The Skew Chisel

Ernie Conover explains how to grind and hone a skew chisel properly and goes on to show how to use it without catching. Planing cuts, heel cuts and rolling beads is explained. Rolling beads with the beading and o parting tool is also explained.

[@glencrandall7051]

Excellent tutorial Ernie. I really think you are about the best teacher in the woodturning world. Your explanations are always clear and your demonstrations are precise so that everything is very understandable. Thank you for sharing and have a safe and healthy day.

[@conoverworkshops1486]

Thanks for the kind words. Bereave it or not, I enjoyed myself, as I revel in sharing the craft.

[@RickTurnsWoodturning]

Excellent video, Ernie. Best I’ve seen on the skew.

[@josephwise485]

Thanks Ernie. I liked your tip of using the parting tool for turning beads. Also understand that mineral oil is about the same as honing oil. My dad used kerosene for a number of things, even to washing his car back in the days when they were painted with lacquer. Think this was on Model T's.

[@chrismarshall6373]

Thanks for going to the trouble to re-shoot it, Ernie!

[@michaelwodarcyk2903]

Thank you for making this available

[@conoverworkshops1486]

My pleasure! This will be a series of turning techniques

[@Rich32262]

I'm a newbie that keeps getting catches when trying to do round overs. I've seen a lot of videos and none seem to explain it all. For instance, you say to raise the tool rest some but what does that mean? I thinks it's just above the center of the piece but how much? I've also heard guys talking about not using soft wood starting out. I'm using ceder which I consider very soft. Maybe that's part of the problem. I'm using a flat edge skew (that had sharp edges I have since slightly rounded) with about a 20 degree blade angle. Do rpm's matter? I'm at about 1000rpm's. Thank you for any thoughts, Rich.

[@conoverworkshops1486]

I start out anyone new to the skew at about 700 to 899 rpm. The rest should be above center such that when the skew is placed on the rest the cut is taking place toward the top of the work. If you looked from the tailstock end (to your right) the cut would be happening at about 11::00 O clock. If you email me through our website we could set up a Zoom teaching session with me showing and then you doing and me coaching. The skew is a hard tool to learn to use so do not be discouraged. Ceder is fine and a nice wood to turn. s=

[@Rich32262]

@@conoverworkshops1486 Thank you for the response. I'm still plugging away here. I was wondering if I should change the blade angle I have. E.g. right now it's a straight edge but I see many people use a swept back edge. Straight for maybe the first 2/3's then curving downwards on one side. I think I've heard these are slightly easier to control. Thank you again.

[@AA-69]

I started in a small joiners shop at 16 , They had an 85yr old cabinet maker who I could see was rocking his chisel so I shouted over the workshop to point out his mistake !..
Within half a second the said chisel narrowly missed my head ..I NEVER gave anyone advice after that !!!!