I got another book.

They might if they hadn't all died in the attempt to do that particular cut. This is one of those things in woodturning that absolutely require being there and having someone show you (with hands on the tool) how it's done. It's a difficult cut in the best of circumstances where you take a "normal" hollowing cut into end-grain with a shallow-fluted gouge (spindle gouge in manys' terminology) BUT rotating that gouge around so that the gouge is pointed (and the cutting action is) at between 12 and 2 (on a clock) and the flute of the gouge is pointing down to around 5. The position is the easy part. It's keeping it that way and actually getting a cut as opposed to a dig-in or having it slam down against the toolrest or back at you that's the hard part.

Find someone that does it and have them show you...... then have them do it again a week later. Trust me.

- Andrew

If it slams down, you're not doing it right. The tool should be resting on the toolrest, although it's resting way over at the 9 o'clock position, with the flute side contacting the toolrest (at least, during the part of the cut cycle when the cut is near the rim) and the side of the tool against the rim of the box. Also, it's critical that the heel of the bevel be in contact with the inside of the box - that prevents the dig-ins. The angle of your bevel determines where inside the box you'll be cutting.

I can do it pretty reliably, since I figured out about the contact points.

Yeeeeaaahhhhh, that was my point. If you're getting those problems that I mentioned, you're probably not doing it right. Those are common occurances with this type of cut.

- Andrew

The hardest part is starting the cut, in the center. It helps to drill a hole first to depth. Cutting from center along the bottom, the gouge tip moves upward towards the interior side wall of the box, and during that travel you turn the gouge along it's axis until the flute is facing almost straight down (about 5 o'clock) once it reaches that side wall. Then you just lever the gouge out against the box's rim, backing it out to keep the bevel close to the cut. In a box that's deeper than it's inside diameter, you're working almost blind and relying mostly on feel.

I have a short QuickTime video clip showing me doing the backcut in a flared vessel, which is easier to look into the cut but maybe harder to do--it's a little over 3 megabytes so will take probably 10 minutes to load on a 56k connection--

Basically just shows how starting at center, the gouge goes straight up, then cuts at the highest point of the vessel's interior all the way to the rim. I never get to the 5 o'clock position because of the vessel's flared shape, but you can see how I twirl the gouge as it comes out--starting at about 2 o'clock and ending at maybe 4 o'clock.

It takes some practice, but once you get it, it's a thrill to see the shavings fly out!

Ken Grunke

Reyd

If you are a newbie - you are not even close to being able to handle your tools well enough to do it - so do not frustrate yourself with the dificult stuff - learn the basics - blocking and tackling first then maybe later you can try a safety blitz!

Ray

Ill take your advice

I think im about ready to start some of the stuff... a lot of it is similar to what I figured out to do for my mom's xmas present.(the basic parts, not the fancy stuff, like going really deep, or back hollowing, and I don't have the tools for that anyways) i've got lots of wood thats just the right size for the things he is talking about.

tools well enough to do it - so do not frustrate yourself with the dificult stuff - learn the basics - blocking and tackling first then maybe later > > you can try a safety blitz!

As another newbie I have taken a huge shortcut in getting a few nice turnings that look alot like Raffan's without the hollowing out. Do the outside but simply drill a deep hole and make it a "weed pot". Looks the same and considering that few people would use those hollowed out pots for storage anyway, I think it's a good compromise for us newbies.

Earl

lol, ive got a collection of bowls and boxes started, down to 5 now(the rest were convenient christmas presents for family) and 3 were bought by a friend for his mom for christmas. i hollow them normally(I think) but i was curious, because he said that back hollowing was so much faster.

_________________________________

Earl, That works for old hands also. A Forstner bit can give you a big hole in a short time and give you a reference depth for additional stock removal.

Ken Moon Webbervillw, TX

Hi Earl, You may be a 'skinny vessel' Newbie, but I think you got one 'turning truism' right. There may be a general consensus, but good and bad re the form and construction of a turned object is a variable and is subjective. As with the female fashion model experts, a grossly undernourished hollow turning is considered necessary among some of the more advanced turning crowd. Often the general public isn't aware of the rules, and so isn't much impressed with either thin fashion models or thin turned goods. In fact, I often see one of my patio or garden pots intended for outdoors, inside the home of a friend. Of course, it could just be dragged out of the closet when I visit.

Anyway Earl, turn what pleases _you. Break all the design rules you wish. Make all the weed pots you want, but always be sure to have fun brewing your _own cup of turning tea. Arch

Fortiter,

Thanks, Arch. Last summer I was in South Dakota (Hill City) browsing through a Native American gallery and there were some absolutely stunning wood sculptures. Vases, really, but solid. They were priced in the 1000's (they were very large) but the forms, shapes, finish, and detail were perfect. They were what stimulated me to get into turning in a serious manner as a hobby.

Now that I have turned a few things, I appreciate them even more. While we continually debate art versus craft, these were truly artistic. Unfortunately neither the gallery or the artist has a web site so can't let you see them. I was tempted to sneak a camera into the gallery but didn't!

Earl

That's all too true. Down at the store where I sell my stuff, I had a couple weed pots for probably around $15 to $25 and a hollow form or two in the $75 ballpark. The tourists couldn't figure out why the one was so cheap and the other so expensive. They couldn't 'see' the hollowing work (but could feel it - it was much lighter) so they figure they were all drilled I guess. Sigh. FWIW, the twig pots sell like hotcakes, especially if there's natural bark left on 'em. The hollow forms hardly move...

...Kevin

Thanks for bringing that to our attention Ken. Now that the Christmas season is over, it's time to return to CM*. Arch, we're keeping our eye on you!

...Kevin

Thank you both for the reality check. I'm sorry for the lapse, and I'll be sure to watch it during all that miserable Valentine's Day smaltz. Will that make me eligible for a CM cluster? Arch

Fortiter,

Musta bin the New Year's nog...

"Ya know wha Buddyyyyy? You. You are my veeerrry bes' friend. I love you, Bud. You. Hmmm. I'm outa nog here - lemme get a refill. Nowww don'go away."

_____ American Association of Woodturners Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon _____