End grain hollowing tools?

Re: End grain hollowing tools?

Ken Grunke

>Bob, I have a hook tool I ground from a 5/16" HSS square bit, set in the end of a 3/4" dia. bar, about 32" long that would work good for this.

When I use it with a Jamieson rear restraining rest, it really hogs out the wood.

Here's a pic of the business end:

Re: End grain hollowing tools?

Doug Leite

>Bob,

I like the Soren Berger "Viking tool". You need to drill a hole to depth first then do your cutting from the hole out. I often cut as much as 1/4"-3/8" depth at one time. If I was doing your project, I would use it in a square tubing bar on a square tool rest with pivot pins and the rear on another tool rest constructed of 2 parallel bars to restrain the sq. boring bar from twisting. It takes all of the strain off of the arms and makes that an easy job. Works for me.

Aloha,

Doug

Thanks guys

Bob Hackett

>I think I`ll try the Berger tool as it`s one I was looking at.How hard is it to sharpen?

In the meantime I`ve printed the pic of the hook tool and may make one if I have the correct piece of HSS in the shop.Do you use yours on a boring bar system or just a conventional handle?I`ve got a small diamond cone I`ve been using so I`ll size it so I can use that to sharpen it.

Thanks again.

Mainely,Bob

PS

Bob Hackett

>I reread your post Ken and if you`ve got it in a 3/4" bar then I guess it must be in a boring bar setup,can`t imagine what the handle would look like if you didn`t.

I also see a captive boring system being thrown together in my future.

Do you use a conventional forward rest or a pivoting shoe to hold the bar close to the work?

Mainely,Bob

Re: Thanks guys

Doug Leite

>I have no trouble sharpening it, but I did do a one day hands on with Soren 6-8 years ago. He now sells a sharpening aid, I've seen it in the Craft Suppies catalog. I don't use and jig, just lightly grind the flat edge and rotate up onto the "gouge" edge. You could probable use a diamond file successfully. It cuts a lot of wood between sharpenings.

Aloha,

Doug

Re: PS

Ken Grunke

>Bob, I use a conventional toolrest near the work.

I was gonna suggest the Berger tool also, it would be easier to grind than my hook tool if you wanted to make your own. I think it would be more appropriate for cutting a flat bottom on end grain but the hook tool would hog out the waste quicker.

BTW, my handle is just a straight 3/4" round bar with the end drilled to 3/8", and a setscrew. I was going to put some kind of anti-torque handle on it, but didn't find it to be necessary--the tubular foam grips do a good job without it.

Re: End grain hollowing tools?

Jorge Castaneda

>Bob,

I have a limited experience, and must of what I've done is with a square and round scrapers and sometimes a gouge for the initial hollow, the square is a 1/2" and has a slight skew, the left being the long point.Of late I had a similar request and I have been experimenting with the old but excellent forstner bits from Convalco, in the big sizes they have 1/2"shanks, of more than 6", the only one I managed to use succesfully has been the 3/4" because my midi cannot be slowed further, if you can turn at very slow speeds, you can make a 1 1/2" or even a 2" hole in a short time. Also, woodcraft offers a whooper of a square scraper, 1/2" thick by 1" wide and the blade is slightly longer than 7", the handle is rather short, but you can make a longer one yourself, to use this monster, place the tool rest slightly above center. I got my Convalco's from Jamestown distributors, a while back, they must still carry them.

Hope this helps

Jorge

Fostner bits

Bob Hackett

>Thanks Jorge,

I`ve been trying to drill with some old 4" sawtooth bits I had hanging around.Even after sharpening them it was too much.I`ll take a look at these others.

I had been using a long scraper like you suggested.It`s made from 1/2" thick HSS and is 21" long(the shear scraper I showed you made from a hogging knife).I think you saw the rounded end,I am using the other end.It`s working but tough on my arm.What I was really looking for was a tool to hog the waste wood from the inside before I picked up the scraper.I think I`ll center drill and then go with the Soren Berger tool as it looks like the easiest to sharpen(that hook tool has peaked my interest though).

Thanks.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Fostner bits

Jorge Castaneda

>Bob'

That is what I thought too, saving that arm, you are right, center drill and then go with the Soren Berger tool will make the job easier, if you cannot find a forstner bit, I almost positive I have two 1 1/2", and will be glad to let you have one, let me know.

Jorge

Convalco

Jorge Castaneda

>Bob,

I just did a search and the Convalco site came right uo, here is one of the pages with forstner bits:

http://www.router-bits-shaper-cutters.com/products/index.cfm?Product_Group_ID=2&Product_Category_ID=36&Start=21

Thanks

Bob Hackett

>I need all the help I can get.;^)

MB