So, I have to replace two knobs on an antique desk. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted on Ebay, so I bought a couple of stock Cherry knobs from a place. The originals are Mahogany by the way. Anyway, the knobs came in and I wanted to make them more like the shape of the originals, so I chucked up one of the new knobs on the lathe. I'm not a lathe pro - actually a complete newbie. I was using what I would describe as a 3/8" wide roughing gouge. It was the smallest of the cup-shaped tools I had. Well, I chewed out the bottom base part of the knob without issue. Getting braver, I moved the tool more into the center gully part of the knob.... WHACK!
The knob, now in two pieces lay there silently, lifelessly on my floor atop a small pile of cherry shavings. The tool, also now in two pieces, taking its final bow. The handle still in my right hand, the tool end, making peace with it's demise, lay lifelessly next to the two knob pieces on the floor - atop the shavings.
The good news is that this lathe is a piece of junk, and probably so were the tools. The bad news is that this probably would not have happened to one of you. So now I'm asking what horrible mistake did my bravery cause?
In order from left to right - A new, untouched knob, the original, my work of art