What's the secret to cutting beads?

[Nate Davey]

Entertainment for who? Check out D-Way tools. He has a very long video of using his beading tools, but the techniques should be the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qx20LHahUY

 

[Makinsawdust]

Rob,

With all due respect, IME a skew can leave the best surface of any turning tool; one that needs no sanding. It can also plow furrows if your technique is off (DAMHIKT ). If you can get the hang of cutting beads with it, why follow with a scraper that leaves a rougher surface? I understand using a profile scraper to avoid using the skew or maybe using it after a gouge, but I don't understand using it after the skew.

I make beads all the time with a skew. I just have never made one as symmetrical as you can get with the beading tool. That's the only reason to own a beading tool.