Mastering the Skew Chisel: The King of Woodturning Tools

The skew chisel is often considered the most difficult, yet most rewarding, tool in a woodturner’s arsenal. While it can be intimidating for beginners, mastering its use unlocks a world of precision, speed, and beautiful, clean cuts that are unparalleled by other turning tools.

This article will guide you through the essentials of using a skew chisel, from understanding its different forms to
executing its fundamental cuts.

Anatomy of a Skew Chisel

• To use a skew effectively, it’s important to understand its key parts:
  • The Toe: The long, pointed end of the cutting edge.
  • The Heel: The short, pointed end of the cutting edge.
  • The Bevel: The angled surface on the bottom of the blade that rides on the wood.
  • The Edge: The sharp, cutting edge itself, extending from toe to heel.

Types of Skew Chisels

Skew chisels come in various forms, each with its own advantages:
1. Rectangular Skew: The most common type, with a flat, rectangular blade. These are
general-purpose tools suitable for a wide range of tasks.
2. Round-Sided Skew: These chisels have a slight radius ground onto their long sides. This
helps prevent the corners from catching and makes it easier to roll the tool for certain cuts,
particularly for coves and beads. They are often more forgiving for beginners.
3. Oval Skew: Similar to the round-sided skew but with a more pronounced oval cross-section.
The oval shape provides excellent control and reduces the risk of the tool catching.
4. Heavy-Duty Skew: These have a thicker, more robust blade for handling larger workpieces
and more aggressive cuts.

The Fundamental Cuts of a Skew Chisel

All skew chisel cuts rely on two key principles: presenting the bevel to the wood and using the
“sweet spot” of the cutting edge. The sweet spot is the central third of the blade, where you get the
most efficient shearing action. The heel and toe, if not used correctly, are prone to catching and
gouging the wood.

1. The Planing Cut

This is the most basic and arguably most important cut for a skew chisel. It’s used to create a perfectly straight, smooth cylinder.

How to Execute:

• • Rest the bevel of the chisel flat on the tool rest, with the handle low.
  • Advance the tool until the bevel touches the spinning wood.
  • Raise the handle slowly until the bevel is riding on the wood and the “sweet spot” of the
  edge begins to shear off a fine shaving.
  • Keep the bevel in continuous contact with the wood.
  • Move the chisel steadily and smoothly along the length of the workpiece, keeping the same
  angle and pressure.
  • A correctly executed planing cut will produce a continuous, ribbon-like shaving and a
  smooth, polished surface that requires little to no sanding.
• Image: Performing a planing cut