Hollowing Tools

Re: Hollowing Tools

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>Both are actually very easy to sharpen. The Munro comes with an excellent device to hold the cutters. The tool bits that are used in the Scorpian can be sharpened while mounted in the tool, or removed and held in a seperate jig. Seperate jigs are available commercially as an option for the Woodcut TrueGrind system and will work with all the other sharpening methods/systems. Shopmade devices to hold and position the bits are achieved as easily as drilling a hole in a small block of wood or other hard material, then another hole in the side to put a thumb screw to lock the bit in place. I'm sure others can refer to specific jigs and techniques they use.

The Stinger tools are particularly easy to sharpen and maintain, as their square shafts make perfect holders that will keep the bits in contant position on a sharpening device tool rest.

With both tools, grinders, vertical belt sanders, and rotating flat disks all work well as long as you have some sort of table/platform in front of them to rest your tool or holder against. If you are not having to estabish the initial geometry, most hollowing tools can even be maintained quite well with hand honing and burr raising using flat and slip-shaped "stones."

Finally, sharpening angles and consistency are not nearly as important with most hollowing tools as it is desirable with some other turning tools like skews and gouges. I think you will find that nearly all hollowing tools will pose no particular problem for you when it comes to edge maintainance, and the few that require special care (like the Termite) come with some sort of device to help you.

Re: Hollowing Tools

David Galloway

>Lyn or Barry,

Where are the reviews that you mention? Thanks.

David Galloway

Re: Hollowing Tools

Barry on Salt Spring

>David

check Lyns reviews @ www.fholder.com/woodturning/lyn.html

And Lyn thanks for your usual very informative response. Is any one out there using the Munro hollowers?

Re: Hollowing Tools

Don Orr

>I am neither experienced or particularly knowledgeable in this area but I am somewhat biased after seeing Rolly Munro use his tool system at a demo up close and personal. His is much more the just a hollower. He used it to rough turn a beech log, shape it like a spindle, hollow it out, almost everything but parting. He says he also uses it for bowls and just about everything else. Very impressive to watch him in action with that tool! His website was a little out of date last time I checked it out but he still sells direct and through Lee Valley I think. Lyn's reviews really are THE best source of honest, thorough information.

Re: Hollowing Tools

Pascal Oudet

>Barry,

I use the Munro. I purchased it direct from Rolly during a trip in New-Zealand (Gloat !)

I own a number of hollowing tools (Termite, small Kelton set, Proforme, and Munro) and have also used others (Hamlet, Steward, Martel hook).

For me, the Munro is clearly my prefered one: easy to use, made by a turner for other turners, cuts nice shavings, doesn't clog... I could go on, but will just say that I've talked about it to a number of people, and those who have bought it don't regret it.

What you have seen from Rolly during his demo is true: you can achieve the same results with no difficulty (it's not just marketing stuff). You can take 1/32" thick (or more) 1/4" wide shavings, or easily adjust the limiter for very very fine finishing cuts.

Sharpening is very easy with the jig provided.

The only thing to keep in mind is in a hollow form, a minimum opening of ~1" is needed for the head of the tool.

Last point: the shaft diameter is a bit smaller in the Munro compared to the DonPencil, so I expect the depth you can reach without vibration is a bit smaller (but it is at least 10")

hth,

Pascal

(no connection with Rolly, ...)