Hollowing tools

[drh]

Hi, I'm new to hollowing. Has anyone had experience with Hollowing tool by http://sitekreator.com/sherrillwoodworking/deep_hollowing_tool_set.html

One concern I have is the torque when using the 3/8" curved cutter bar.

 

[Richard Baker]

Reasonably priced, but have not used it. Note that all cutters must be sharpened/honed. Might require a diamond hone for the carbide. Just a thought.

 

[David Wilkins]

That is a good price. Bookmarked for future use
I doubt there would be much torque, you shouldn't be taking that kind of a swath.

 

[CBSears]

I agree with the previous responses (and have also bookmarked the Sherrill site!) Another thought is to look at the Ellsworth hollowing tools, which David describes how to make in his new book. I've made a set for less than $30.00 and they work well. Just another thought...

 

[Odie]

I assume he's making these hollowing tools himself......don't know how he can make a worthwhile profit at that price!.....but, then again, maybe profit isn't what motivates him.

He's selling these hollowing systems on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330297354582

OOC

 

[Tony K. in NC]

This is what I use

This is what i use for most of my hollowing work, but it has gone up a little over $100 since i got them about 7 months ago. I went ahead and got the advanced set but you can start with basin and get more parts along the way. Best part is main shaft can slide further into handle and attach a second hand to the first and you end up with rather hefty shafted tool. the heads are awesome, have yet to get a catch. but you can't be tentative with cuts, it will clog cutter head, once you start cutting keep feeding it.
http://www.shop.woodcut-tools.com/section.php?xSec=87&jssCart=7ffdb648fd86d200be14c3e837391057

This vase was done with it, it is about 10 inches deep on the inside.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Torque Control

For torque control, I use a small vise-grip pliers on the shank of my DIY Oland tool with offset cutter. I relocate it as needed, and take very tiny bites. Should be applicable to a more serious offset, AFAICT.

Joe

 

[hockenbery]

I recommend you consider the bosch 1/2" tools
http://catalog.trentbosch.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=732144
or the 1/2" Jordan tools
http://www.johnjordanwoodturning.com/John_Jordan_Woodturning/Tools.html

These tools have the advantage of the tool tip in line with bar to nearly eliminate torque. and the don't have the large tool holders so you can work through smaller holes and not have the tool holder bumping against the surface you are cutting.

In my opinion it will be $20 more well spent.

happy turning,
Al

 

[kenvalaska]

I did some business a few years back when Lamar was making pin chucks for turning closed end pens. Rich K had an article making reference to him in a Woodturnign Design. Lamar was making pin chucks on the side while finishing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Scroll ahead -- I stumbled across his ad for selling these tools, and got a set. Not finely finished, but more than adequate for what I needed and the price was reasonable. I ended with using his gear to hold the Hunter insert and find it works quite nicely.

Nice guy making workable tools for a reasonable price -- not fine finish, but good design and decent workmanship.

Ken in Juneau

 

[Burt Alcantara]

I considered these tools but didn't buy them because they are light weight. I've found that for hollowing I like heavy steel boring bars with a heavy, long steel handle so I can press the handle against my side while I'm hollowing.

Note that I'm a rank beginner at hollowing so take this post with a pound of salt.

If you're serious about hollowing I strongly suggest you buy David Ellsworth's new book, "Ellsworth on Turning." This book has changed the way I hold tools, orient wood on the lathe, use turning tools and will probably get me into making my own tools. For me, this book has become my turning bible.

I also have the 1/2" Trent Bosch tools but also have a Monster Articulated Arm. With the Arm, the stress on my wrists, forearms and rotator cuffs is almost eliminated.

Of course, it's OK to buy your selected tools as they will always find some use when you decide to buy other hollowing tools. Just the nature of turning.

My very humble opinion,
Burt

 

[rsser]

I'm a fan of the Proforme tool too.

If you're handy with drilling and tapping you can just buy the head and mount it in your own shaft.

The +ves are that you have essentially three cutting edge points that are good for different applications, a cap to avoid catches and a long lasting but easy to sharpen edge.

The downsides are that std the shaft is only 5/8 so pretty much limited to hand held (but you can mount a head in your own 3/4), and you really have to have the swan neck and slightly bent shafts to cover most needs.

WoodCut now have a mini-hollower with an articulated head, like the Munro (which I've also used and found not to be as versatile).

For rig-mounted work I've acquired a set of std Jordan hollowers which are yet to get a run.

Obviously a low-cost DIY option is an Oland type cutter mounted in various shafts.

 

[Tony K. in NC]

IF you get the handle

If you get the handle that goes with the bar, the bar will slide up into the handle giving you retty much a 1 1/4 bar, but then you need anotherhandle that can be mated to the back of the first one. Right now i am trying to find some cold rolled 5/8 ID steel pipe to make about a 6 foot handle for the real deep stuff. And already have my little brother making me an irons gate system. I also have several shop made oland style tools, an Elbo tool, and a sorby midi hollow master. And they all get used, by the way they have an adapter for the Elbo to be able to put the pro-forme in it.

 

[rsser]

Yep .. for hand-held shafts a toolgate is a good investment to minimise effort - and damage to ageing joints

It also gives you a point of reference for the proprioception that develops with experience.

 

[Ken Grunke]

Sherrill's price for that set is unbelievably cheap. I tallied up price estimates in my head for what I thought would be fair prices in a typical woodturning tool catalog, and it went over $200 before I finished the list. I don't see how he can make any profit whatsoever. I don't know the guy, have never seen these tools before but this looks like a pretty good deal. And American made!