A little "hard truth" for the newbies at AAW........sharpening gouges and scrapers:

[Thomas Stegall]

Odie,

You are correct that technically speaking a properly sharpened scraper does in fact cut. However, since the mechanics of the "cut" are different from the gouge and its bevel and cutting edge vs. the scraper and its cutting bur, my comparison was one of tool comparison gouge vs. scaper. This of course is the reason that the skillful use of a skew provides a superior surface not only to scrapers but often times other tools (gouges) referred to as "cutting" tools.

Either way I applaud your interest in providing newbies with practical information vs. the eye catching things that typically draw our attention, but are of little practical use for the new turner.

 

[odie]

Odie,

You are correct that technically speaking a properly sharpened scraper does in fact cut. However, since the mechanics of the "cut" are different from the gouge and its bevel and cutting edge vs. the scraper and its cutting bur, my comparison was one of tool comparison gouge vs. scaper. This of course is the reason that the skillful use of a skew provides a superior surface not only to scrapers but often times other tools (gouges) referred to as "cutting" tools.

Either way I applaud your interest in providing newbies with practical information vs. the eye catching things that typically draw our attention, but are of little practical use for the new turner.

Thanks for the response, Thomas........

Hmmmmm, well yeah.......I think we are basically on the same page, but differ in our attempts to describe the same things. Our words may lead to some conflict in comprehension by the reader, but not of an understanding of the actual application at the lathe......

As a side note: I see many turning instructors who post here from time to time, and it's not my intention to interfere with anyone's methods of teaching, or philosophy on turning. I do have my own ideas on what a student can comprehend and/or be useful to them, and I will have no restraint on letting the new turners know a few things that I think might help (a few of) them out a little. .....And, after all, I still consider myself to be a student, maybe an "old student"! Ha! (I hope I will never forget that I must always be open to new ideas and concepts, but have some basis for comparing any new thinking, practices, or ideas to my old and established ways of doing things. I also hope that I'll always understand that it's the end result that counts, not the technical aspects of various methods different individuals use to arrive at those results.)

Personally, I don't think I'll ever teach woodturning, because my emphasis is, and has always been my own personal growth as a turner.......not to teach. My input here on these forums is as close as I'll ever get to that!

ooc

 

[KellyDunn]

I am going to be point blank here folks. A new turner needs to be taught what and how the grinder puts an edge on the tool and when to go back to the grinder. The rest will come with time. If I was a newby reading this I would chuck my freakin tools in the garbage. Richard Raffan and Nick Cook taught me to sharpen my tools in Provo in 86. Plenty of what they did not do led me to come up with what works for me. Richard had the best advise there is and it stands today. He told me all I needed was practice.

 

[robo hippy]

Well, there are many different types of cuts, that can be broken down into two types: scraping, and shear cuts. Shear cuts can be broken down into bevel rubbing and non-bevel rubbing cuts.

The confusing thing to many is that ALL of the above cuts can be done with 'scraping' tools, and gouges.

robo hippy