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A skew chisel can make smooth spindle-turning cuts and crisp details such as beads, V-grooves, and fillets. For safer, more controlled results, start with a sharp edge, keep the tool supported on the rest, and bring its bevel into contact with the wood before advancing. A bevel-edge hand skew is a different tool operation: it helps pare into tight corners and make long paring cuts.
What a woodturning skew chisel does
The turning skew is used on spindle work held between centers or otherwise rotated on a lathe. Its long, angled cutting edge can take a planing cut that leaves a smooth surface requiring little sanding. It can also peel wood and form V-grooves, beads, fillets, coves, and some end-grain details. The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) describes it as a versatile spindle-turning tool in its skew chisel primer.
This tool’s two-sided bevel allows cuts in either direction, but that geometry also makes it prone to catching if a point or edge engages the rotating wood abruptly. The aim is not to force a fixed handle angle; it is to control which part of the edge meets the wood while keeping the bevel supported.
How to make a basic planing cut
- Begin with a sharp tool. A dull edge is harder to control and is less likely to produce the clean planing cut the skew is suited to.
- Rest the tool securely. Keep the skew supported on the lathe tool rest and approach the work with control. Follow the lathe manufacturer’s operating and safety instructions; this technique overview does not replace them or hands-on instruction.
- Present the edge and contact the bevel. In Brian Simmons’s Wood Magazine demonstration, the cutting edge begins at approximately 45 degrees to the workpiece. That is a reference for edge presentation in that demonstration, not a universal handle setting.
- Adjust until the edge begins to cut. Simmons’s demonstration uses a roughly 30-degree grind, which changes the handle position needed. Bring the bevel into contact with the wood, then adjust the handle gradually until the edge starts cutting. Avoid advancing the edge before the bevel is supported.
- Continue with a controlled, supported cut. Maintain bevel contact as you move along the spindle. Let the cutting edge do the work rather than twisting or forcing the tool.
The angle of the edge relative to the work and the position of the handle are related but not interchangeable. A different grind can call for a different handle position, so use bevel contact and the start of a controlled cut as your guide rather than copying one handle angle.
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- Made from genuine M2 high-speed steel with hardness 65HRC that’s cryogenically treated to increase wear resistance and edge-holding ability that rivals more expensive brands of woodturning tools.
- The skew chisel will give a clean smooth finish. Once mastered a skew chisel is one of the most versatile in the turner’s tool rack. It is able to perform planing cuts, vee cuts and clean cuts on end grain produce beads, cylinders and tapers.
- 1"Skew Chisel w/straight grind - 6-1/2" blade, 12-1/2" handle, 1/4" thick
- Straight edge design
- Solid beech handle with Stainless steel bolster
Forming beads, V-grooves, fillets, and end-grain details
Beads and V-grooves
These details depend on engaging the intended part of the skew’s edge rather than letting a point dig in unexpectedly. Practice on spindle stock, keep the tool supported, and make deliberate movements. Wood Magazine’s 2024 guidance gives a 20–30-degree skew angle as suitable for planing cuts, V-cuts, and beads; this is a skew-angle example, not a bevel angle or a handle-angle prescription.
Fillets
For a fillet, the AAW primer advises starting with the bevel parallel to the turning, then advancing as for a planing cut. This approach helps establish bevel support before the cut develops.
Rank #2
- Skews are indispensable if a fine finish is required from the tool
- Made from hardened and tempered high speed steel that that will keep a sharpened edge about six times longer than carbon steel and will resist "blued” softening from overheating during grinding or heavy use
- Comes with hard White Ash handle and brass ferrule
- Handle is 12 inches long with tool being 6 1/4 inches in length
- Overall length is 18 1/4 inches
End grain
For facing end grain, the AAW primer advises using the toe of the skew and leaning the left-side bevel slightly away from the end grain to reduce the likelihood of a catch. Treat this as a specific technique, not a reason to disregard support or control.
Why skews catch—and how to reduce the risk
The skew’s double bevel is a central reason it can catch: a point or edge can meet the work in a way that makes the tool dig in. Risk-reducing habits include:
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- Bring the bevel into contact before advancing the cutting edge.
- Control which part of the edge engages; do not let a point strike the work unexpectedly.
- Use a sharp edge and practice deliberate cuts on suitable spindle stock.
- Follow the lathe maker’s safety and operating guidance and seek in-person instruction when learning.
