I may have been doing this wrong, and I know you guys can straighten me out. I watched an episode of Scott Phillips show where he was turning boxes. When he used the parting tool it was a straight in cut, at the centerline. It looked to me like it was more of a scraping action than a cutting action. The way I've been using one is at a slight upward angle, slightly above centerline, and actually cutting with it. Now, Scott isn't always praised for his turning acumen so I'm wondering if he got this one right. My approach has been working well for me, but if it's wrong there's probably some reason it's wrong.

I have a couple of parting tools. My first one was (is) a diamond style. With that I usually rub the bevel and lift the handle until it starts to cut. As the diameter gets smaller I keep raising the handle.

My second tool was(is) an Easy Wood Tools. The carbide bit on those has a negative rake and seems to work best at the center line, pushing straight in.

Somewhere in time, I made a thin parting tool from an old butcher's knife. The profile is similar to this but the long edge has been profiled to match my grinding wheel. I generally rub the shorter edge, raise the handle until it starts to cut.

Lew, you approach is the one I use, and poorly described. But if you do it that way I must not be too far out in left field.

Hey Fred,

If it works for you it can't be too wrong.

You're doing it right. Cutting is always better than scraping.

I have 3 parting tools . Like Lew a diamond which was actually my second tool. First was a flat blade from Pen State which has been modified two or three times and hardly ever used now. The last I made from a Planer blade. It is hard steel and can be very sharp . It is the only PT I have that will give me a clean, tear out free cut. And as to the original question For a roughing cut I will sometime do a straight in cut in particular with the bedan. For a real parting cut to remove turning start handle low and lift.

Fred you got it but parting tools are also used for other cuts besides parting and this may be what leads to the confusion an technique.

Right or wrong, you do the same thing I do. It is a peeling cut more than a scrape. My parting tool of choice is a 5mm bedan.

Thanks guys, appreciate the help!