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Box Hollowing?

Bill Alston

Bill Alston

Joined
Jan 10, 2024
Messages
841
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Location
Bournemouth, UK
What tools do you use? For the sake of argument let’s say boxes up to 3” diameter. For bigger projects I’ll sometimes use a large blacksmiths drill to start a hole but for small boxes I don’t bother. I’ve tried a variety of tools but I seem to have settled on carbide tools at the moment. I know box scrapers have been very popular in the past, many manufacturers making their own versions. Just wondered what others on here use?
 
1st step is to drill a depth hole ~ 1/4”-3/8” with hand held drill bit. If end grain, makes it easy to start the tool in the center, x-grain it makes it easy to end the cut, and of course its an indicator of where to stop to check bottom t.

Generally I’ll start hollowing with a 1/2” spindle gouge. When it starts to squeal or chatter due to length off the tool rest, I’ll start using shop made hollowing tools or a scraper.

I have several bar shapes that use an 8.9mm flat top round carbide insert, 1/2” bar with a 24” handle. I also have another with a 5/8” straight bar with a 10mm cupped carbide insert, mounted parallel with the bar - its a copy of a Hunter tool. It is more catchy vs the flat tops but leaves a better finish. I’m getting to know this tool better with time. The biggest issue is me - I get greedy and let it take too big of a bite.

For shallow boxes, say ~2-1/2”, I may just use scrapers. The deeper the box the more likely I’ll use a hollowing tool. Chatter tells me which tool.

I’ll usually use neg rake scrapers to get the final surface finish. I make quite a few potpourri “boxes” with undercut rims, and the cupped carbide tool is very good for the undercut.

I prefer curved corners for boxes. If you like square corners, flat end scrapers, thick enough to handle the depth, are the way to go.
 
I'm mainly a hollow form guy, so my recent box-making spree is influenced somewhat by that.
I start with a 3/8" spindle gouge, used like a spoon bit, to drill a little pilot hole. Then, I use my 3/8" gun drill to make a depth hole. So that's the same way I start a hollow form. I have some home-made scrapers (ground from M2 bar stock I got off amazon). Of the 2 I use most, one has square end and sides, the other is also ground on the end and sides but has a rounded corner. I find a flat-top scraper has been working better than negative rake for me on the inside of end-grain boxes. If the box gets too deep for these (if they chatter), I do the bottom with my normal hollowing tools - usually finishing with light passes with a scraper.
 
Well, I have tried to learn the Raffen method of upside down/backwards with a spindle detail gouge, and he does have a video about it. I will stick with a hand held drill bit, standard twist bit with about a 20 degree bevel angle, and plunge that in, then hollow from there.

robo hippy
 
robo hippy said:
Well, I have tried to learn the Raffen method of upside down/backwards with a spindle detail gouge,
Click to expand...
It’s a fun cut once you get it. I’m sure Raffan explains it better. I saw him do it in a demo went home an tried it.
I did destroy a few hollows but then I got lucky.

Drill a hole with the gouge. Set the Tool rest be low enough not to touch the gouge while drilling
Make a little divot to hold the point straighten the gouge and push about 3/4”. Pull the out a little to clear the shavings and repeat.
I usually mark the depth with my thumb. When the thumbnail touches the wood depth has been reached.
Drill spindle gouge.GIF

For the back hollowing put the tool in the hole with the bevel on the wood and pull. Avoid letting the gouge dig into the wood- not fun
Back hollow 1.GIF

Then is gets super cool with shavings pouring out
Back hollow 2.GIF
 
Last edited:
For straight sided boxes, after drilling a depth hole and removing most of the wood with another tool, I have two things that help.

One is a box rest. Best wood tools and Robust sells them:
buffalowoodturningproducts.com

Universal Box Tool Rests - Best Wood Tools

This is the perfect Tool Rest for making flat bottom boxes. Machined from solid steel this is the strongest Tool Rest of this type available anywhere. Fits on any of Best Wood Tool standard Tool Posts listed (sold separately). The Universal Box Rest is available in two sizes, 1” wide and 1-1/2”...
buffalowoodturningproducts.com

These fit deep into the box for the sides and bottom.

The other thing I use is a box scraper, perfect for straight sides and bottoms.
Robust Tools and Sorby makes them.
I have one commercially made and another I custom made.

I don't use these often, but they are handy, especially on a deep box, and if you want perfect insides.
For boxes that don't have straight inside walls, I just use gouges, scrapers, and various Hunter tools, depending.

JKJ
 
Drill depth hole, hollow with 3/8 or 1/2" spindle gouge*, 89 degree square end scraper to do the side walls, Hunter carbide tool for the bottom and transition, sometimes NRS to clean up the sides, but usually just go to sanding.

*I have long used Raffan's back-hollowing but have switch to cutting from depth hole outward with the spindle gouge. It's easier on the wood and at least as fast as back-hollowing in my hands.
 
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