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Thread: Narrow beads with skew
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2nd September 2010, 12:45 PM #1
Narrow beads with skew
This one is more for the Skew experts but happy for anyone to chime in. As reported in an earlier thread, I have changed the grinding angle of the skew to a sharper angle and this has meant a slight modification to the way I now roll beads. Narrow beads are particularly challenging with the skew chisel, mine usually are fine at the top but look ordinary at their bases in that there's usually ridges and the finish is not quite clean.
The skew is probably not the weapon of choice for narrow beads but what adjustment if any would be needed in technique to make them more successful?
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3rd September 2010, 11:26 AM #2John Lucas
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If your getting less than a perfect cut on the lower part of the sides of beads then you are probably pushing the tool too fast. Remember the wood is moving slower as you get closer to the center. You have to move the tool slower to get the same quality of cut.
As you rotate the tool when cutting a bead you are also lifting the handle as you cut the sides. Just slow down this lift and let the tool do the work.
A steeper grind requires a little more concentration especially on the sides. I will often clean up the sides with the toe of the skew. Especially steep sided narrow beads if I haven't been turning for a week or so. I kind of lose my touch and have to cut a few to get it back.
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3rd September 2010, 07:47 PM #3
It's just practice, really.
As you found out, changing the angle changes the way you use the tool and your muscles need time to adjust to the new "way it feels right."
So if you could roll them before the angle change then it's not technique. Just your "muscle learning" getting in the way.
- Andy Mc
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4th September 2010, 01:44 PM #4
Thanks to John and Skew.
John, your suggestion of cleaning up with the toe of the skew helps.
I should have pointed out that by narrow I mean a width of 2 mm or less. I gather from the number of responses that not many people use the skew on narrow beads which raises the question of what tool to use works best for these narrow beads. Finish is crucial so that is why I use the skew but she can be difficult at times.
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5th September 2010, 10:14 AM #5John Lucas
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To do them that narrow and be absolutely sure I would get them correct here's what I would do. If they are by themselves I would use the parting tool to set them off. Then use the toe of the skew to cut both sides. Then I would lay the skew on it's side and round over the top of the bead. Yea I know that's cheating but it works.
If you need to do several of these beads right next to each other then I would skip the parting tool and just use the toe of the skew.
Normally I turn beads from the center out and down but with them being that narrow there's just so little time to get from the center out over the edge and that requires a lot of movement of the skew. I would have to practice a dozen or so on some scrap to be sure I could do them. The other method I described will certainly work.
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6th September 2010, 12:03 AM #6
That's good John, I will give your idea a try.
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6th September 2010, 09:32 AM #7Retired
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For beads that small I would use a 7mm or 10mm parting tool.
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6th September 2010, 01:32 PM #8
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6th September 2010, 04:52 PM #9Retired
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6th September 2010, 05:00 PM #10
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6th September 2010, 08:24 PM #11
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6th September 2010, 09:58 PM #12Retired
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6th September 2010, 10:34 PM #13GOLD MEMBER
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6th September 2010, 10:47 PM #14
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7th September 2010, 09:44 AM #15
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