It's still a bit hot and humid in S. Fl and getting close to indian summer in other places. Sort of a time out period for serious woodturning between the long hot summer and the red & yellow leaves and smoky air days with cool nights of fall. Did someone say football, world series and Halloween? Nevermind the poet's "day in June". These are my perfect days.
For those who have time, bravado and curiosity, How about deliberately testing some established turning 'yes-yes's and 'no-no's over the next few days and reporting your results. Won't change many minds, but might help to corroborate or dispel a few of our givens and rules by authority and repetition.
Remembering common sense and obvious safety precautions what woodturning facts, faiths or myths have you wondered about and wanted to affirm or discard on your own? Maybe you already have. If so, please share your findings among friends.
Spindle speeds, sanding speeds, lagging or leading bevels and flutes, spindle heights, worn sandpaper, rubbing the bevel etc. are questionable old dogs. Files for scrapers and free hand tooling and sharpening without a tool rest are iffy, but may have their place. What advice do you want to test or confirmed in the school of hard catches?
Just a little let up for some of us between kickoff and the first pitch, maybe even before trick or treat. Then we can begin making our annual supply of Christmas ornaments and S.S. Niles bottle stoppers. Probably using the advice we were taught.
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter