new way to shear cut?

[Jim Becker]

Curtis, it's important that you are "Cutting" to avoid the "dust" problem with any wood, including very hard species like locust. That means rubbing the bevel, even in a shearing cut like I originally mention. Wally also talks about this in one of his posts above, too.

This is one of the things I inherently have against the term "scraping" because that activity, if done correctly, is actually cutting. A properly prepared and used "scraper" will also provide nice, fine, curly shavings. If one is getting "dust", something is not right, either with the tool or the technique.

[curtis rosche]

i got shavings when doing face grain, but end grain only make shaving with a parting tool that was angled to "rub the bevel" i will try again and see if i get better results once i get a grinder and can sharpen my tools.

[robert hainstock]

what do you want pictures of, the lathe of the locust?

Yes Curtis, pictures of the lathe and the wood
Bob

[Wally Dickerman]

Dewey, you're right, turning at 1600 is too fast for a beginner. In my classes for beginning bowl turning I have students start at 1200. The wood we use is soft maple, 6 to 7 in. in dia. and 3 in. thick, so it works easily. Before the students start turning I demo a few things. Tool and hand position, rubbing the bevel with a gouge, cutting with the grain vs. against the grain, and cutting at various speeds.

I've been teaching for a lot of years and I've found that students have better tool control, better cutting, with better results at 1200 than at lower speeds. If they've never turned at slower speeds, 1200 seems comfortable for them.

I suggest that you mount a small blank, 4 or 5 inches and try cutting at various speeds. In a very short time you'll find that as you ramp it up cutting does become easier and the results are better. You won't be forcing the tool. It should feel as though it's just floating through the cut.

Wally

[Gordon Thompson]

So after reading this thread, and watching the videos (thanks!!) - i was doing alot of practicing today. my question is why on certain areas would my gouge bounce? It seemed that certain areas the cut was smooth, but certain areas my gouge would bounce or chatter alot?

[Dewey Torres]

Yep I just roughed my first set of bowls today ans noticed the same thing. What the heck, I just pressed on with it.