No, I don't think so. If you're not chewing beech or chasing chunks across
the floor, you've got a proper sense of caution. I'd only recommend it on
the outside, though

I think the insight that: "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."

Was overwhelmed by a few bitter experiences or comfortable conventional
wisdom.

I don't believe there is _a_ sweet spot on _a_ type of tool for all
operations and configurations, because there are right and left hand cuts,
concave and convex, face and long grain ... well, you get the picture. Not
to mention that the number of tools available to do the same job, and
turners still trying for more, is the best indication there isn't even a
perfect tool for a particular job, much less technique.

The observations, before they wander away, are observations that bad tool
practice can be dangerous with _any_ tool. Tool rest too far is not a
comment on the suitability of the tool, but the carelessness of the
operator. Tool presented at the wrong angle (out of the "sweet spot") is
also not the fault of the tool, though, I'll bet a lot of folks have found a
heck of a lot more sweet spots on a gouge - or not, which is why they grind
'em funny - than I have, and it wasn't by presenting "the" proper tool for
"the" conventional reason. After seeming to object, Joe does return to
experience, both individual and vicarious, as the best teacher.

It's sort of like when I went to pour my first concrete. I read, pestered
and questioned, and discovered the consensus that sometimes concrete cracks,
sometimes it doesn't. While there are bad practices which will guarantee
failure, there are no practices which will guarantee success.

"Reyd Dorakeen" wrote in message
...
oops, guess I better top using that rougingin gouge to open the inside of
my
bowls