"Tom Storey" wrote: (clip)I'm unsure how you would advance the blade into
the blank to maintain a desired wall thickness. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You have identified one of the problems. If you "play it safe," and keep
the wall really thick, you reduce the number of bowls you can core out of a
given blank. If you try to maximize your yield, you risk getting too close
to the bottom, and losing the bowl. Most people find they can handle this
pretty well as they gain experience.

I solved the problem by mounting a laser over the cutting tip, pointing down
at the tip. While I'm working, I can see on the outside of the wood exactly
where my cut is going.

BTW, it is possible to steer the cut a little, because the tool has a wider
cutting edge than the support behind it. Also, if you decide to change the
angle, you can back out and widen the cut for more clearance. You can also
switch to a tool with a different radius.

Now for the "fear factor." The tool is usually used with a huge handle,
which creates the impression that a lot of leverage is needed. If you
always keep the tool properly in contact with its support, NO leverage is
needed. Many of the turners I know use the tool without the handle
attached. In fact, it seems to work better that way.