Skew with rounded sides

[Ken Loy]

Does anyone know of a skew with rounded sides?


I saw a pointed skew in a Richard Raffan video and thought that it would more easily slide on the tool rest when rolled on edge than a traditional, square edged skew.

 

[robo hippy]

I only have one skew with square edges. I can't remember, but I think the rest came already slightly "eased" on the corners for working up on the edges.

robo hippy

 

[John K Jordan]

Doug Thompson (Thompson Tools) sells skews with a radius on one edge so they will roll nicely on the tool rest in use.
Any question, just call Doug!

I don't have a closeup photo of one of his skews, but the one in the middle here is one I ground into a negative rake scraper.
Note the rounded edge that would have been the bottom of the skew (the short point edge).



You can also make a smooth rounded edge of existing skews with a belt sander and some touchup/smoothing by hand.

JKJ

 

[Richard Coers]

If that is a skew, it's being used as a scraper. You can make that from any scraper. Almost looks like a continental gouge.

 

[John K Jordan]

If that is a skew, it's being used as a scraper. You can make that from any scraper. Almost looks like a continental gouge.

If you are referring to my post, you may have misunderstood. (If you are referring to Ken's post, then "nevermind"- please ignore the rest of this post.)

I showed a Thompson skew I purposely ground into a negative rake scraper. Here is a side view of those I use constantly, including the one (in the middle) I ground from the skew:



I've tried numerous grind variations and quit experimenting when I came up with this one. I use it on every bowl and platter - the flats on the end make it especially useful when smoothing "air" (wings).

I burnish burrs to make them Left or Right handed as needed and mark the top side with a "T" so my feeble brain doesn't get confused.



JKJ

 

[Brian Deakin]

Asley Illes sell a skew with rounded edges (please note steve now uses CBN wheel)
Please see video

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Instagram website for Steve

https://www.instagram.com/stevethewoodturner

Youtube website Steve

woodturner21

Some videos to show how a production woodturner works and producing hand woodturning

www.youtube.com

 

[hockenbery]

Does anyone know of a skew with rounded sides?

I have a couple of rolled edge skews that I like a lot. Turning beads is smoother for me using the rolled edge.
Many English companies make them


I bought mine from Packard but they aren’t his label.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBfN0d5EuF0

 

[John Kananis]

I'll second the Doug Thompson skew (I use one in the videos I've posted here). Prior to getting one, I was using a larger Henry Taylor that required quite a bit of rounding on a belt sander...Doug shapes his skews perfectly imho.

Also! The tool you are looking at in the video is a spear point scraper and absolutely not a skew. It's a Richard Raffan signature type tool actually as he made it popular.

 

[Dean Center]

Ironically, my go to skew is the Richard Raffan signature model, I think from Henry Taylor. Many commercially sold skews have rolled corners, some on all 4 corners and some on just 2 corners. You can easily relieve the corners on a skew with a file and a few minutes time. If you have iron tool rests, rolled corners are essential.

As was mentioned, the tool shown in your photo is almost certainly not a skew. I suspect it's a spear point scraper, but that right edge does give a suggestion of a 'continental' spindle gouge, as Richard said.