SMOOTHING A CYLINDER
To smooth a cylinder, use a large skew chisel. This requires
practice, but experience with this tool is very important. Place
the cutting point near the center of chisel and high on the
work (Fig. 38). Sometimes, in striving for a certain position in
relation to the work, the beginner will often overlook this all-
important point. Raising the handle will increase the depth of
cut while lowering the handle, of course, does the opposite.
As with the gouge, you can advance the skew in either
direction. The center of the skew toward the heel does the
actual cutting. The back portion of the grind or bevel supports
the tool, while the handle-hand controls the depth of cut by
Fig. 38
rocking the chisel on this pivot point. Because of this, keep
the skew bevel perfectly flat.
USING THE PARTING TOOL
The parting tool is perhaps the easiest turning chisel to
Fig. 39
handle. Simply push this scraping tool into the work (Fig.
39). You can achieve a somewhat better cutting action if the
handle is held low. This tool is, in many cases, held with one
hand while the other hand holds the calipers in the cutting
groove. When parting tool cuts are deep, make a clearance
cut alongside the first cut (Fig. 40) to prevent burning the tool
point.
Fig. 40
SQUARING AN END
You can use the parting tool to quickly square an end.
Since the parting tool is a rough cutter, the cut can then be
smoothed by the use of the skew. However, you can do the
whole operation with the skew. First, make a nicking cut with
the toe of the skew (Fig. 41). A deep cut here could burn the
chisel, so make a clearance cut by inclining the skew away
from the first cut and pushing the tool into the work. This
procedure of side cut and clearance cut is continued as often
Fig. 41
as needed.
NOTE: While the skew can be pushed into the wood in any
direction, the cutting edge itself must be inclined a little away
from this plane. If the full cutting edge of skew bears against
Fig. 42
the cut surface, the tool will have a tendency to run. See
Fig. 42 for the proper way to make the cut. Push the chisel
straight into the work, and incline the cutting edge away from
the cut surface. Use only the extreme end of the toe for this
cut. This important principle in skew handling will be used
repeatedly in making shoulders, beads and vee cuts.
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