On 11/7/2011 8:42 AM, Vic Baron wrote:
"Bill" wrote in message
...
On 11/6/2011 7:48 PM, Vic Baron wrote:
Tools sharp - balance fine - it's my technique for sure. The main
problem is after I've hollowed out the sides and am using the scraper to
flatten out the bottom. Probably pushing too hard.
I've turned a fair amount, perhaps not as much as some here, but
enough that I can generally concentrate on what I want to make rather
than how (see the gallery page on my web site, www.wbnoble.com under
hobbies) - anyway, I really don't like scrapers, I find them catch
prone and dangerous, I rarely use them and then only in shear with the
scraper very lightly touching the wood - for flattening a bowl bottom
I use the same gouge I hollowed it with - typically a 1/2 to 5/8 gouge
with a very swept back fingernail grind. MY guess is that you are
cutting too broad a swath and if you went to something much thinner
(in cutting width) you would fare better -
But then aren't you just using the tip of the gouge as a scraper? My
little cup for example is just 2 1/2 inched in diameter. So for the
bottom, only the tip would contact until it got to the sides. I'm having
difficulty visualizing the cut. I assume you push the gouge - level - in
the center - rotate it to about 9 or 10 o'clock while pulling across the
bottom to the outside wall, then pulling the gouge out along the wall.
I'm having a tough time with that cut - since I really can't see inside
the hole, I'm still having a tough time 'feeling' the bevel, if you
understand what I mean. But, that's what practice is for. Still can't
make a v cut with a skew either!
Vic
when I am cutting from center to edge of a bowl or jar, I use the
fingernail ground gouge, as I said. I start at the center with the
gouge turned 90 deg so the sharp edges are facing me, and then rotate it
clockwise a few degrees so it cuts and then bring it towards me
controlling the cut by increasing or decreasing the rotation of the
gouge. When I am cutting in the other direction, e.g. from edge to
center (which is what I prefer to get thin walls), I start with the same
90 deg orientation but with the sharp edges facing the tailstock and
then rotate a degree or so counterclockwise - so in both cases I'm
cutting with the trailing edge. I can make a cut from a thin wisp of a
shaving to a 1/4 inch deep by 5/8 inch wide mammoth steaming shaving by
adjusting the angle of attack and pressure - I only have 2 HP on the
lathe, so with larger stuff I have to modulate the cut to avoid stalling
the motor, but even a fairly large bowl hollows out in a few minutes.
so, no, not scraping, cutting. if you are getting shavings, you are
cutting, if you are getting dust, you are not.
hope this helps.