Aggressive Tool Behavior

Overly aggressive use of any tool can lead to an adverse reaction and safety issues. Turning wood can be like playing golf, where a nice smooth swing with the proper club can produce a nice shot as opposed to a hard swing that goes out of control. Think of what pottery would look like if the artist tried to choke the clay with clenched hands. We all have days when we function differently because of how we are feeling, what is on our mind or just over enthusiasm.

I find that after completing the exterior of a bowl is not uncommon to become overzealous with the hollowing process especially with very hard wood like white oak. Always use the tailstock to support the piece as long as possible and keep your tool sharp so that a light touch is all that is needed. Too much pressure or an inadvertent angle change can cause the tool to CATCH causing a nasty gouge in the wood or worse, knocking the piece out of the chuck.

A heavy piece flying out of the chuck is not only dangerous but can damage the nice exterior and at the least cause the piece to be difficult or impossible to re-chuck accurately causing the bowl to be out of round as you continue. Remember you are creating a work of art not digging a ditch. If you are not comfortable, walk away and do something else or clean up the shop and come back fresh later.

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