Keep the burr ?

[Grahamshed]

The book is undoubtably good advice but unfortunately advice that I am unable to follow.

Mick, that sounds useful advice, I am not aware that the tool rest is damaged but the lathe is getting on a bit. I will certainly try waxing it but really I think it is just lack of experience. I will try the recommendations above later on today and am looking forward to the 'click'

 

[Vic Perrin]

Graham, don't get panicking it's very early days. I was in exactly the same position as you only a few years ago. I thought I would never get the hang of presenting the cutting tool at the right angle.
I stuck with Keith Rowleys book and after plenty of practice practice practice it eventually clicked.

I am in the process at the moment of teaching my 14 year old Grandson a bit of basic turning and have got Keith's book out again as a teaching aid for myself. I still find it a great reference book and if you persevere with his instructions you won't go far wrong.

Cheers. Vic

 

[Grahamshed]

Oh I am not panicking yet Vic, just chatting about the learning process. Reading books isn't something I am able to do but I can cope with some videos so long as they talk as well as work

 

[Vic Perrin]

Oh I am not panicking yet Vic, just chatting about the learning process. Reading books isn't something I am able to do but I can cope with some videos so long as they talk as well as work

Graham, have you joined a local club. They can be a great source of help. I have only just recently started going to a club and have found the members very helpful and I think watching something being done can be a lot better than reading about it.

Vic

 

[Paul Hannaby]

One other thing worth pointing out is that if you hone the edge of the tool, you will get a sharper edge but it will become dull faster. I have a bench grinder with white wheels which I use for sharpening and I also have a wetstone grinder, which has a finer wheel. If I sharpen on the wetstone, the edge is initially sharper but it needs sharpening again sooner than if I had sharpened on the bench grinder.
For some aspects of woodturning, durability of the cutting edge is as important as sharpness so for some tools, a "rougher" edge can be preferable. If this wasn't the case, all woodturners would have polished bevels on all their tools!