Richard Allen
I have found that the spindlemaster does exactly what it is supposed to do. As with most tools I find that there is a learning curve if you want to get the most out of the tool. The time spent on that learning curve might be better spent on the skew which is quite a bit more versatile than the spindlemaster.

The tool isn't a round bar ground in half as Steve has suggested. For one thing the "bevel" is highly polished and flat. To sharpen the tool you hone the top flat side only. That thin cross section lets you position the cutting edge into tighter spots than a skew. That highly polished flat bevel burnishes a very smooth surface on the wood while cutting. The tool works very poorly as a scraper.

The spindlemaster is NOT the holly grail of spindle turning.