Which bowl/center saver?

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

Russ Fairfield

>Which of these tools we would want to use is a compromise between several things. What shapes do we want to turn from the piece of wood, how much we are willing to spend, how much time are we willing to spend learning to use it, and how often will we be using it??

In simple terms, the difference is in their versatility. The Woodcut is limited to simple and shallow bowl forms. The Oneway can core larger and deeper bowls. And, the McNaughton can core anything (within reason) that the tool can be pushed into, including tall vase forms.

The differences between them are in the geometry of the circular arc they cut, and how the path of the tool is controlled. Both the Woodcut and Oneway cut a circular path about a fixed pivot that is located outside of and in front of the piece of wood that is in the lathe. The difference between them is in how the center-point is located and the rigidity of the tool itself.

The Woodcut has two radius cutters on a single platform that uses the tailstock of the lathe to support the tool. That limits the location of the pivot point to being on the center-line of the lathe. There are not very many options- two (2) different fixed radius circular arcs and the only variable is the depth of the cutting arc into the bowl. This is an easy tool to use because of its simplicity.

The Oneway has more and larger radius options available, and there is more freedom in the location of the pivot center because it does not depend on the tailstock for support. The pivot can be located anywhere in front of the wood, and is limited only by the geometry of the tool and the two (2) tool rests that it uses. It is also a stronger tool that is capable of cutting to a greater depth.

The McNaughton is a "free" tool with no fixed pivot point for the cutting path. The perimeter of the arc made by the tool is captured in the single tool rest attachment. This allows complete freedom to locate the cutting arc anywhere within the movement of the single tool rest on the lathe, including behind the piece of wood in the lathe. Since there is no pivot, there is no phusical restriction on the radius of the arc, and a straight line tool can also be used. This freedom of movement requires a considerable investment in time because it is the most difficult of the tools to learn to use.

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

Joe Fleming

>Russ,

I agree with everything you said except the comment about McNaughton not following a pivot point. While the Oneway and the Woodcut have a pivot point built into their tools, the McNaughton blades are ALSO portions of circle and MUST follow a cirular path into the wood or they won't work. There is no visible mechanical pivot for the McNaughton, but the blades curve around a center point, none the less.

If you don't believe me that the McNaughton blades are circular, lay them on the CS circle gauge and you will see that the blades are indeed parts of circles just like the Oneway and Woodcut. I've attached a photo for your reference.

What McNaughton does give you, however, is the freedom to place this "invisible" pivot point anywhere you like. In other words, with Oneway or Woodcut, you can't really cut tall deep forms because the pivot point would want to be inside the block of wood. Since the pivot for the McNaughton, however, is imaginary, you can locate the center of its circle inside the block of wood to accomplish deep cuts.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

Gary in Zirconia,NC

>The straight McNaughton knives do not have a pivot point. I think that is what Russ was refering to. And they are very useful!

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

jacobin

>Thanks guys.

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

woodspinner/ Bill Hale

>If by chance you do buy the McNaughton get some help learning to use it. It has a long learning curve and help will reduce frustration. It works fairly easy on green wood but hard dry wood can be tough.

Good turning and be safe

Bill

That's what I was trying to say

Russ Fairfield

>

Re: Which bowl/center saver?

Joe Fleming

>jacobin,

If you send me an email, I'll send you some information on the use of the system, offline.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

bowl/center saver review *LINK*

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>I own them all, and wrote an extended review comparing all the commercially available coring systems for More Woodturning about a year ago. It is available in pdf format at the link below.

Just one small correction on Russ's comments. Though the Woodcut system does link to the tailstock for added support, this doesn't preclude a modest range of movement of the pivot point off center. The tailstock link is in an open channel and allow a couple of inches of movement to be achieved.


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