Got my lathe home and on the bench today. I cleaned it up, hooked it up and went to playing. A half hour later I came inside with a 3 inch dowel. Look Hun, as I proudly showed the wife a nice symmetrical 3 inch by 4 inch dowel. Uuu, ya, its round? To which I reply thanks, use to be a lopsided square. I just spent some time turning coves, lines, wedges, tapers, then take the big gouge and straighten it out and practice more. Take the big gouge and straighten it again, did that about 3 times until I ended up with something resembling a candle stick with rolling curves, coves, ledges etc. So much for cutting the grass.