Place the skew high up on the wood and draw downward, gradually, lifting on the handle, until the bevel clears the wood, allowing the tool to cut. Always keep the toe above the wood, Fig. 18, cutting with the center and lower part of the cutting edge. A great many turners work entirely with the toe forward, keeping the heel clear, but the author prefers working with the toe free, altho both ways give good results.

The height at which the handle of the skew is held must be governed by the bevel, Fig. 18. If held too high, the cut will be in ridges; and on the other hand, if held too low, the tool will not cut.

When cutting shoulders, part to the desired diameter first, rough off the wood with a small gouge, make the vertical cut with the toe, Fig. 19, No. 1, then clean out the shoulders with the heel, Fig. 19, No. 2. The consecutive steps for Problem No. 1, Plate I, shoulders, are illustrated in Fig. 20.

Fig. 18.

Fig. 19.

With all spindle turning always (a) turn to the large diameter, (b) cut to length, and (c) lay out the job with a sharp pencil and rule.

Before working exercise No. 1, the student should practice on a scrap piece of wood, (a) turning a straight cylinder with the large gouge, (b) parting to different diameters with the parting tool and calipers, and (c) smoothing cylinders with the skew chisel.

Almost any soft wood works well for the first three exercises, altho the author prefers using white wood. The rough stock for all three exercises should be 2"x2"x9 1/2".

Fig. 20, a photographic reproduction of a model board in use in the author's classes, has been invaluable to the beginners in working out exercise No. 1. Besides this board, the student works from a blue print, Plate I, and is given a class demonstration.

It is never advisable to cut the work free in the lathe, if the best results are to be obtained, as the waste wood often breaks in the wrong place, taking more wood with it than is desired. It is therefore advisable to cut to about the size of a lead pencil, then remove the work from the lathe, and do the final cutting off with a sloyd knife. Even at this point, great care must be taken to use a sharp knife and try not to cut too rapidly.

It must be remembered, since the driving power is at the live center end, that this end should be weakened last, and never cut quite as small as the dead center end.

Fig. 20. Model Board for the 1st Exercise.