I’m a slow learner sometimes, and my recent evolutionary learning is probably’old hat’ and obvious to many of you more experienced turners. With that admission…
I finally internalized the advice from Mel Gibson in “The Patriot” where he instructed his son aiming “aim small, miss small.” A couple years ago I began to understand that, all else equal, a shallow cut will be cleaner with less tear out than a healthy cut. As I finally internalized that I learned to naturally take deeper cuts when hogging out but always finish with fine, shallow cuts with a sharp edge. The same sharp edge will leave a better finish when removing 1/32”-1/16” than 1/8”-3/16”. My turning improved a couple years ago when this became subconscious.
My most recent quantum learning step has been in protecting that good sharp edge. 90%+ of turning is removing waste so you can make that final clean pass or two. I’ve learned that I can push a ‘not perfectly sharp’ edge a little while I’m hogging out as long as I leave enough waste to remove the roughed up surface with a couple clean light passes with a sharp edge. In this regard I’ve become conscious of what parts of my tool edge I’ve been using, and what parts still have a clean sharp edge; if in doubt resharpen or grab a different sharp gouge for the last couple passes.
As mentioned, I’m sure these observations are obvious and trivial to many of the seasoned turners here but it took me a few years to come to those realizations. This applies to NRS as mentioned in another thread, as well mostly To the rest of my gouges
I finally internalized the advice from Mel Gibson in “The Patriot” where he instructed his son aiming “aim small, miss small.” A couple years ago I began to understand that, all else equal, a shallow cut will be cleaner with less tear out than a healthy cut. As I finally internalized that I learned to naturally take deeper cuts when hogging out but always finish with fine, shallow cuts with a sharp edge. The same sharp edge will leave a better finish when removing 1/32”-1/16” than 1/8”-3/16”. My turning improved a couple years ago when this became subconscious.
My most recent quantum learning step has been in protecting that good sharp edge. 90%+ of turning is removing waste so you can make that final clean pass or two. I’ve learned that I can push a ‘not perfectly sharp’ edge a little while I’m hogging out as long as I leave enough waste to remove the roughed up surface with a couple clean light passes with a sharp edge. In this regard I’ve become conscious of what parts of my tool edge I’ve been using, and what parts still have a clean sharp edge; if in doubt resharpen or grab a different sharp gouge for the last couple passes.
As mentioned, I’m sure these observations are obvious and trivial to many of the seasoned turners here but it took me a few years to come to those realizations. This applies to NRS as mentioned in another thread, as well mostly To the rest of my gouges