Need more help...improving tools...

Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>One of the advantages in using a Stewart tool, or one those that copies his, is that they have a cutter that can be swiveled. Thus, depending on where you are inside the vessel, the cutter can be presented to the wood to get the best cutting action. I like a round bar because the tool can be tipped down a little to get sort of a shearing cut. This is especially true when using a round scraper on the tool. I have an old boring bar made by Jerry Glaser that has a swiveling cutter.

When cutting inside a vessel, always cut on or a little above center. Helps to avoid catches.

Wally

Thanks Wally...much appreciated.

BubbaBob

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Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Wally, I understand the cutting on or above center, but is it particularly advantageous to have the cutter angled up or down? I tend to do my hollowing with the tool tip lower than the other end of the bar, so I doubt I'm ever cutting above center, maybe even a little below I guess, but I don't recall ever having a catch when hollowing a piece. Now you have me wondering if people hollow with their bar level, angled up or down.

The key thing to remember is...

Bob Hackett

>If the cutter catches will it be driven deeper into the wood or out of the wood.

A scraping tool used for hollowing should be cutting above the centerline of the spinning piece.

The bar or tool should be set up so the cutting edge is presented to the wood at an angle below the horizontal line drawn thru the center of the bar or shaft.This makes the cutter function in a trailing mode just like a conventional hand held scraper.

There`s two different centerlines to consider in the set up process.

I hope this make sense,I`ve read it twice and I think it does but one never knows.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>I feel that all cutting or scraping inside a bowl or vessel should be done on or above centerline of the piece. I also like to have the cutter on my stewart tool angling slightly down. Since the cutter itself is just about aligned with the top of the bar, the tool rest is set so the my tool angles down a little, and with the tool tipped down the cutter is sowewhere around center. In the hands of a skilled turner, it it strays a little below center it doesn't really matter. However, when I'm teaching classes to less skilled turners, I watch that pretty close. The occasional catch by the students bears that out.

Wally

Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Duane C.Leach

>Hi Mike

If you are cutting or scraping inside a hollow vessel and your method is giving you good or great results with noooo catches then why even think you might be doing it wrong. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Happy turning

Duane

Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Richard Allen

>Hi BubbaBob

If a round bar acidently contacts the opening of the hollow form while turning the damage to the spinning wood is slight.

If a square bar acidently contacts the opeing of a hollow form while turning the potential for dammage is much greater.

Thanks

Richard

Excellent point ! -

Fred in NC

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Re: Need more help...improving tools...

Jim McTavish

>Hi BubbaBob,

Our woodturning club here in the Fargo ND area has an annual toolmaking day every February. Using the 3/16" square cobalt cutters from Enco, we made tools out of 3/4" cold rolled round steel. The round stock was formed using a hydraulic bender. Here's a photo so you can get an idea on the shapes.

Jim McTavish

Thanks to all

Ken DeMarco

>Bubbabob, and all who responded<

Thanks, theese have been some absouloutly great threads for beginers like me on how to make holllowing tools, is there anyway we can get this saved as an article?

Thanks

Ken DeMarco

Sylvania, OH

Thanks to all YES ! -

Fred in NC

>This has been a very informative thread. Thanks everyone. I have been looking at hollowing tools at the store, and frankly did not find a reason to buy them. I have done a little metal work, so I think I can tackle it. My immediate need is for some small tools, so that will help me get started. They are easier to bend!

The idea of a club toolmaking session is great, thanks Jim McTavish. I will suggest it to the chapter I belong to in Charotte, NC. Maybe we can do it early next year. Sharing a hydraulic bender will help everyone.

Hey Bubba, do you have enough room for all your new tools ?

Only six so far...

BubbaBob

>...but that will change...LOL.

One problem...if I screw up a turning, I have fancy firewood. A messed up attempt at making a tool doesn't produce burnable scrap, so what do I have then? Weird shaped paperweight?

BubbaBob

Re: Only six so far...

Fred in NC

>Ah! A new FANGLED tool ... and you might be able to patent it!

Re: Better Yet . . . .

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>List it on E-Bay (be prepared to make about 500 of them) and make enough $$ so you can buy "pro" tools.

|;-}}

Good idea...

Fred in NC

>What are we going to call them ?

This is baaaad...

BubbaBob

>...BubbaBob's Wood Scooper Blooper?

BubbaBob