Hollowing tools

[Bill Blasic]

There was one available at the Turning 2025 Symposium by silent bidding and it took incredible strength not to bid on it. Here you can see most of the Monster Articulated. I have 5/16" and 3/8" hollowing tools including Hunter carbide hollowers. I use the articulated for my smaller hollowforms through the smaller holes. I can use it on every lathe I still though because I have the different size receivers for it. For bigger pieces I use the Monster Captured Hollowing System where I use the two Hunter hollowing bars that allow me to go 12" or 13" with the 3/4" bar and at least 19" deep with the 1" bar and the Hunter Hollowers. I have no pictures of my hollowforms that would show the actual size of the holes. Next time I do one I'll post it with measurements.

 

[Randy Heinemann]

So far, I've not been limited by using the Bosch Stabilizer and Visualizer. If anything, these tools have expanded my horizons.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I’m with Jaramiah. I’ve got Trent’s stabilizer but I no longer use it. Maybe some day. Freehand turning through small openings is a challenge and thrill I love. Call me old school.

Really! Interesting. Do you use his tools to do your freehand hollowing or a mix?

 

[Alan Weinberg]

Really! Interesting. Do you use his tools to do your freehand hollowing or a mix?

I use now a combination of hand made tools and Jackofsky tools. Also recently got and like the Niclot tools from Trent Bosch. I don’t know what Jaramiah uses. I have a friend who owns a machine shop and he has made a couple things to my specifications.

 

[Ken Cardinal]

I have been using the Mahoney Hollowing set made by Carter & Sons. There is no way I could cut through a 1/2” hole as the cutting tool end is about 1.1”. I find I can work pretty well with a 1.25” hole.

 

[Randy Heinemann]

Stabilizer systems might make the process easier (which some may perceive as more enjoyable), but they introduce some limitations to range of motion, tool compatibility, and design possibilities that some turners, myself included, aren’t willing to accept. Personally, I enjoy the challenge of freehand turning; that it’s difficult to hollow to a 1/8” wall thickness through a 1/2” opening is the part of the appeal.

I have never felt limited in either design or range of motion using the Stabilizer. If anything my work is much better when I can devote my energy to the work itself. Also, I suppose that, if you don't have Trent Bosch's tools there may be some tool compatibility problems, but his tools aren't the only ones which would work with the Stabilizer. I went the direction of the Stabilizer and Visualizer because my hollowing were mainly Trent's so I don't have that problem. From you picture I can see that you're also quite a bit younger than I am. I have some shoulder problems and I'm 75 so not quite as invincible as I used to be. So, for me, the job of hollowing becomes much easier and takes a lot less of my time with no real limitations for me with Trent's Stabilize. I would find it difficult to live without it and most likely wouldn't do much hollowing without that assist.