Hollowing Tool Suggestions

[John Abt]

I'd like to try some hollow turning. I bought the David Ellsworth video and went to a couple of the hollowing rotations in Louisville. I've also watched the David Marks episode on hollowing.

I asked some of the members of the Chesapeake Woodturners for suggestions. Now I'm also asking the AAW forum members for advice.

What is a good, relatively inexpensive set of tools to try hollowing? I don't have a lot of money available at this point (2 kids in college and saving for a lathe upgrade), but I can spend $100-$150.

I'm leaning towards the Ellsworth tools, but the trapped tool hollowing tools (like the Jaimeson) are out of my price. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[john lucas]

I like the John Jordan tools. They are simple to use, no moving parts, simple to sharpen, and easilyand cheaply replaceable cutters. You can make your own handles to save money. It's also pretty easy to build a captured bar system. You can go to Lyle Jamieson's web site and get plans. If you don't have a welderl, I built my first one using hollowsquare tubing, solid 3/4" cold roll bars and some All thread rod. I built the torque arresting tool rest from wood, which I still use. It works well enough that I haven't taken the time to make a metal one.

 

[Sean Troy]

John Lea makes some hollowing tools from hand held to captured systems at great prices. Toothpicks and cross tip tools work very well and are not very expensive. I've been using them for years. www.woodturningtools.net

 

[hockenbery]

Be sure you talk with Jeff bridges and Alan Alexopolus!

The Jamison handle is fairly easy to make.
The hollowing bars are also fairly easy too.

Finally They both know a good freind of mine in the Capitol Area Woodturners who makes excellent tools at reasonable prices. I'm not at liberty to divluge his name since he doesn't want to be deluged with tool orders (hint- he has slight Cajun accent). He still makes tools for the capitol area members and chesapeake clubs.

Happy Turning
Al

 

[dkulze]

Big fan of the Ellsworth Hollowmaster tools. Quite stable and I like the feel of them when working. Use them almost exclusively, unless deeeeep hollowing. Careful if you get the one with the curved end. Easy to lose your leverage when you're in shallow. Stabilizes out again when about 4 inches in.

I make custom tips for mine using drill bits and tools steel. I also have a Texas Toothpick for those deep jobs and for my hook tool (thank you, Michael Hosaluk). Homemade, of course.

Dietrich

 

[Hugh]

Many years ago - during my first AAW Symposium at Davis, CA - I watched David Ellsworth for the first time hollow a vessel. After the demo I went down and looked at his tools. David was nearby and said he would sell me a pair, "but you can make your own". He then told me he made his hollowing tools out of drill rod with a tool bit super glued into the tip. Easy to make. Easy to repair when the tool bit wears out. Cheap to make. Order the drill rod and tool bits from MSC or Enco or others. In a very short time you can have your own hollowing tools. You have to make the handles though. If you want the curved tool - you need a good heat source and a vise. These are only good for turning something which is not too deep. Fun to make and fun to use.
Hugh

 

[TurningDog]

I'm leaning towards the Ellsworth tools, but the trapped tool hollowing tools (like the Jaimeson) are out of my price. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

you can make both systems for less than $100 easy enough.

Ready made ellsworth bits less than $10

5/8" galvanized steel rod 3' or 4' long less than $10 (long enough for 2 or 3 tools)

black 5/8" iron pipe enough for d handle less than $20
machined steel coupler tapped for 5/8" pipe on one end and drilled with set screws for 5/8" steel rods on the other $20 from any local machine shop

jamieson style captured rest can be made from scraps around the workshop Lyle has plans on his website.

Throw in a bit of plywood or MDF scrap and one of the kids old rollerblades and you also have a stead rest.

 

[S. Clark]

I don't do a lot of hollowing but when I do I use home made tools. I spent a day with Hugh and he helped me make a set of three. I then spent another day turning some nice handles for them. They work great!

You only need some basic shop tools to make them, grinder, power drill, and a tourch if you want to heat and bend a hooked tool. It would be helpfull for you to see some examples though. Just so you understand the length, bit angle, etc. Maybe someone in MD can let you inspect theirs?

 

[bonsaipeter]

Hollowing Tools

I built out of hardware store parts a homemade Lyle Jamison style hollowing system with the traped bar jig. It is easy to use and works great. In addition I have designed and made a batteryless laser pointer for it which allows one to easily hollow to any uniform wall thickness without fear of coming through the side wall. I make and sell these batteryless laser pointers at a very nominal cost. If interested, please contact me privately at ptoch@adelphia.net for details.

Peter Toch

 

[laymarcrafts]

The general opinion here is that you should make rather than buy.

Which is the conclusion I came to when I made my system, two reasons were the deciding factor.

1] I did not do much in the way of Hollowing and the expense of these systems made me baulk and laying out Cash for something I may only use occasionally.

2] The Systems in the Market Place were all a variation on a theme with little details in one system that were not in another system, plus would they fit in with my Lathe and my Workshop?

Decision made, so I made my own, played with it a bit, modified it, added to it so that I now have a system that suits me and does what I want it to.

Is it good? I would say it's the best, but then I'm biased, all I know it cost very little to put together.

You will find a description on my Web Site in the Hints and Tips Section.

Richard
http://www.laymar-crafts.co.uk