Beginning to see the light

[Haggy]

Thanks Pete, I will try shear scraping before resorting to abrasives.  When I first used a lathe at Loughborough College in the late 70's  we were only shown how to scrape, gouges were something that were avoided.
I was thinking perhaps of using my two fingers not holding the gouge Ed. - that is if the little finger doesn't work!
     Regards Haggy

[bodrighywood]

I originally learned to turn in school in the 60's and we didn't have any gouges, just scrapers made from old files. Not recommended I know but we still managed to get good enough finishes to get a top grade pass in GCE's (remember them LOL?) I don't use scrapers much nowadays but often shear scrape with the gouges. Just make sure you keep the gouge well above horizontal.

Pete