Bowl turning frustration

[Anna]

Why is it that as I near the end point, I get stupid catches? For more than 6 inches of hollowing out the inside of the bowl, everything was hunkydory. When I get to the last 1/2" or so, all of a sudden my technique is all wrong. I'm afraid to even go near it anymore and will wait until Thursday when I meet the turning guys again. I know it's supposed to be an experiment, but I think after the fourth catch, it's probably smart to quit.

I decided to make the telescoping backscratcher (wood is sapele) I promised my husband instead. I used the bowl gouge to do all of it. I tried using the skew to clean up the ends, but I think I have to practice handling the skew again. I was getting some catches, and I think it's because the skew's edge is not absolutely flat (the middle part of the edge protrudes a bit).

I definitely need more practice.

[DonHo]

As you are hollowing using the bowl gouge the closer to the edge you get the more centrifugal force thends to make the gouge "skate" to the outside. You'll get the hang of it with more practice. In the meantime you can clean that bowl up the the scraper you ordered by starting at the bottom of the bowl and working toward the rim (the bowl side will support the scraper and prevent it "skating" to the outside.

Keep at it you'll get right,
DonHo

[Uncle Cracker]

Remember also that the material at the edge of the bowl is passing your tool three or four times faster than it is when nearer the center. This requires that you adjust your movements to compensate, or slow down your revs. Think also about things that you can accomplish with sandpaper, without fear of a catch. This will help you until you have enough experience under your belt that you can shape completely with tool and technique. And catches do happen even to the very best turners.

[gerti]

Doesn't seem that long ago that I went through similar frustrations... You might find similar messages of mine in the archives.

It's all about practice and experience. It will get better!

When turning the inside of the bowl, keep in mind:

- The angles change constantly, and you need to adjust constantly

- The speed with which the material passes the tool increases the more you get to the outside

- Orientation of the wood fibers to the tool changes

That's a lot of variables. With experiences and practice you will learn where to do what and how to avoid the catches as much as possible (even pro's have catches). Give it time!

And the skew does not have to have a straight edge, in fact some turners prefer a different shape as Alan Lacer describes in this article:

http://www.alanlacer.com/articles/friendtheskew.htm


Nice looking back scratcher!!!

[Anna]

What I don't understand is that I can work the outside just fine. The catches I had on the outside of the bowl was due to the skew (which I have to resharpen anyway). I can work the outside with the bowl gouge (which I never could use before but now seems to be the gouge of choice) just fine.

Once I moved back to the inside of the bowl, I started getting catches. I'm not sure if it's something to do with the height of the tool rest. Right now, I have it a little lower than the center. How different are the tool rest heights between working the bowl's interior vs the exterior?

I should just find out by experiment, but I've got the bowl thin enough that another catch might break it, and I want to save this as my "first bowl."

[Anna]

Gerd, thanks for the article. I really liked the skew, but I stopped turning for about half a year. Last time I made anything before today was in September. I didn't think that I'd forget how to use it properly, but it seems to be the case. Just before I stopped turning, I was practicing on making beads and coves using the skew, like in the picture attached. I didn't know how to use the spindle and bowl gouges at that time. Now, I can do most of my current stuff with the bowl gouge, and the skew has become problematic.

Nothing is ever easy, isn't it?

I'm going to get some green wood to practice bowl turning with. It might be much more forgiving.

[DonHo]

Turning the outside of a bowl is a lot like spindle turning while turning the inside is faceplate turning. For the inside I like the tools rest set where the tool is at center hight of the bowl with both a bowl gouge or a scraper.

DonHo

[Uncle Cracker]

Good point, Don. It is also helpful to remember that what is important is the height of the tool in cutting position, not the tool rest. You have to think about both the thickness of the tool, and the angle at which it will be cutting, and adjust your tool rest height accordingly. This might be every time you change tools, or even as you cut material away with a single tool, changing the angular distances. Bottom line is that many people don't adjust the rest nearly as much as they should. I am one of those who probably should do it more than I do, as I find myself standing on my toes sometimes, because I didn't want to stop and adjust.

[Anna]

For the inside I like the tools rest set where the tool is at center hight of the bowl with both a bowl gouge or a scraper.

That's what I've been trying to do. I set it by the nib that's left behind in the center of the bowl. If I can cut the center nib off, then I thought the tool is at the right height. And it did work okay until the last half inch or so when I started getting catches. I got some softer wood to play around with and will see how that goes.