Robust Lathe Review - More Woodturning

Questions and Answers from the InternetTurning HollowFormsQuestion: How do I turn aHollow Form?—UnknownFred’s Response: Hollowforms are generally taller than theyare wide and are therefore normallyturned from log sections with thegrain running from base to top orparallel to the axis of rotation onthe lathe while being turned. Asa result the hollowing is into theend-grain, which requires differenttools than for hollowing of bowlswhere the grain is perpendicularto the axis of rotation of the lathe.Many of the end grain hollowingtools on the market are scraper typetools with fairly small tips. Cuttingtype tools can be used if the cut ismade from the center of the openingtoward the outside. Two new toolson the market for this purpose arethe Hunter Tools and the EliminatorTools. Both of these latter toolsuse sharp carbide cutters. This isalso where a hook tool comes intoits own because it is designed to doendgrain cutting. This is true alsoof ring tools such as the OnewayTermite. There are also several toolson the market that use ring typecutters with guards over the ringto help limit the amount of cut thetool makes. One of these tools is theProforme Tool from Woodcut Toolsin New Zealand.When using any tool for hollowing,the key is that no more than20 percent of a tools length shouldextend over the tool rest into thework-piece for good cutting control.Many tools, therefore, are limited toLyle Jamieson with his boring bar at the Craft Supplies SuperWednesday event in June 2008.Fred Holder using the Big-O-Boring Bar manufactured anddistributed by Turningways. They make a smaller version for minilathes.For contact information see Wayne Shipman atwayne.shipman@comcast.netPage 8 More Woodturning February 2010