Choosing hollowing tools

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

Joel Hunnicutt

>Do some searches in the archives and you will find feedback on several alternatives. Also, if you visit Fred Holders "More Woodturning" homepage, you will find several reviews that Lyn Mangiameli has written.

Based in part on Lyn's review I purchased the scorpion system from Don Pencil. It is a very complete system for both small and large turnings.

Check out Lee Valley's site. The have the best price going on this system.

2nd vote for the Scorpion

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>after looking into the reviews, and getting feedback from several current users, I recently bought Don Pencil's Scorpion/Stinger Hollowing set from Lee Valley Tools

Last night was the first time I was able to really put the tool through it's paces. I was pretty amazed at the ease at which I was able to use this tool in comparison to my previous experience with a Sorby swan necked hollowing tool.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

Joe Fleming

>Stacey,

There are lots of posts on hollowing tools. If you do a search on this group, search on "hollowing tool", "hollowing" and "Lyn". Lyn Mangiameli is a prolific tool user that has written quite a lot and is respected for his opinions.

On tool selection, what you did not discuss is what kind of hollowing you intend to do. Are you doing small, 3" Christmas ornaments? How about 20" deep vases? There are many many tools on the market for all types of hollowing. I personally own 8 or 9 different systems that I use depending on the application. You might want to pick one type of hollowing to start and one tool system.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>I agree with Joe. I have several different systems that I use for different purposes. I would suggest that you start out making hollow ornaments. Sorby makes a set of small hollowing tools specifically for ornaments. (Alternatively, you can make your own for one tenth the price.) This will be a great exercise to learn the functions each tool shape without the danger (and expense) of turning large hollowform vases. Although I did not do it in this order, I would suggest the Don Pencil Hollower as your next purchase and then eventually look at something like the Lyle Jamieson system.

John

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

Fred Deadrick--Livermore, CA

>John Jordan has a set of hollowing tools which are the best that I have seen. The cutter tips are removeable and replaceable for ease in sharpening. See his website http://johnjordanwoodturning.com for more information.

I use the Kelton hollowing tools, which are OK, but the Jordan tools are much better.

Just my opinion, Fred

Re: Choosing hollowing tools *LINK*

Sean Troy

>There are a lot of hollowing tools to look at, but the ones mentiones here work very well. The system I use is by John Lea. Price and durability sold me. There is different options with this set. Good luck, Sean


http://www.woodturningtools.net

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

Dick Hines

>The Kelton tool are hard to beet. I have the small set and the 5/8 set and if my hollowing rig ever shows up I am goint to get the 3/4 set. I also have the Pro Form tools. If you want to use small openings there are not the tools for you. If you are going to make vases there work great.

Re: Choosing hollowing tools

Pascal Oudet

>Stacey,

as others have already said, it all depends on the type of hollowing you want to do (size, open or closed form, grain orientation, size of opening, ...).

I have the Termite, the swan-neck Proforme, the set of small Kelton scrapers, and Rolly Munro hollower.

the one from Rolly is my prefered one, it works for a lot of shapes (adjustable head, so it can be used as a "san neck" or "straight" tool. inexpensive replacable cutters, very easy to sharpen). it's more intended for bigger pieces, and "big" openings (1" or more). for small pieces, the Kelton are very efficient.

The Termite works very well, and you can build a cheap version by just purchasing the rings. It's however more limited, as it works better in "open" shapes. The Proforme is (in my opinion, and I know Lyn has a different one) more tricky to use: quite a bit more difficult to adjust the depth gauge, expensive head, and you'd need to buy the straight and swan neck version.

Pascal

Thanks for the Help so far

Stacey S

>Thanks everyone for the help so far. Since I have a mini lathe I am limited to size right to stuff that will fit on it but I am not really interested in the really small stuff. I am more interested in the 7"-10" stuff do endgrain. As to the size of the openings probably a variety from the smallest opening I can use with a tool to fairly open vases. Those Scorpion tools look pretty nice but wow I hadn't planned on spending 200 dollars on a system right now. Are there any other alternatives that are in the 100 dollar range. Again thanks for the input so far

Stacey

Re: Thanks for the Help so far *LINK*

Darrell Feltmate

>Stacy

Most of these tools are inserted tip tools, i.e. a piece of HSS inserted into a hole in the end of a steel shaft. The easy thing to do is make your own. Try my website for some info under making a tool and look for the Oland tool and the swan neck tool. 10 bucks and an hours work and you are away.


