Hollowing tools

Oct 05, 2005 11 Replies
N

Hi guys.. as many of you know I have been turning for a while, lurking here just as long and contributing when I can. I am going to be getting a small windfall here in the next few days and I am looking for a hollowing tool(s) for smaller objects, say not larger than 8 inches in diameter, and no deeper than about 4 - 6 inches.



This will be for my mini lathes, not my Nova 3K, and maybe to be used for lessons if I find a tool or afforable system I like. The problem is there are just so damn many of them! I have been looking at fabricating some of the tools I have seen as many are not too difficult to make. And we all know the sites that have great instruction on shop built hollowers.



How about something off the shelf I can get and start on the Christmas goodies? I would rather be turning than making tools now.



Thanks -



Robert



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B

Why should not a "normal" bowl-gouge do the job?

I think I would have tried my time-proven deep fluted, fingernailsharpened,

3/8 Record HSS gouge. If the sides are to be very steep, like in a box, I would use my ring-tool.

Bjarte

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D

Robert I made a couple of new tools the other day. It took about 45 minutes without hurrying. Why not just make them and get to turning?

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G

Somewhat dated, but have at it.

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More than just hollowing tools, you'll notice.

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T

Robert,

This past weekend I watched an instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School use a beading tool to hollow with. Resulted in a very straight-sided hollow for oil lamp bases.

Another was using an Ellsworth tool that looked like a Uzi (had a U-shaped elbow brace). That seemed to require a lot of skill and left a rough finish.

Don Duden's system is to initially use a Forstner bit marked for desired depth thereby giving a quick reference point to work from for depth.

Thoughts. TomNie

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K

The Don Derry hollowing system is designed for small lathes, our AAW chapter prez bought one and he really likes it. A quick google search found this site:

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Also, maybe the Johnston/Basham hollower might fit your needs. Don't know where it's sold, but they're not too hard to make. It has an anti-torque arm on the side, but doesn't need a seperate restrainer toolrest like the Jamieson bar does. The one I made has a 1/4" rod setscrewed into the end of the anti-torque arm, pointing towards the cutter, and with a thin plastic flap on the end to act as a thickness guage. Poor man's laser ;-) I'll sell you mine, or make a new one--if you're interested email me direct (see sig).

Ken Grunke

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B

If you really want something off the shelf...

For small stuff, assuming that you are not currently interested in a trapped system but hand-held instead...

John Jordan makes a dandy set of smaller hollow> snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote:

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M

Couldn't agree more. I bought the large set some time ago and like them a LOT better than the Stewart system.

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N

Guys:

Thanks a million for the links and info. I may do a couple of different things; order one and make a couple.

I have made a couple of smaller hollowing tools, but I am nowhere near as fast as Darrell. A couple of tools in 45 minutes exceeds my skill level in metal working. I am a carpenter by trade, and if the tools were made out of wood I would have a shop full.

BTW Darrell, I had not been by your site since the updates. As always, inspirational and great to look at.

I would still like to hear from anyone else... ideas and help always welcome.

Robert

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D

Robert Thanks for the kind words. The problem with making tools quickly is the question of where to store the darn things, especially those ones that you need once in a blue moon.

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