George,
Theory is great, but there is a rotational component to the piece, so if it
comes loose and contacts something it will tend to climb up it. Where did
Newton say anything about every hit takes half the hurt potential away?
There are elastic and inelastic collisions, in an inelastic collision with
one object moving and one anchored, there is a change in direction of the
one object with minimal change is speed. As an example drop a golf ball on
to a hard surface, it will bounce up more than half the height it was
dropped from.
Your suggestions for turning safely should be heeded none the less.
Martin

"George" george@least wrote in message
...
Well, an Englishman name of Newton disagrees. He says opposite the
impact.
That's why you keep your toolrest close to make sure it hits there before
it
enters a navel battle with you, and cut above center so a catch knocks it
down. From that point on, everything it hits, according to Newton, takes
half the hurt potential away in the impact.

More interesting is that doubling the speed equals four times the initial
energy, which goes back to an answer I gave earlier about spindle
turnings -
slower is _much_ safer - so turn at a speed commensurate with your best
edge, and don't be tempted to get more energy in the equation to
compensate
for a dulling edge or a poor presentation. Change the presentation or
refresh the edge. Fortunately I don't have an instant speedup capability
on
my old iron beast, so it's actually easier to freshen the edge.

"billh" wrote in message
. ..


There is no predicting the direction.