http://aroundthewoods.com

Re: Thanks for the Help so far

Pascal Oudet

>Stacey,

Nobody can compete with Darrell's solutions ;-)

However if you want to purchase a commercial tool, with your budget and the need you describe, I would recommend the Kelton set (medium size, 5/8" shank). it's priced at 99$ at Lee Valley, maybe cheaper elsewhere, I don't know. You don't have the handle for this price but you can turn them easily. I have the small set (1/2"), and love it. it's very efficient (and for me the perfect complement to Munro's tool).

one last point: take care: hollowing is very addictive.

Pascal

Some Brief Comments and a Preview *LINK*

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Some quick comments.

As some have already been so kind to suggest, you can go to the website Fred Holder of More Woodturning has set up for me and read a number of reviews I have written on various hollowing tools. Link is below.

[A quick side comment about the Proforme and Munro: These both are some of my favorite and most used hollowing tools-just read my review of the Munro-the Munro was not distributed in the US at the time of some of my earlier articles. My only real problem with the Munro is that the head is so much larger than the shaft and prevents its use in very small mouthed forms]

You can also go to a broad survey of hollowing tools at this area of the More Woodturning site:

http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/article9.htm

The survey was done three years ago, so it is now a bit dated, but most of the tools are still in production. Yesterday I sent off to Fred the first 27 pages of a brand new Opinionated Survey of Hollowing Tools. This will be the most comprehensive discussion yet written describing and comparing hollowing tools. The first three sections I send off are on Full Size Hollowing Tools for Free Hand Use, Small Scale Hollowing Tools, and Handles for Hollowing Tools. In the next month or so I will have completed another 15-20 pages on Torsional Restraint Systems and Accessories for Hollowing (Tool Rests, Calipers, Lighting systems,and the like). I think the first segment will appear in the July issue (marking my third anniversary of writing for More Woodturning) and is Fred's generous custom, he will likely post a pdf version of that article at about the same time to the website he has for me.

Now, if you don't feel like waiting that long to read my stuff, and knowing of your interests and limitations, I would recommend you pick up the 1/2 inch set of Kelton Hollowers and a matching Kelton Handle. I think this is a near perfect set for your needs, and as I have mentioned elsewhere and others have mentioned in this thread, these tools will later make for an excellent counterpart to larger tools like the Proforms, Munro, Jordan and Scorpion (among others). I do suggest you read my Kelton tips article to get a feel for how these are used.


http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/lyn.html

HEY, Lynn

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Did you ever try any of the sliciing type of hollowing tools on the Segmented blank I sent you a year ago??

Mark

Re: HEY, Lynn

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Yes, I did, and actually darn near used up that form in doing so. I thought I had passed on a report to you, but it probably was one of many things I wrote in my mind but never got sent out.

Having that form was very helpful, as I definitely represented conditions I don't normally encounter with hollowing tools (for others, I mostly do green or semi-dry solid blanks; Marks segmented form represented glue, very dry wood, and hard angular interior surfaces).

I found the Munro tool to deal better with these conditions than most of the cutting tools, but in general found that while the cutting tools worked adequately with these conditions, the narrow tipped scraping tools excelled. Probably my favorite tools for this were the Jordan and the Glaser, but the Scorpion/Steward tools were also good.

It just becomes clear that there is no one optimal tool type for all hollowing needs, but that most types will do adequately over quite a wide range.

I really do want to thank you again for offering me that work bed, it made a real difference in my understanding of tool differences.

Re: HEY, Lynn

Mark Kauder

>Thanks for the report!!

Helps me in my selection.

Mark

Re: Thanks for the Help so far

Joe Fleming

>Stacey,

For your lathe, I'll echo Lyn's comments. I occasionally do demonstrations on a mini lathe and I turn small hollow forms. My favorite size to turn is around 4" tall by 4" in diameter. I use the Kelton 1/2" set and the Jordan 1/2" hook tool for this turning in an Exocet handle. I also use the 80 degrees mini hollowing bent tool from Packard to get just under the rim of the piece before switching to the 1/2" tools.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: Thanks for the Help so far

Joe Fleming

>Stacey,

I should have said this before. If at all possible, borrow some tools from other turners and try them out. All of these tools are expensive and you don't want to toss good maney on tools you don't like.

Joe