Skew deficit disorder finally cured. HF success w/ the skew.

[Bill Wyko]

In the past I've had absolutely no luck with the skew other than making firewood with it and using it as a scraper. While I was on my trip to CA I had met Alan Lacer and picked up all of his DVD's. After watching just one of them I understood all the things I was doing wrong (Which translates into everything wrong) After sharpening my new Skews I didn't follow the rules by starting with scraps, I jumped right into a beautiful Burl I had. Surprizingly, everything went wonderfully. I only had one small catch and I knew why it happened right away. It wasn't bad enough to be irreperable at all so I continued. I was really excited to find that the skew can be your friend if you use it correctly. About 80% of the outside of this little bulb was done usig my new 1" skew. (Gloat on that later.) i have to say, Alan's dvd was essential in understanding this wonderful tool. Thanks to those who advised me to get it. Anyway, it still needs to be sanded again and more finish added so I can do a final clean up on the finish bur please enjoy.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24029970/401088293.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24029970/401088288.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24029970/401088282.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24029970/401088306.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/24029970/401088299.jpg

[Bernie Weishapl]

Bill that looks good. Nice job with the skew. Looks like you got a good handle on it. I love mine. I have both of Alan's and his DVD's. In fact I have 7 skews from 1/4" roung to Lacers big one.

[Jim Burr]

Looks like ya done good bud!! I haven't turned a pen, stopper or peppermill with anything but for years...you're gonna have a ball!

[Bill Wyko]

It sure makes the sanding at the end a piece of cake. Smooth cuts for sure.

[Jim Burr]

It sure makes the sanding at the end a piece of cake. Smooth cuts for sure.

Yup it does! On pens and stoppers, I go straight to 600 then CA and the wet sanding begins. What a time saver!!

[Ryan Baker]

Congrats Bill. Alan's DVDs are really great, but if you can go right from watching them to doing that with only one small catch, then you have a lot more skew skill than most of us. Knowing how it is supposed to work is half the battle. The rest is lots and lots of practice. The HF looks great.

[Sid Matheny]

Great looking piece and glad someone has overcome the skew. After all my years of turning I'm still hit or miss when it comes to a skew. And the DVD would not do me much good without closed captions and I'm sure it does not have CC. I hope some day these people will come to understand there are non-hearing woodworkers also.:mad:


Sid

[Andrew Kertesz]

Great looking piece of wood and finished piece as well. Do the Glaser skews have a rolled edge on the heel edge of the tool or are the squared off? It is hard to tell in their picutres.

[George Van]

Great looking piece of wood and finished piece as well. Do the Glaser skews have a rolled edge on the heel edge of the tool or are the squared off? It is hard to tell in their picutres.

Rolled edge......great tools!

[Bill Wyko]

I think one of the reasons it went so well is because the pitch of the grind is less extreme than my Crown tool that I've tried before. Another reason is because in the past I was trying to cut with the center of the blade rather than the toe or the heel. When I had the catch I wasn't paying attention and allowed the center of the blade roll into the wood. I imediately realized what I had done to cause the catch. Another reason they feel so comfortible is the handle. It feels as though the ribs on the handle actually cause the tool to be placed correctly in my hand in relation to the angle of the cut. Here are some pictures of the 3 I picked up and the diamond hone I bought from Alan Lacer. The diamond stone really takes the edge to a higher level. It also takes some of the curve out created by the sharpening wheel. Sorry they aren't clean, I put them right to use when I got back. I was surprised I felt just as comfortible with the small one as I did the medium size and the big one. As far as the bevel on the bottom goes, yes they all have that. That was something Alan had mentioned was that it is correct to have the radius on one side only.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/23971405/401106782.jpg
I love the rock solid transition from the tool to the handle. It's done in a way that there is an entire clamping effect with plenty of surface area contacting the tool.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/23971405/401106775.jpg
And of course the wonderful handles. They fit like they were molded to my hand.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/23971405/401106775.jpg
Here's Alan's diamond hone. It has a radius on both sides and is tapered so one of the radius' is small and the other is bigger. This feature allows you to get into small or large gouges and the flat sides are for just about anything with a flat edge.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/23971405/401106771.jpg

[Rick Markham]

That's a super slick hone! Pretty neat when you realize that the skew actually works, and suddenly it isn't scary anymore! It really shows you what a finishing cut is :)

[Bill Wyko]

I was really surprised at how smooth the wood was being a burl with so many voids. I guess I can toss the 80 grit LMAO.

[Rick Markham]

I was really surprised at how smooth the wood was being a burl with so many voids. I guess I can toss the 80 grit LMAO.

Keep the 80 grit for the inside mistakes ;)

[Jerry Wright]

Bill - a really nice form and finish on your first skew project. I was really impressed with how you aligned the grain in your segments. It almost looks like a solid burl! :)
Seriously, a really nice job. I have attended an Alan Lacer demo and he is an incredible teacher. It doesn't surprise me that his videos are great. Somewhere, I have some high magnification images of skew cut vs scraper cut surfaces. If I can find them I will put together a post.

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks Jerry. Technically there is 3 segments. The 2 ebony pieces and the burl.;) I don't do many hollow forms, but I got the inside pretty smooth? What do you guys do to finish the inside?
I'm working on a staved turning, I'll be trying the skews again on that. I hope it wasn't just beginners luck.:eek::D