Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-3, страница 25

Skew Chisels and Abrupt Transition

If what you are making requires an abrupt division between square stock and round stock (a tenon with a square shoulder), here's where a skew chisel is a necessity. Use either the heel or the toe of the skew to cut into the square stock. Arch the tool into the wood — don't simply jab the point of the tool into the wood — and begin with light, small cuts.

I use the toe of the skew chisel to make this cut; I find that I can see and control the cut better. It seems, though, that many others who teach spindle turning use the heel. Try both methods and decide for yourself.

Make small cuts. I work gradually, beginning my cut a slight distance from where the final cut will be made. The objective is to have the final shape be smooth and located just where I want it to be. With this cut, there's usually not much room for errors. You might want to mark your stock with a reference line for where the end of the shoulder should be.

After I've established the initial cut of the shoulder, I switch to a spindle gouge to finish cutting the tenon. Be careful not to let the gouge become tangled up with the sharp corners of the shoulder.

Skew Chisels and V Grooves

The skew chisel is an excellent tool for making V-grooves. As with the shoulder of the tenon, begin your cut with an arching motion. Make small cuts, first from one angle, then from the opposing angle. V-groove cuts, made in this manner, will be cut cleanly and will require no sanding.

To cut stock from square to a gradual round, use a roughing gouge. Simply begin the cut near one end, then reduce the diameter until you achieve the desired dimension and shape. Roughing gouges are also used for quickly reducing stock from square to round.

When using the skew chisel, remember that there are potentially four cutting edges and four bevels. When you are using one of the four cutting edges, stay away from the other three! They are: toe, heel, right side and left side. Each of the cutting edges has a corresponding bevel associated with it.

When making a V-groove cut with the toe of the skew chisel, there needs to be slight clearance on each of the side edges because you are using the tip of the tool as the cutting edge. The same thing applies if you use the heel of your skew for cutting the V-groove. Remember, if you are using one of the four cutting edges, stay away from the other three.

True Purpose of Parting Tools

The name "parting tool" causes a bit of confusion for many beginners. Parting tools are used, not for parting the wood off the lathe, but for parting through the wood to mark a specific diameter. They are often used in conjunction with calipers, preset to measure a correct diameter.

Parting tools are straightforward to use. Simply arch them into the wood and push a bit, and they do the cutting almost automatically.

Something you may not know about a conventional style parting tool is that you can use the side edge for cutting. Simply lean it slightly into the end grain area, and that sharp edge will actually clean up torn grain.

Spindle Gouges Take Practice

OK, here's where I confess: I sometimes get lazy and use a bowl gouge when I ought to use a spindle gouge. It's perfectly safe, but admittedly a bit lazy. The bevel on a bowl gouge is at a shorter angle, which makes for a less grabby cut. When I have a student who is struggling to

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The author uses a skew chisel to begin the shoulder cut to create a tenon with an abrupt transition from round to square, such as in a table leg.

After establishing the shoulder, gradually remove wood (above) to begin creating the tenon. In the photo at right the tenon is almost cut to size.

Woodworker's Journal June 2008

25