A word of caution

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broitblat

broitblat

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Joined
Feb 9, 2006
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Location
Bellevue, WA, USA.
Maybe this is something I should have been aware of, but it never occurred to me before...

I was merrily turning away at a corian pendant. I wasn't particular stressing the tools or extending a long ways over the tool rest, but my mini-skew just snapped off!
1_Broken.jpg


Fortunately, it didn't fly very far or cause any other damage to me or the shop, but it still gave me quite a scare!

This had been one of my favorite tools and I've been using it for a few years, so I don't think there was any inherent defect in the skew -- I must have just caught something wrong :mad:

Be careful out there.

-Barry
 
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a close one indeed!

I had a minor close call the otehr day. I was using my beall buff to buff the scratches out of a console game cd when i loosened my grip just a bit too much on the cd. WHAMMY right into the wall, and into a million pieces. Not even all the King's men coulda helped that cd.
 
I gotta say I prefer to see pictures of tools in two pieces rather than fingers. glad you are ok.
I would bet there was a flaw in the metal and that it just finally worked it's way through the tool. not bashing the quality of your favorite tool but these things can happen. One fine example of why you do not want to go make a tool from just any type of steel. Just because they do not snap in half the first time you use them. there can be small cracks that are growing as they are subjected to vibration and bumps and bangs over time.
 
I'll echo all those ahead of me... glad you weren't hurt and only got a little scare... which is a good thing.. it does keep the safety factor up front in the minds.

I've only broken one tool so far... a few years ago I snapped a round nose scraper... it was pretty thin and I think I got too far over the tool rest... lost about 2 inches on the blade, so I just ground it down to a flat blade scraper for occasional use.

I also broke a tool rest doing a zebra wood bowl... that was really exciting... bowl in one direction, tool out of my hand in another and the cross bar of the tool rest in a third.. Chuck hiding under a work bench:redface:.
 
I'm glad you weren't hurt, Barry! But looking at the photo I have to ask. How close did you have the tool rest? Based on the location of the break, it looks to have been too far from the piece being turned.

Safety note: This is one of those things that can easily happen if you don't keep the tool rest as close as possible to the turning.
 
alamocdc said:
I'm glad you weren't hurt, Barry! But looking at the photo I have to ask. How close did you have the tool rest? Based on the location of the break, it looks to have been too far from the piece being turned.

Safety note: This is one of those things that can easily happen if you don't keep the tool rest as close as possible to the turning.
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Billy,

Looking at how much broke off, I had the same thoughts, but I don't think I had the tool rest very far. It's possible I was working at an odd angle, but not that I recall. In any case, thanks for thought.

-Barry
 
Glad to hear there was no bloodshed! But really, doesn't it ever cross your mind about pulling a skew from your chest?? It does mine every now and then :eek:
 
ed4copies said:
This from the guy that stuck a knife in his foot at a craft show!!!
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You see...that is how rumors start :biggrin: Yes, knife in the foot and I carry the scar to prove it, but I had nothing to do with it, except providing the foot :mad:

I do have a bad habit of turning in my sandles in the summer time and with my lathe bench mounted,(very large table) I store my cutting tools on the table under my lathe and they have fallen off dinging my toes now and then :eek: but I can still count all ten of em :)
 
Anthony,

There are "toe nail clippers" made, you needn't use your skews!

(He's a REALLY NICE guy, but kind of rural!!)
 
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