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Inboard NR scraper recommendation?

Joined
Aug 13, 2025
Messages
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Location
Loveland, CO
Hi all!

I have been working on the Bird's Beak natural edge bowl I posted in "what's on your lathe" thread. The outside is done, sanded to 320 and will be finished with Tried and True. Looks like it will be a nice piece.

The inside, however, is deep. Bowl is too narrow for my current bowl gouges. I am WAY WAY WAY out over my rest for carbides (which I am trying to avoid), which keep grabbing like hell. I am a newbie - 8 months on the lathe.

Seems like a good use for an inside NR scraper??? Any recommendations under $100? I have a slow speed grinder and CBN so can shape and sharpen.

--Scott
 
Yes, turn your tool rest to get it farther into the bowl. I prefer a "J" shaped tool rest for this sort of application. (But lately I've been loving the "Finial Rest" from Advanced Lathe Tools for deep light work).

A NRS is most commonly used to smooth the surface, very like a cabinet scraper in flat work. But a NRS still needs tool rest support near the action. If I was trying to remove material a NRS would not be the first tool I would think of.

If you had one, a hollowing rig could really help here.
 
NRSs are for very minimal clean up, and not for heavy stock removal like roughing cuts on bowls. For me, I use the 40/40 grind for most of my bowl stock removal, well, after the scrapers have done the job, and then clean up cuts with gouges. Since that one is deep, it may not be easy. A more pointed nose gouge could go down the side fairly well, but you would need a BOB (bottom of bowl) gouge to make the transition and across the bottom. The carbide scrapers will only get you so far. If you have some of Mike Hunt's cup shaped carbide cutters, they can do the job.

robo hippy
 
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