If it works and is safe it isn't bad practice

If you have the right tool tip for the circumstances there isn't a problem.

It's a time saver too!

I occasionally do this with mild steel using a HSS left hand knife tool. As you say the cut is easy and, I find, gives a good finish.

JA

It may be because the bulk of material is being removed by a different part of the tool which may not be subject to wear and so is reducing cutting pressure.

Regards.

David.

Bad practice, absolute rubbish. Nothing at all wrong facing out from the centre, used to do it hundreds of times a day on a CNC lathe, rough face into centre and then after roughing o/d back into centre, face outwards and finish profile, nothing wrong either with back turning, rough along towards chuck as usual but then apply a thou or so deep cut and feed back to tailstock, you are now using an unused edge of tip and will get a good finish.

What doesn't work is facing off with the lathe in reverse. Don't ask how I know…

Bill said 'I have been experimenting this morning since the earlier comments and find that I can take deeper cuts and get a better finish which is interesting. Using Glanze carbide tip tool.' Just another wild suggestion, but that might be the smart way to face off with carbide. When the tool starts at the centre and moves out to face off, the cutting speed at the tip accelerates, which is what carbide likes. In the other direction, carbide is decelerating, ie constantly moving away from it's preferred mode.

Experiment needed, all same material and lathe, at the same settings. About 20 examples of facing inwards to compare with 20 examples faced outwards. Is there a detectable difference?

Dave