Hi Mike,
Welcome to the world of Skews!
The actual size and shape is purely a personal preference thing. I would go for either a 3/4" rolled edge or a 3/8" square. Personally I would avoid the oval skews. The actual angle doesn't really matter. Some people prefer a curved edge, once again, personal choice.
The skew works in 3 basic modes:
Planing - I would recommend (Like Pete) you raise the tool rest a little so you are working on top of the wood, this way you have much better control and can see what you are doing. Using roughly the bottom quarter area of the edge - so you have the long point and the short point, you see half way, well half way from there to the short point is where you want to aim to cut for best control. Put a marker pen mark on if it helps! Takes a bit of practice but you'll get it!
Slicing/V cuts - Use the long point for this with the tool resting on its edge and essentially just lift the handle of the tool so the tip slices into the wood. Do this near the end of the spindle and take a thin cut. You will notice that it will take an angled cut, this is because it follows the angle of your bevel, so bring the bevel in line with the direction you want to cut and try again. The handle feels like it's at a weird angle but its right, honest! If you get it right you should end up with really nice clean end grain.
Shaping/Rolling beads - For this I would recommend the use of the long point, and when I say point I mean ONLY the point, mark out where you want your bead and make either a deep vee cut either side or a parting tool cut either side of your marking, then put a pencil line for the highest point, ie the middle. Using only the long point - none of the cutting edge, just the point, take a small slice off of the corner, then another and another until you take a final cut from the pencil line down to the bottom of your cut. Repeat for the other side. Most people's first is a bit "gothic" shaped. Just keep practicing. Most inportant things are to keep the tool rolling, it should start almost flat at the top and vertical by the end, so it rotates 90deg, so keep rollong and only use the tip!!!!!
Its much easier to show you but for now I hope this helps. Please ask if anything isn't clear.
Cheers
Richard
