Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Because I'm a newb feed rate is a crawl. 9x20 lathe, slightly beefed up compound but not overly rigid so I use HSS and slow feed rate. I did convert to variable speed and have that option if changing speeds during the pas would help?Clean cuts at .050" so I'll try interrupted cuts as Scott suggested. I have a special tool (essentially an upside down left hand cutter) that works great for mirror finishing in 2-3 thousandths passes if interrupting roughens the pass.Bad wrist today so the lathe and I are sidelined..