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Thread: Mollydookers?

  1. #1
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    Default Mollydookers?

    I am right handed at everything except....you guessed it, woodturning.
    So was wondering how many other turners out there in forumland turn left handed....hold the handle of the chisel in left hand.?
    I remember the teacher at Sydney tech back in the 80's seemed flabbergasted that I was left handed and he tried to convince me it was evil and should only be done right handed.

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  3. #2
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    Thumbs up

    Do you need a left handed lathe!!

  4. #3
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    Default Here we go again

    I am left handed and hold the chisel in which ever hand feels most comfortable for what I am doing. I tend to favor holding the chisel handle with my left hand.

    Michael

  5. #4
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    Default

    Practice doing it both ways. A handy skill no matter which hand you are.
    anne-maria.
    T
    ea Lady

    (White with none)
    Follow my little workshop/gallery on facebook. things of clay and wood.

  6. #5
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    Default trying to be ambidextrous

    Am only a newbie to turning so am trying to use left handed just as much as right handed.

    Slightly more comfortable right handed but everything is equally new and strange to both hands so it should be easy to become unbiased.

    I read somewhere that if you try to do things with both hands it will stimulate the "other" side of your brain. So have been teaching self to write left handed for past year - its a bit spikey and child like but am getting there.

    Bill

  7. #6
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by artme View Post
    Do you need a left handed lathe!!
    Not as silly as it seems. Buy a lathe with the reverse function and stand on the other side. It's what I do. Saying that, as Tea Lady has hinted, try using both, it'll make you a better turner
    -Scott

  8. #7
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    Default

    I turn spindles ,the outside of bowls and boxes left handed, but the inside of bowls, boxes, I turn them right handed.

    I never gave it any thought till now, have just taught myself to turn that way and it is just natural to me.

    I write left handed but hold a cricket bat or golf club right handed.

  9. #8
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    Default

    I a Right handed and was deliberately started turning left handed by the gentleman who taught me, now truly ambidextrous (but only when turning).

    I have someone I'm teaching at the moment and I get him to turn as much wrong handed as normal handed, he can already see the advantages.
    Dragonfly
    No-one suspects the dragonfly!

  10. #9
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    Default

    I'm right handed but play pool left handed. No idea what handed I am on the lathe (right hand front and left hand rear), I just do what feel comfortable
    It's only a mistake if you don't learn from it.

  11. #10
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    Default Another Left Handed Turner.

    Hi All,
    A lot of RH's are not to keen on me saying this, but I still believe, that the Lathe was built by a Left Hander for a Left Hander.
    We Stand in the Middle of the Lathe, where as the RHder, Stands to the Left of the Lathe, & at times has problems with the head of the Lathe getting in the way.
    Of course this has all changed now, as the Head of a Good Lathe will Swivel, & therefore a LHder can now Turn a Bowl Left Handed.
    I Don't Turn Bowls, but I can Turn Right Handed when needed.
    Regards,
    issatree.
    Have Lathe, Wood Travel.

  12. #11
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    Default

    Hi,
    I am a molly dooker as well. I can turn very roughly right handed but when I need to make final cuts (which are pretty rough anyway I just have to do it left handed. As I like turning bowls, in the end I got a decent lathe with a swivel head so I can easily turn left handed.

    I like the idea of the reverse and turning from the opposite side (but lathe will need a grub screw)but all of the lathes I know would then have the controls on the wrong side.

    For all of you right handers who say you just turn both hands, I wonder how many do final cuts with their left hand? If you do, congratulations.

    Mick

  13. #12
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    Default

    saw a lathe yesterday that you could slide tge headstock up the bed. That, combined with the pivot head, meant that you can reverse the location of the headstock and tail stock, turning it into a left hand lathe.

  14. #13
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    Default

    I am normally right handed for writing, left handed golfer, and
    both hands for typing (surprise, surprise).

    When first using the dreaded skew I was right handed but as
    I grew in confidence, and let the chisel work for me, I became
    more confident when needing to use it left handed. Now,
    I have no fear with either hand even when completing the
    final touches to pens.

    Allan
    Life is short ... smile while you still have teeth.

  15. #14
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    Feb 2006
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    MacMasters Beach (on weekends)
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    Default

    So what makes you left or right handed - is the hand that is on the handle or the hand closest to the lathe? I dont know and readily change hands depending which direction I am cutting - going left my right hand is on the handle of the tool and left hand when cutting to the right. I am old enough to be one of those people who were "encouraged" by the school system and others that being left handed was a sign of the devil. I write and eat right handed but prefer to do most other things left handed.

    Regards

    Peter

  16. #15
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    Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
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    Default

    Hand on the handle that controls the cuts.

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