>I've made a couple of small open segmented pieces and am really enjoying it. However, the curves on my last piece made it rather difficult to hollow out the side using my round nose scrapers. I think it's time to invest in a hollowing tool/system and I'm looking for some relatively inexpensive options.
I have my eye on the Sorby RS200KT scraper right now. It looks like it'll give me just enough angle where I can get those slight curves without turning the piece in 2 sections. Plus, I can use the shear scraper cutter for the inside and the outside plus use it for my bowls.
I'm also considering the small or mini Kelton hollowers. They look more versatile but I would lose the shear scraping capability.
Any suggestions?
Re: Best Tool for Hollowing Open Segmented Pieces?
Re: Best Tool for Hollowing Open Segmented Pieces?
Brad Vietje
>Dan,
I didn't reply at once because I have not done segmented work. I do make a lot of hollow forms, and some with rather small openings. Since my hollow forms are all one piece to date, take this for what its worth, and chack with Keith Tompkins, Mark Mandell and others who make these forms in many little pieces. There might be good reasons for NOT doing it the same where hundreds of glue joints are involved.
I use small straight and curved scraping tools for mini hollow forms and ornaments with small holes (~1/4 - 1/2"); Ellsworth-style hollowing tools made by Michael Hosaluk and home-made tools for smallish openings (~3/8" - 5/8"); a goose-neck and straight pair of hollowing tools from John Jordan, held in an Armbrace handle for medium-sized pieces and slightly larger openings (~3/4" or so); and a stabilized boring bar setup similar to a Jamieson system for larger forms and larger openings (~1" and up). All these tools use a small (~3/16") bullet-shaped scraper tip (or rounded end on a small HSS rod) for the hogging out. I also use a curved neck Sorby hollowing tool with a 3/8" tip for smoothing the interiors and getting rid of roughness and ridges, and a larger Sorby or Stewart curved neck tool with a much larger scraper (teardrop ?) for shear scraping and smoothing where it will fit.
I've also used the Martel Hook Tool, and the Mitch Wolok Hook Tool for hollowing taller end -grain shapes, but I'm not real comfortable using a hook tool inside a closed form.
I've used an Exocet tool a little for this sort of work, but it takes larger cuts than I like, since I usually make the openings pretty small, and want to minimize the time spent getting all the shavings and chips out. Generally, you'll get shavings with green wood (harder to remove) and chips and dust with dry wood (harder to cut, but way easier to remove). The Termite might be real handy here, too, but I don't own one yet.
You might re-post with a plea to hear from Keith and/or Mark, or e-mail them directly for their favorite methods.
Safe spinninng,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
Re: Best Tool for Hollowing Open Segmented Pieces?
Re: Best Tool for Hollowing Open Segmented Pieces?
Mark Kauder, Phenix CIty, AL
>Dan,
Though I do 90% segmented work, I do little open segmented work - maybe Joel Hunnicutt will chime it.
Here is my 2 cents worth.
1) The reason the many segmented turners, turn hollow forms in two halve is....because we can. Besides, it is easier, less dangerous (to the piece), and makes sanding/finishing the inside easier. Turning in two halves also allows you to use cutting tools (gouges) vs scraping tools.
2) Even when I do not do hollow forms in two halves, I generally final turn, sand and finish the inside of the bottom half before I start adding the enclosing rings.
3) All that said - hollowing tools: I have several, including a Don Pencil Armbrace system, but my go-to tool most of the time is my Sorby Hollowmaster with a tear drop scraper. I have it on a heavy Oneway handle on it, when freshly sharpened it will really cleanly cut end or side grain.
