Newbie ? Rolling beads

Saw a comment in one of my new books that a common "new turner" mistake is "insufficient forward thrust" when turning beads.

Since I just had a few accidents in the last two hours and tried the advice -- I now think it might be true. ROTFL.

Why do we never trust expert advice till we wreck something eh?

So, starting with the skew at a 45 deg. angle -- tip pointing up and to your left -- forward thrust as you roll to the right -- with the skew ending up vertical and the centre of the edge NOT below the centre line of the turned piece. AT least that's what just worked. :-)

I could scan and post that one page on my web site if it would help... But probably someone who knows what they are doing could help more...

Jim L. wrote:

Thanks Will, I will try it as soon as the Doctors office opens. Jim

There are several ways of rolling beads which do not use a skew.

A 3/8" beading and parting tool is the tool of choice for many of the UK turners. I've watched Martin Pidgen who turns thousands of lamp pulls a year with thousands of beads use it and decided to try it myself. That is the way I do it now.

The French use a Bedan. I've tried this also but find it somewhat awkward. On the other hand, I've never had the chance to watch it being used up close as with Martin.

The skew is hard to use -- maybe it is the wrong tool for the job?

Bill

Jim L. wrote:

Jim, if you are new to rolling beads with a scew you might consider putting a dead cup center in the headstock rather than a prong center , that way the work can slip if you get a catch. tom

Jim, if you are new to rolling beads with a scew you might consider putting a dead cup center in the headstock rather than a prong center , that way the work can slip if you get a catch. tom

Best way of describing it I've heard. Since moving downward faster than forward with a skew chisel puts the upper portion in contact with the piece, that causes the skate.

However I have to say that I think the skew, a wonderful tool for running planing cuts, is not the tool for beading. Bill mentions a couple of options - beading tool, which is a double-bevel straight chisel, and a Bedan, which is a single bevel. Super options. Beading tools generally have to be made at home, though.

Other option some use is grinding the skew into a convex profile, so you can lag farther behind in forward thrust without the relieved upper edge engaging the work.

I found the Two Books in one By Phil Irons has a reference to using a Spindle Gouge (3/8 inch?).... Page 58-59 in Techniques.

-- start reference --

Quote... (Paraphrase actually) Hold the bevel against the work and slowly raise the handle while rotating to the right. The tool should finish with the flute facing away from the bead.

Do the cutting with the right hand half of the edge and finish up with the tip against the wood.

... Reverse steps for left hand edge...

I have the Darlow book, Fundamentals of Woodturning as well - beads are cut using the skew... Pages 84-99 Good explanations - takes practice as you can tell from my spindle - see below :-)

-- end reference --

I was able to do them (sort of) with the skew... see here...

it was troublesome for rusty skills. Think I will fall in love with a spindle gouge. :-) ... and reserve my skew for smoothing.

Bill Rubenste> There are several ways of rolling beads which do not use a skew. >

Thanks to all for the information. I tried using my 1/2 inch spindle gouge and it worked fine. I again tried the double bevel skew tool with the cutting edge down and it scares hell out of me so I will abandon that until some mentor gives me a demo. I will fabricate some of the other suggested tool shapes. Again, thanks, Jim.

perpendicualr

"Jim L." skrev i melding news:8UaUd.4057$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...

I'll bet you a nickle to nothing that you will always come back to the spindle gouge for beads, once you have got the hang of it.

Bjarte

SNIP ....

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A 1/4 or 3/8 inch beveled wood chisel can be use as a bedan with maybe a slight amount of side grinding to assure a relief on the sides. No need for HSS unless you do a lot of beads.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX