Thread: Oval skews?

Yes, but with a bit more skew angle.

Other videos I've seen of Raffan his skew has been ground with a curve that makes the angle at the short point quite obtuse.

Alan Lacer grinds a curve that makes the long point almost square.

I like both the long and short points to be well defined with just a slight curve between them.

Every turner should have at least two skews,

1) a smoothing chisel - wide and thick with a longish handle, 65-70 degree skew angle slightly curved makes it ideal for planing cuts.

2) a detail chisel - 19mm or so wide, with a shorter handle, 75-80 degree skew angle gives a strong short point for rolling beads and cutting fillets etc.

Steve.

Originally Posted by stuffy

I like both the long and short points to be well defined with just a slight curve between them.

...

2) a detail chisel - 19mm or so wide, with a shorter handle, 75-80 degree skew angle gives a strong short point for rolling beads and cutting fillets etc.

Steve.

I agree with your comments, particularly the above, even though I personally don't use the curved skew.

my flat skews lay in the corner sulking now all i use is my oval skews and have done for quite a few years , not sorby but oval skews all the same .

johno

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

They are different to use compared to a flat skew.

With the rocking bevel some dont like that feel

If you want a large skew cant go past the P&N 1-1/4"

Unhandled

Handled

+1

I turned my ovals skews into negative rake scrapers. I love them for that use, they allow for an infinite number of sheer scrape angles. I use nothing else for scraping, unless I'm working inside a hollow form.

QUOTE=NeilS;1806030]+1

I turned my ovals skews into negative rake scrapers. I love them for that use, they allow for an infinite number of sheer scrape angles. I use nothing else for scraping, unless I'm working inside a hollow form.[/QUOTE]

Hi neal,
I have a diamond shape skew I never use would
It be possible to grind it in to a negitive rake scraper ?
and would you have a photo of yours?

Originally Posted by smiife

QUOTE=NeilS;1806030]+1

I turned my ovals skews into negative rake scrapers. I love them for that use, they allow for an infinite number of sheer scrape angles. I use nothing else for scraping, unless I'm working inside a hollow form.

Hi neal,
I have a diamond shape skew I never use would
It be possible to grind it in to a negitive rake scraper ?
and would you have a photo of yours?[/QUOTE]

Smiife, I'm not familiar with diamond shape skews, so can't comment on their suitability.

I will photograph my oval scrapers the next time I'm around at my workshop.

They are just ground like a radius skew chisel. This is a more acute included angle than standard scrapers. The oval cross-section allows the tool to be rotated on the tool rest to make a sheer scrape at your preferred angle. I only use scrapers to take a very fine final cut and the acute edge works well for that.

As we all have grinders and sandpaper, we can put whatever rounding that suits our personal taste on any tool.

I ease the square edges on the sides of all my scrapers and skews to make it easier on my hands and tool rest.

Here is a shot of my skew chisels smallest being 6mm by 6 mm for lace bobbins and the biggest 38 by 10mm for compound curves. I have a few double up sizes as some don't leave home and a work set.
They all get a workout the half by half inch is my favourite for turning posts.
There is 11 in total for me to choose from!

Originally Posted by chuck1

Here is a shot of my skew chisels smallest being 6mm by 6 mm for lace bobbins and the biggest 38 by 10mm for compound curves. I have a few double up sizes as some don't leave home and a work set.
They all get a workout the half by half inch is my favourite for turning posts.
There is 11 in total for me to choose from!

Chuck1, Nice to see good solid handles, plenty of timber around the tang & a nice solid ferrule.

Pity a few well known tool makers do not follow that lead.

I like the the big furrules. It does make you wonder why manufacturers of tools do put small ferrules on the handles!
I noticed the Allen keys that come with chucks are getting shorter over the years! Must bet cost cutting!

Originally Posted by NeilS

+1

I turned my ovals skews into negative rake scrapers. I love them for that use, they allow for an infinite number of sheer scrape angles. I use nothing else for scraping, unless I'm working inside a hollow form.

Neil, what do you use on the inside of lidded boxes? The oval skews as scrapers for the final tool finish? Just interested.

Originally Posted by jefferson

Neil, what do you use on the inside of lidded boxes? The oval skews as scrapers for the final tool finish? Just interested.

Jeff, as with hollow forms, I use small scraper tips on goose neck shafts (most with a rotating head) to sheer scrape the internal walls and undercuts surfaces of boxes. This allows a sheer scrape at the desired angle. As you will know, any undercuts on crossgrain blanks are best scraped from the equator towards the pole (mouth) and on endgrain from the pole towards the equator.

I have rounded the end of one of my ovals for scraping the internal bottoms of shallow forms.

As I don't have 'corners' inside any of my deeper or closed forms I'm not sure how you would deal with those areas.

Thanks for the question, Jeff. You are right that I needed to explain myself better.

Interesting thread Evanism. When I first started turning I was advised to buy oval skews and had all sorts of issues. I was digging stumps out of the forest and I visited the legendary Tiny Hayes and he threw me and the oval skews out of his workshop. I visited Powder Post and he gave me a few tips with flat skews and it seemed OK. Went back home to the ovals and all crap again, so basically gave up spindle work for 15 years. Was at the Prossie Turnout and asked Retired for a few tips and within 10 minutes I was back in action with his flat skews turning quite well. He suggested it might be the ovals. I bought a 1 1/4 inch flat P & N radiused the edges and bingo, back cutting good spindles again.
So from what different posters have said, they do suit some turners, but for me they are in the scrap metal bin. I may put them up on the market place to get rid of them.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

I may put them up on the market place to get rid of them.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Sorry Crocy we may have knocked the resale value about a bit with this thread.