Learning to Use the Skew
By Walter Jones
Suncoast Woodturners
The following instruction, assume that you are familiar with a woodturning lathe and its tools. That you understand turning on a lathe can be dangerous. These instructions are meant to be a help in learning how to use a skew. After following the instruction you should be able to learn how to use the skew with out to much trouble. Be safe and enjoy learning.

First turn a blank round. Draw a line around the blank.
Now draw a line off the line around the blank at about 45* angle [no more than 45*].
After getting your lines drawn, use a marker to draw a line on the bevel of your skew 1/3 the way up from the short point. This is where you want the shavings to be coming off. [lathe off] Place the skew on the tool rest and with the line on the tool at the point where the two lines on the blank cross. The tool is now in the right position to make a cut. Raise the tool handle [keeping the tool on the rest and keep the bevel rubbing] and rotate the blank by hand and you should start to get a cut with a slight raise of the handle. Move the tool to the left keeping the angle the same. If you are left handed then put the line on the other side of the line around the blank and on the other side of the skew and follow the instructions moving to the right. Now you can lift the tool off the wood and start the lathe and begin to cut the wood as described.
REMEMBER THE ABC'S
OF TURNING
A= ANCHOR THE TOOL ON THE REST
B= RUB THE BEVEL
C=RAISE THE HANDLE TO GET A CUT
Credit to NORM ROSE for the ABC's of turning.

The same process can be followed with the long point down putting the line on the bevel 1/3 the way up form the long point and placing the tool on the same line as done with the short point down. NOTE that the handle is in a much different position than it was when using the short point down. The cutting angle is the same with long point down as with short point down but with the handle in a different position. Both starting positions can also be done from the left hand side. The tool rest should be a little higher than it is when using other kinds of tools.
 

The "ABC's" of Turning Tool Use

A: Anchor the tool on the tool rest before you put the tool on the wood.
B: Rub the BEVEL of the tool on the wood.
C. Raise the Handle until you start getting a CUT.

When working on the lathe:
SAY THESE OUTLOUD UNTIL THEY BECOME SECOND NATURE
Keep the tool in close to your body as much as possible [Some times it just isn't possible.]

1. When starting your cut. Get into a comfortable position at the point you wish to finish your cut. Move your body and hands [with out letting the tool move in your hands] until you are at the point you wish to start your cut. This will be an uncomfortable position. Rotate the hand and wrist until the tool is in the proper starting position, [Don't let the handle slide in your hand.] Start the cut and move the tool and your body toward the finish of the cut.
2. Learn to turn both Left and Right handed. [Being able to do this will come in handy later as you learn many other things about turning.]
3. Keep the tool rest as close to the work as you can with out touching it. When you move the tool rest [banjo] turn off the lathe and then move the rest [banjo] Rotate the work by hand to make sure it will not hit the rest or the banjo. I learned this from Norm Rose

Enjoy turning and be safe,

Walter Jones, Membership Director

Learning to Turn on a Wood Lathe

One of the most difficult things to get a beginner to do is to just practice [with out worrying about making something] Just put some wood on the lathe and turn it until there is nothing left. Spend your time practicing the techniques of cutting the outside of the bowl learning the body and hand movements until nothing is left then repeat the process. After you have learned that part, then do the same thing turning the inside until nothing is left. Study your body movements. When you can make a cut from start to finish in one pass you have it right. I know that we all want that instant gratification of making a bowl and showing it to a loved one or a friend and getting the OH!

That is great.... BUT Practice is the best way to get a good finished project. You can give yourself that instant gratification the first time you make a single cut from start to finish on the outside of a bowl blank. If you can make a cut from the center to the outside edge in one pass you have accomplished something. Hope I am not preaching, but just want everyone to enjoy turning and do the best they can.

Walter Jones, Membership Director