So what am I doing wrong?

[Katchin]

well its fair to say that your chisels your nothing like mine do currently
Made a bowl earlier and more or less did it without the bowl gouges, just used scrapers and skews.

Very useful pictures, thanks.

[jumps]

well its fair to say that your chisels your nothing like mine do currently
Made a bowl earlier and more or less did it without the bowl gouges, just used scrapers and skews.

Very useful pictures, thanks.

not a lot like mine either.......but as said there are a lot of possible variations!

[BrianH]

Whoa there, Using a skew on a bowl blank is just asking for trouble because the fine cutting edge will submarine into the end grain and dig chunks out. Skews are for spindles only.
I would also question a little advice you have recieved elsewhere: if your tools are marked HSS (high speed steel) you cannot reach a high enough temperature to draw their temper by over zealous grinding but you can cause their surface to craze by dipping a hot tool into water. If your tools are the (usually) older carbon steel then regular dipping is essential if they are HSS it is both unecassary and potentially damaging.
All the best
Brian

[Katchin]

I used the skew to make the tenon

[Katchin]

I actually produced an edge today that looked somewhat correct, clearly hope has not totally abandoned me 

[Dave Atkinson]

Glad to see you're still turning John.

Cheers Dave

[Katchin]

that's one description for it