Fail at 1350 RPM

[Raul McCai]

Absolutely!

Did bowl #1 have a tenon or a recess?

For all three of the bowls I've undertaken, I used the tenon.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

For sure, that tenon is not made correctly. One, it does not have a dove tail to match the dove tail on the chuck jaws. Two, it isn't wide enough, and should be another inch or so wider. Three, it is way too deep, which has it bottoming out in the chuck, and there is no contact with the shoulder of the bowl, so the leverage point is where the jaws meet the chuck.

Now, as for a recess, which is what I use 99.99% of the time, it will hold equally well as any tenon if it is made correctly, which is angle to match the chuck jaws, ample size for the bowl being turned, and ample shoulder for the jaws to expand into.

I have never understood the concept that a recess wastes more wood than a tenon. If the tenon and recess both measure 1/8 inch deep/tall, and you turn it off, they are exactly the same...

robo hippy

From looking at Bill's cropped shot there is one more problem. The tenon has too large of a diameter for the jaws and is only in contact in 2 places on each jaw instead of full round contact.

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

I think all of the advice given is excellent. I also think most will agree that some one on one time, hands on with a mentor will help you move forward as a turner. As has already been suggested, there should be an AAW chapter near you. Most if not all have mentoring programs available.