I was able to return to my lathe. Today was the first time I used a carbide tool. I used the Viceroy that Mike Hunter sold to me. My world changed. What a total joy turning a bowl offboard with my lathe set up the way we designed it. I turn in a wheelchair. I was in my powerchair in a crosswalk and I got run over by a drunk driver.... Last night I decided I was fit enough to turn. I had a blank of Birch mounted up ready to go. It dried while mounted on my machine. Hunter tools are golden. So to end… I have the small Viceroy. For the inside of a bowl what is my next carbide tool? Now for spindle work and the outside of a vessel what tool would that be?
Hello Thom!
Oh my, what a life changer. You're story is inspiring. I had a good friend who relied on a power chair for most of his life, following of an event involving drinking and driving and a broken neck when he was a teenager. He never did any turning, but you would be amazed at his artwork - pencil, watercolor, huge paintings, couldn't reach the top so he painted that half upside down. (He had only limited use of his hands and arms) We both did technical and architectural 3D computer modeling and animation.
I'd be interested in the type and setup of your lathe. Twice I've met people looking for ways to turn seated. Do you have any pictures? Custom lathe?
Isn't the Viceroy great! I use it, plus other Mike Hunter's tools.
My favorite for all-around face work is the small Hercules. I use them both inside and outside of bowls and platters, turning and sometimes sheer scraping inside.
For example, I turn almost everything on my design of these pieces with the Hercules (everything except inside the base). I usually follow the Hunter with a negative rake scraper, then hand scrapers and hand sanding.
Perhaps of interest about this design. After making a few, Mike asked me once if I minded if he did some demos on these in his part of the country. It was way too far from areas where I might demo so I said sure. I never asked him how many demos he did, but I did get emails from several people who saw his demos and wanted additional details.
I also use them on the outsides of vessels, boxes, and more.
Even pieces like these, Beads of Courage boxes - roughly turned in sections from dry wood then glued together before final turning, I do most of the these with the Hercules and another Hunter tool (can't remember the name right now).
Mike has some curved and swan necked tools for inside tighter things - I even got one from him made just for turning insides with the lathe in reverse - handy at times. I also have a set of his mini hollowing tools, good for boxes, ornaments and such and larger hollowing tools. Don't get me wrong, I reach for a good bowl gouge or more traditional hollowing tools when appropriate but love the Hunters!
The cutters are razor sharp, of course. One thing you probably know, but if not, be careful: if you so much as lightly bump the an edge against another steel tool it will chip! I put protectors over the cutters when I put the Hunter tools into my "unhandled" tool drawer. I always keep a few spares of each size of cutter but Mike is very quick to send out some in a pinch.
As for spindle turning, I use the Hunters sometime, for coves and such, but far prefer a skew chisel and a 3/8" spindle gouge for smaller (finials, etc) and thin spindles such as conductor's batons and "magic" wands. To bad we don't live closer or I'd drop in and show you where I use what and why!
BTW, I buy all the Hunter, Thompson, and some other tools without handles and mount them in handles with aluminum or brass inserts I make. These are not hard to make on the wood lathe with woodturning tools - if you are interested I posted a document showing how I make these inserts:
I wrote this PFD document for a demo I did on turning metals, primarily aluminum and brass, on a wood lathe with woodturning tools. Relativity easy to do!
For an example I show how I make inserts for lathe tools. The one I show is fairly small but the method is the same for any size.
JKJ
BTW2, I can vouch for Sir Lucas: he's a certified trusted expert with the Hunter tools (and nearly any type of tool and turning!)
JKJ
