Skew Sharpening

[scmhogg]

Quite some time ago, I bought a set of old turning chisels through ebay. They were well used, some a little shorter than others. I just started doing more turning, mostly making handles.

Anyway, I love these old chisels. They hold a good edge and they feel good in your hands. They are marked W. Marples & Sons, Sheffield, England, with a shamrock symbol.

My question is... The skews have been sharpened with a rounded bevel. My sharpening book says they should have a flat bevel. The skew seems to work fine. The curve helps me to ease into the cut. I have continued to hand sharpen using the existing line. Is this a problem? Am I asking for trouble?

The set is on the far wall. They came in the wood box. Not bad for $20.00. [Thinly disguised gloat]



This is a scan of the skew.



Steve

[TB Roye]

If it works for you continue using and sharpening them. I have a straight skew that I reground and sharpened at 45 deg and it works fine for turing pens. I think as long as it is sharp you are ok. I see you have a picture of your Idol and a very clean shop.

Tom

[shoottx]

First question is "Why would you mount them in your living room?" It obviously is not a shop, unless you are taking lessons from Rod.

The old Marples tools are good turning tools. As far as sharpening skews, if what you are doing works keep doing it! I have tried sharpening skews, and as they say I am still learning.

[Uncle Cracker]

Curved edges on skews are not uncommon. Google the Alan Lacer skews if you wanna see some really curved ones... Many turners grind a hollow bevel on their skews, others grind the corners of the bar round, Still others prefer an oval skew to a flat one. Bottom line is that it's a feel thing. Shape yours the way that feels the most comfortable to you, and gives you the best results.

[LCHIEN]

is that really a picture of Rod Kirby?

[Rich P]

I believe Raffan also grinds a curved edge on his skews.

[scmhogg]

Loring,

You must have missed my earlier post of the "shrine".



Steve

[Tom Miller]

It doesn't look from the picture like the skew edge is rounded, as some suggest, and like Raffan teaches. So, do you mean the bevel face? IOW, instead of hollow ground, which would be a concave bevel, it's the opposite, or convex?

I don't think that alone would be problematic while turning, but I don't think it's as big a benefit as you might think. You should be able to ease into the cut with a flat bevel just as well, using the bevel rubbing technique.

I think it would be difficult to sharpen such a bevel though, without making the bevel more and more convex. And then it would create more and more trouble while turning.

Regards,
Tom

[mudder]

Your shop looks too clean, I don't think you do any "real" work in there

While your sharpening technique is not the "norm", if it works for you then that's what counts. Raffin, Ellsworth, Lacer, Ray Key and many others have their own "signature" grinds and they were considered radical it their day.



P.S. Did Rod send you that shaving or did you make it yourself?