Need Lathe advice

[BBF]

Can Someone tell me how you go from round to leaving a square on the same turned spindle without chipping up the ends of the square corners?
Thanks

 

[cskipper]

Gently? I think if you work from your square ends toward the round parts you will have better luck the the other way around. Pull the tool toward you (away from the square end).

 

[4yanks]

You can use a pencil and square to mark the ends of the square portion of the pommel. Then use a small handsaw (gents/dovetail) and cut into your layout lines. You do not need to cut in very far along the flats of the billet, maybe only a 1/16", a little deeper at the corners, maybe 1/4" depending on the size of the billet. When you start to turn this cut will prevent the corners from chipping out. You can use this technique for either a square bottomed or round bottomed pommel. Hope this helps.

 

[J. Fred Muggs]

David:
You can do it all with a good sharp skew or a sharp detail gouge. You have to shear the wood away from the square corners as you would if carving. Do not attempt a scraping cut. The technique is called a pommel cut. If you can get your hands on Alan Lacer's skew video, he shows you how to do it. Other best option is find a turner close by who can show you. It's far easier to understand if you can see it done than to visualize an explanation.

 

[BBF]

Thank you for all your advice. I will try it and see what happens.

 

[JRD]

Try a shearing cut with a skew chisel, but always remember to work downhill, from the widest point of the turning to the narrowest.