No single handle position or short list of technique cues substitutes for safe lathe setup and instruction. The AAW primer explains the skew’s catch tendency and the importance of bevel-supported cutting; it does not make the tool catch-proof.
Skew angle, bevel angle, and tool size are different specifications
Published geometry figures describe different parts of the tool and should not be collapsed into one “chisel angle.” The AAW tool sheet gives a typical skew angle of 70 degrees and a bevel angle of 25–30 degrees. Wood Magazine’s 2024 article gives a 20–30-degree skew angle for planing cuts, V-cuts, and beads. These are source-specific examples, not a single universal specification.
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- Authentic M2 HSS Construction: Cryogenically treated steel hits 65HRC hardness, outstanding wear resistance & superior edge retention matching premium woodturning tools.
- Multi-functional Skew Chisel: Creates silky smooth cut surfaces; perfect for planing, V-cuts, end grain trimming, beads, cylinders and tapers.
- 1" Radiused Rolled Edge cutting face delivers clean, precise cuts for all woodturning projects.Designed exclusively for spindle woodturning, this skew chisel excels at crafting crisp coves, mirror-smooth fine finishes, sharp defined edges, neat pommels, and countless intricate turning profiles.
- Size: 6-1/2" blade, 12-1/2" solid beech handle, 1/4" thick robust blade.
- Durable Build: Premium solid beech grip paired with heavy-duty stainless steel bolster for comfortable, stable turning
| Specification | Published example | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Skew angle | 70 degrees, AAW tool sheet; 20–30 degrees for planing, V-cuts, and beads, Wood Magazine (2024) | Both sources label this as skew angle; they present differing examples rather than a universal value. |
| Bevel angle | 25–30 degrees, AAW tool sheet | A separate angle from the skew angle. |
| Rectangular shank width | 1/2 inch (13 mm) or 3/4 inch (19 mm), AAW tool sheet | Sizes the AAW identifies as suitable for work including pens, tops, pepper mills, chair legs, and balusters. |
The AAW tool sheet also advises: “Hone all four surfaces to achieve sharp points at the ends of the cutting edge.” Those points matter for the edge geometry, but sharpness alone does not prevent a catch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a turning skew
Choose a profile and width suited to the work you intend to turn, then consider how the tool feels and how its grind is maintained. The AAW lists rectangular-shanked 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch skews for a range of spindle projects. In a 2017 demonstration, turner Alan Lacer expressed a personal preference for a heavier rectangular section over an oval one; that preference is not a universal rule. No one profile is established here as best for every turner.
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- Authentic M2 HSS Construction: Cryogenically treated steel hits 65HRC hardness, outstanding wear resistance & superior edge retention matching premium woodturning tools.
- Multi-functional Skew Chisel: Creates silky smooth cut surfaces; perfect for planing, V-cuts, end grain trimming, beads, cylinders and tapers.
- 3/4" Radiused Rolled Edge cutting face delivers clean, precise cuts for all woodturning projects.Designed exclusively for spindle woodturning, this skew chisel excels at crafting crisp coves, mirror-smooth fine finishes, sharp defined edges, neat pommels, and countless intricate turning profiles.
- Size: 6-1/2" blade, 12-1/2" solid beech handle, 1/4" thick robust blade.
- Durable Build: Premium solid beech grip paired with heavy-duty stainless steel bolster for comfortable, stable turning.
- Profile and section: Compare rectangular and oval sections for handling and the work you plan to do.
- Width: Consider the AAW’s cited 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch examples against the scale of your spindle projects.
- Grind and honing: Check that you can maintain the cutting edge and its points; the AAW recommends honing all four surfaces.
- Intended cuts: A skew is useful for planing and defined spindle details, but its geometry rewards controlled technique.
A hand-paring skew is a separate technique
A bevel-edge hand skew is not used on a rotating lathe. It is a hand tool for precise paring, including cuts deep into tight corners and long paring cuts. In his 2011 Fine Woodworking article, Garrett Hack describes making one from a damaged bench chisel and reports an 18-degree skew on his example. That is his personal tool geometry, not a universal sharpening prescription.
Hack uses the hand tool bevel down and bevel up to reach left and right corners. This is a separate approach from supporting a woodturning skew on a lathe rest; do not transfer the turning instructions to hand paring or vice versa.
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