Leo Lichtman wrote:

I also recall that once the spindle is turned "super-thin," the job MUST be
turned to comletion without stopping--else on restart, the piece would just
twist in two.

I'm not sure how small "super thin" is, but I an turn 0.02" diameter
stuff
"between centers" to start with, or more accurately - chucked on the
drive end and supported on the tail stock end by a live center.

If you're turning dry straight grained stuff, preferably tight closed
grain wood, and turn from tail stock end back towards the chuck you
can turn pretty thin without any finished end support - IF you turn
and finish as you go, cutting only in short increments and only back
to the thicker, chucked end of the blank.

The without stopping isn't any issue using this method - though
it definitely is when the part is stretched (held in tension) between
ends. Doesn't take much difference in angular velocity between
ends to twist the wood fibers passed their breaking point. I made
the mistake of trying to burnish a small diameter turning with
saw dust. Just the little bit of friction involved was enough to
twist the piece apart.

Though it sounds tricky, turning to really small diameters is pretty
easy with what amounts to a small, single bevel bedan -actually a
1/16th inch parting tool. Use it to turn down short sections - say
in just under 1/4" increments - making very light scraping cuts when
your close to where you want to be, starting "heavier" cuts with the
head stock end corner of the tool and peeling back to the thicker
part of the blank. Easier to do than to describe.

charlie b