Which tools are used together to turn a straight cylinder on the lathe?

• A. roughing gouge and a skew chisel
• B. parting tool and calipers
• C. scraper and file
• D. parting tool and rasp

Answer: (A)

Turning a straight cylinder on the lathe starts with removing material quickly to establish a true cylinder, then refining the surface for a smooth, consistent finish. The roughing gouge is the tool you reach for first because its broad cutting edge hogs out material efficiently and true-ups the blank toward a round, straight form. After that initial shaping, the skew chisel is used to clean up and true the diameter with light, controlled cuts along the axis, giving a smooth, accurate cylinder.

The other tool pairings don’t accomplish this sequence on the lathe. A parting tool is meant for separating pieces or cutting narrow grooves, not shaping the cylinder. Calipers measure dimensions but don’t shape. A scraper or file is not the standard combination for establishing and finishing a straight cylinder on the lathe, and a rasp is a hand tool used mostly off the lathe for rough shaping.