You bring up a point about basic knowledge versus tool knowledge.

Kids always give the "shucks and shuffle" when I begin with the obvious,
that you never let the tool get the leverage, or your body get in the line
of fire, but it never stopped me (surprise) from reviewing and demanding
compliance when I saw incorrect operation.

I think that tools of all sorts are important, but the sort of thing you do
with all tools is more so.

If you turn downhill and down grain, and let the wood come to the tool, not
force the tool to the wood, you'll be a better turner with the proverbial
screwdriver than the guy who suits up to the protective nines, grabs a Texas
size whatever, and attacks a rapidly spinning piece of wood.

Oh yeah, if it seems too fast for you - it is.

"Joe Fleming" wrote in message
...


A turning tool is designed to present a cutting edge or a scraping edge to
the wood in a limited range of orientations, such that the cut/scrape can
be
accomplished easily, efficiently and safely. Taken at its core, what does
this mean? It means that every tool has a "sweet spot" of operation. It
also means that many tools can be operated beyond their "normal" range of
operation by compromising a little on the ease, efficiency or the safety.