"Arch" wrote in message
...
Max, another forgiving tool for smoothing a spindle surface can be made
by removing the bevel and grinding a new one on the flute side of a
shallow 3/4" or larger gouge. Held upside down & flat on the rest and
pulled at an angle, the wings prevent rotation and 'slam-downs' while
the fixed tangent of curved gouge to curved wood helps control the chip
width and 'dig-ins'. Find the sweet-angle and it works quite well. If
you have an unused old carbon steel gouge you may want to try it.

An interesting idea. As a relative newcomer to turning, I don't have
anything that's old. But I'm replacing my first, inexpensive tools with
better ones as finances allow.


Not condescending to you, but a true beginner should remember to use a
dead _ring_ center, not a dead 60deg. center as a clutch. Maybe I've
forgotten how to 'double clutch' , but a dead ring center drive is a
pain to me. It either slips too easily or it needs too much tailstock
pressure.

It sounds as if a Steb center might be a better alternative. I found a dead
ring center from Packard, and it is somewhat less expensive than the Steb.

Max