Am new to turning - a friend loaned me his Delta lathe (for a loooong time). the one with about a 3-foot bed. Have started practicing with some 4x4 spindles, and the $40 HF lathe tool set.
Am having a problem trying to turn beads on a spindle. Using the smaller gouge (~3/8" ) -- and starting with a raised rectangular section, as I turn the flat spot into a bead, the wood tends to grab the gouge and pull it back into the bead. I am using the technique recommended in Conover's book, keeping the gouge bevel perpendicular to the bead surface.
As I turn from the peak of the bead over to the left, the left side of the gouge grabs the wood it's turning and pulls the gouge back to the right (into the just-cut bead, messing it up). Similarly rollling off the right side of the bead pulls the gouge left. In watching some videos, seems like the guys have a light touch on the work end of the tool. I am unable to prevent the gouge from being jerked sideways even with a strong grip.
I built a sharpening jig (similar to Wolverine style) and have sharpened and honed the gouge, the bevel angle is about 30 degrees. No change to the profile as shipped by HF, but a lot sharper. Have the tool rest set at the height of the center of the spindle, and about 1/4" away from it.
Obviously I have some fundamental mistake in my technique. Any advice as to what this might be (or is it impossible to tell from a written description?).
-- Tom