Heres the question of the day!!!!!

[dicklaxt]

I've read and watched and talked but when turning a bowl or goblet or vase or anything..........it seems the traditional way is to turn the inside last>It seems to me that turning the outside last would have less blow outs and be much easier to control the tool on the getting down to the nitty gritty cutting/turning.

Whats everybodys thoughts on this.......I'm going to try it one of these days.

[carl civi]

Just about every thing i`ve seen and read, that they are turning the outside form first.It seems to work better for me anyway.Carl

[Limey]

I guess that unless you are a negative thinker ....in the literal sense of the word. Turning the outside first allows you to see clearly the shape you are creating. Then the inside is turned to match with a beautifully even 1/16 " wall thickness....in my dreams...in my dreams.
Dickie I don't mean this to sound snooty or be a show off because I am a looong way from being an accomplished turner but as you gain experience and confidence you will be able to turn one handed and supprt the outside with the other. It will also allow you to more easliy gauge the thickness and it eveness.
First just like music practice you got to master the tools by practising. Scales and arpeggios. Then you can start making stuff or playing the music.

Wow, isn't it exciting another New turner losing his "cherry" or was it Pecan. Woodmangler as well....haven't forgotten you and your candy a$$ed dish.

So many woodturning virgins being despoiled all at the same time it must be Prom season

Don't think I had anything to add except a general....spindles are much much easier to gain control of the first principles. Face plate turning where every revolution you are cutting twice with grain and twice against grain needs a far tighter control of tool angle and technique. just keep he faith
I'm just waiting for Marilyn now I think she is suffering from pre-honeymoon nerves (vaginissmus sp.?).

Cheers Limey

[Sonny Edmonds]

Dick,
There's a reason behind it.
1. You need to round it up for balance and get some sort of base to work from.
2. It gives you something to mount it up with to turn the inside to.

That's what I get of the method used. You can always do more finish work to the outside as it goes along.
But if you do the inside first, how are you going to mount it to do the outside? :o ;)

Another thought, If you had turned the inside of that 20 pound chunk, and were turning the outside..... guess where it would have disimbarked to?? AT YOU.

:D

Sonny Edmonds
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
http://home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/
God Bless America !

[DustyBob]

There are some that finish turn the outside last and that takes a jam chuck or vacuum chuck. One of the biggest problems that I see would be maintaining an even thickness. Kinda hard to measure when the inside of the bowl is filled with a chuck. You also might have balance problems unless you rough turn the outside, turn it around to do the inside, then turn it around again to do the outside. Too many chances to remount off center. Turning is really fun and shouldn't be made harder and more frustrating. :) :)

[volleyheads]

Ron Kent, for one, turns the inside first, so it can be done quite well. If you want to give it a try. Everyone likes doing things their own way, maybe it will work better for you. One concern of mine would be to get the shape of the piece defined can be difficult when turning a complicated piece inside first. I know it is possible, but the outside would be then turned to match the inside and that could lead to some less than desirable forms (possibly)

Best Regards,

Bill

"If it is worth doing, it's worth overdoing"