I have learn't that Turning seasoned Ash on the lathe is hard work, and hitting a hidden split with the parting tool is quite scary:yikes:
I have also Found I seem to be quite lucky. As said lump of ash was shattered off the face plate, and flying towards my face............
By some miracle it split into 2 pieces and passed either side of me.
I put down the tools, turned off the lathe. And thought to myself "I think I'll stop turning for today":notworthy
Nice one.
I learned to check that variable speed lathes are set to minimum speed before you turn them on, a few years ago. I mounted up a big piece of wood, all rough and uneven, still with bark on, and started the lathe. The speed was set to high. Said chunk of wood came loose in about half a second, and flew over my shoulder and out of the window of the turning class (luckily the window was open). Given that the piece of wood was larger than my head, it was a slightly nervous moment, shall we say.
Having retrieved the wood, the tutor told me off, re-mounted the wood himself, started the lathe (having himself also failed to check the lathe speed) and repeated the manoeuvre.