Cutting force

Woodworking is not trivially comparable to metalworking, due to the differences in ratios between workpiece and tool hardness, and cutting forces. Imagine carving or whittling a nice thick chip off a block of steel with a Box knife, that's what you're asking the Mill or Lathe to do. The force to drive the tool into the workpiece and make this cut is routinely hundreds of pounds. Hold the workpiece securely in a vise or it will be thrown.