Switching hands while turning

[michael p williams]

Does anyone switch hands while turning?

[Tom Caldwell]

I switch fairly often. I'm a natural lefty but find that sometimes this puts me out of position to see the cut's progress. I've learned to adapt to a right handed world when necessary.

[Doug Wolf]

If you mean using your other than normal hand on the rest, the answer is yes. I'm right handed but turn left handed when turning a platter on the headstock side.

[Alan Trout]

I do all the time, but I have always been fairly ambidextrous.

Alan

[Robert Henrickson]

Although I didn't at first, I do it more and more. Makes things easier, especially on the headstock side of things like platters.

[David DeCristoforo]

Ambidexterity is a great asset is any area of woodworking.

[Bill Neddow]

I do it regularly. For one thing, it means you can direct ALL the shavings away from your face. It also makes a lot of cuts easy that used to be awkward when I was only turning right-handed.

[Eric Gourieux]

Yes. What Bill said.

[Marty Eargle]

Hardcore south paw here. The right hand borders on useless. I can use it to support my tools, but if I try to use it to guide or make good cuts...things get crazy.

[Baxter Smith]

Both ways though I am more comfortable/had more practice right handed on the tailstock side.

[Bill Wyko]

I'm one of those lucky few that are ambidextrous. I get the pleasure of not knowing which hand I should be using so it makes it easy to use either. Or sometimes it confuses me too. It's funny but its been proven that through out history, it has always been 11% of the population is lefty and 8% are ambidextrous. All you righties have it made in a right handed world.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Michael - I am right handed but when you remember that when turning you shift your body weight and don't use your arms... it becomes no big deal to switch hands. All you do is get the gouge/tool positioned for the proper cut and then you shift your weight - being right or left handed never really comes into play. At least - that is how i do it!

[Jason Ritchie]

I also switch hands when I do finishing cuts on a bowl while mounted in the chuck. I am normally right handed though and when I switch it does not feel as comfortable but as Steve said you shift your body to make the cuts so I think that makes it work.

[Jim Burr]

In real life, I have the curse of being 100% ambidextrous. Unless you are turning, it really sucks. Writing, baseball, eating, using a drill, painting...I can never decide what hand to use. Thank God for my wife..."Other hand sweetie" my brain kicks in and there we go...or I just change because. My son hates it...he's a Marine and can only shoot off one shoulder. Practice...you can do it!!

[Jay Rasmussen]

I'm one of those lucky few that are ambidextrous. I get the pleasure of not knowing which hand I should be using so it makes it easy to use either. Or sometimes it confuses me too. It's funny but its been proven that through out history, it has always been 11% of the population is lefty and 8% are ambidextrous. All you righties have it made in a right handed world.

I usually do the ID and OD at the same time. Not trying to brag but I’m in the top 1%. I’m working on sanding with my right foot in one fluid motion as I cut.

However, I do feel sorry for the rest of you mere mortals.