turning a vase in Douglas Fir from an old flagpole. The wood itself is not very exciting and I want to put a sharp groove around it using resin with brass filings for decoration.

My question is - how do I achieve a groove with sharp edges in such soft wood? Normally I would use a parting tool but with this wood it crushes the fibres rather than cutting them and I get a messy edge.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Allen

 

[Bodrighy]

Use the corner of a skew. Us the short corner not the long one mind.

Pete

 

[AllenK]

Hi Pete

Thanks for this. I guess I had only been thinking about a square sided groove and not a v shaped one but what you advise makes sense - the epoxy mixture should stay in there. I will give it a go.

Ta

Allen

 

[Bodrighy]

If you cut two thin grooves with the skew to mark the edges you should be able to take the centre out with the parting tool leaving a clean edge. Make sure that the parting tool is really sharp and lower it into the wood not push it into the wood.....if that makes sense.

Pete

 

[CHJ]

You don't need to just have a Vee, you can have the groove square sided or even undercut as a dovetail.

Use the skew on edge to produce a slicing cut.

Making 'V' cuts
When making a 'V' cut using the skew, you must ensure that each cut must be made progressively wider. Ensure only to cut with the very point/toe of the tool, remembering to move the handle to each side of the 'V' whilst making a lifting arc as the tool travels into the wood

Step 1

Using only the toe of the skew chisel, score a line to the left of the pencil line, going deep enough to score the fibres at the outer diameter of the blank and no more (if you go too deep the timber may well burn)

Step 2

Now, move the tool to the opposite side of the 'V' and repeat the first cut, but this time going slightly deeper than you did previously. Continue as before working on one side, then the other, until you have gone as deep as is required

Taken from;- http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=1049

Once you have the Vee wide enough (you have nice sharp edges) you can tilt the skew more vertical on the slope so that it removes more wood from the sides as you go deeper. or just use your parting toll to widen the base of your groove.
Just remember you are slicing as you would with a penknife blade...


Edit:- Pete beat me to it.

 

[Hobbyshop]

I am very new to turning wood, so at the moment I am watching all the tips and tutorial videos I can find.
This video shows how different cuts with the parting tool can give clean edges or feathery edges.
It doesn't specify soft wood so I have no idea if it will help in your case, but worth a look anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W2m9JCG6IY&hd=1

The relevant part is approximately 1min 50 secs in.

Regards
Kevin

 

[chipmunk]

After cutting the edges cleanly with a skew, the other tip Allen would be to rub the bevel of your parting tool on the surface of the work before raising the handle slightly into the parting cut. - And keep rubbing the bevel as you part rather than simply pushing it in straight to the middle of the work.

Assuming your parting tool is sharp, this I think may explain why you are crushing rather than peeling the wood fibres.

HTH
Jon