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How to Avoid Catches When Woodturning

Turning columns, table legs or carving bowls can be difficult if you've never used a lathe before. However, with a few key rules you can avoid starting over on your projects and actually finish them without flaws. The biggest problem with woodturning is avoiding catches. Catches occur when the turning object jolts the lathe chisel. This results in a chunk of wood that gets removed from the wood. To avoid catches when woodturning, the sharpness of tools, angle of the chisels and the speed of the lathe are imperative.

Things You'll Need

Lathe chisels
File set
Grinder
Vice
Lathe manual

Instructions

- 1
  Sharpen the lathe chisels using a file set and/or grinder. Do not lose the original shape of the chisel's end. Secure each tool in a vice to match the original angle of the blade on the tool when using files. Sharp tools will cut through wood with less work from the woodsmith and will avoid catching unlike dull tools.
- 2
  Position the lathe rest at a 7-degree angle below the center of the object being turned. Hold the chisels with both hands, keeping your dominant hand on the rear handle and your non-dominant hand on the top of the handle, pushing it against the lathe rest. Use the 7-degree angle as a reference for positioning.
- 3
  Adjust the speed according to the density of wood being used. Hard woods like oak or hickory will require a faster speed than soft woods like pine or cedar.

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