fir turns greatly:) I made a large bowl(for me) using Mr. Feltmate's suggestion of between centers, I never could get it to work well for smaller bowls but for bigger ones it works well. I was wondering, what exactly is back hollowing, is it going the other way (from center to the lip) with the tool pointing the opposite of normal?
I lied
Jan 28, 2004
6 Replies
Reyd, "Back hollowing" is a technique used for removing a large amount of material in a short time, mainly in small to medium boxes, but also in some bowl work. It is NOT something a new turner wants to try without some hands on help from an experienced turner. It involves starting your hollowing cut at the 12:00 o'clock position on the end of the blank (with the flute of the gouge facing 1:00), and rotating the gouge as you cut toward the 4:00 o'clock position (against rotation). It makes for spectacular catches unless you have help to begin with (even some after the help)! Good luck,
Ken Moon Webberville, TX =====================================
so you are cutting on the opposite side (with the rotation trying to lift your tool? any chance of somebody posted a little video of them doing it?
A technique which I believe poses much less risk and hollows as rapidly is to use a pointy gouge or a bowl gouge with full Irish grind, fully supported by a close toolrest, laying the bevel on the wall of the piece at 8:50 and rotating left cautiously until it begins to shave. I have a detail pattern gouge which really has no bevel, being ground round to allow this technique, and the plunge technique illustrated on
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To hollow anopen end-grain piece is easier, as you merely plunge the nose at the center,sweeping outward and usually up, then roll the gouge right, catching theshaving on the opposite wing, running inward and downward.Shavings are produced in proportion to the cut, so once you get more than acouple inches into a large piece, or an inch into a confined one, clearancecan be a problem. I do the Big Bad Wolf on them as I cut, using a piece ofsemirigid tubing, but on no account should you move the rest any fartherfrom the piece than is necessary to clear the edges, because you will begiving away leverage you don't care to. To make slick walls once hollowed, tilt the gouge either slightly nose up - pointy gouge - or slightly nose down with a blunt gouge to give the cut more shear.
I might add that what Darrell seems to do with the Oland, cutting on the side of the flute, is pretty much the same, so if my directions are too obtuse, try his.
I think this is the method Richard Raffan uses in his video. This must be why it takes him about 4 seconds to hollow a box and it takes me about 20 minutes not including 4 re-chucks!
Peter Teubel Milford, MA
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It's tough to see what he's doing in the video I think. He goes so fast. His Boxes book has quite a few good shots of the technique though. Still, nothing is like having someone there guiding you.
- Andrew
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