In the skew chisel market, the radius skew is a relative newcomer. Seasoned woodturners and hobby woodcarvers have questions about this “new” skew chisel. Let’s answer some of the commonly-asked questions. What’s unique about a radius skew? The unique feature of the radius skew is that much of its cutting edge and both of its sides are rounded into convex curves. In other ways, it looks like a rectangular skew. Like other skews, the radius skew has an angled cutting edge of approximately 70 degrees and two beveled edges with a length about 1 ½ times the thickness of the tool. A radius skew is held like other skews, cuts in basically the same way, is used on the same...
In recent posts, we’ve talked about several different kinds of skew chisels, including the Lacer skew and the oval skew. This article continues our skew series and focuses on the hooked skew chisel. A quick glance at this tool will show you that it is significantly different from other skews we’ve highlighted. All the others were designed for use with a lathe. The hooked skew chisel is not. Instead, it is the perfect tool for relief carvers and other woodworkers who want to carve intricate details into their pieces. Here’s what you need to know about this unique and versatile tool. How the hooked skew differs from other skew chisels Its size Because they are used predominantly in combination with...
We’ve devoted several posts to the skew chisel. Why? Because it's an extremely useful and versatile tool that can be used alone or in combination with a lathe. Wood carvers who master the skew chisel find it to be one of the first tools they reach for in their set. Here we'll review what the skew chisel is and help clarify the benefits of mastering this tool. What is a skew chisel? A skew chisel is a hand-held wood carving tool with 2 beveled edges and an angled blade. With one notable exception--the hooked skew--these tools are generally used with a wood lathe to produce turned pieces. Because of this, many skew chisels are sturdy tools with comparatively long...
Mention the words "skew chisel," and most woodcarvers and woodturners react strongly; ambivalence is not the usual response. Instead, craftsmen seem to love or hate using the skew chisel. Those who love the tool quickly mention how many cuts a skew chisel can make, how efficiently its razor-sharp cutting edge can dispatch with excess wood, and how a well-executed planing cut leaves the wood in need of very little sanding. Those who despise the skew chisel complain that it takes an inordinate amount of time to learn to use well, is extremely difficult to sharpen, and can ruin a project piece in a split second. To these folks, the benefits of the skew chisel just aren't worth the frustrations...
As we mentioned in a previous blog post about the oval skew chisel, woodcarvers generally have strong opinions about the skew chisel. Some praise it as a tool that’s versatile, efficient, and capable of producing an excellent finish that requires minimal sanding. Carvers who learn to use a skew chisel well use it often for all types of turned projects. Others insist that a skew chisel is so hard to use that it just isn’t worth the effort to learn. They complain that the tool runs back or digs in easily; a split-second dig-in can ruin a piece. These folks argue that a skew chisel isn’t worth much--except perhaps as a can opener. Alan Lacer is a seasoned woodturner and...
