Help with hollowing out

[Phil Pascoe]

Yup. Ten minutes was more than enough. He could have saved his money and got a scraper to start with.

 

[Stiggy]

There are so many things in it that are misguided, misleading or just wrong it isn't something I would suggest as a learning aid. I appreciate people have different ways of working but that couldn't justify the errors in that one.

Can you expand on this for me please? I don't want to learn bad habits/techniques from the start! Feel free to PM me if it distracts from the original poster's thread - thanks!

 

[Phill joiner]

There are so many things in it that are misguided, misleading or just wrong it isn't something I would suggest as a learning aid. I appreciate people have different ways of working but that couldn't justify the errors in that one.

Can you expand on this for me please? I don't want to learn bad habits/techniques from the start! Feel free to PM me if it distracts from the original poster's thread - thanks!

I'm with you stiggy. I feel as if I know f... All now.

 

[Phill joiner]

I'd have to agree with Paul regarding that video link. It is not a good example of how to turn a bowl. In fact it was painful to watch

I'd love to know how you made that swirl in your avatar picture

 

[Paul Hannaby]

There are so many things in it that are misguided, misleading or just wrong it isn't something I would suggest as a learning aid. I appreciate people have different ways of working but that couldn't justify the errors in that one.

Can you expand on this for me please? I don't want to learn bad habits/techniques from the start! Feel free to PM me if it distracts from the original poster's thread - thanks!

Therein lies the problem of someone lacking in experience putting themselves forward as an expert. I don't intend to dissect the video blow by blow, it would take too long and although there are many flaws, I don't want to dampen the originator's enthusiasm or put them off. We all have to start somewhere!

 

[Stiggy]

...and that is why this forum is such a great place!

Thanks for the links and info guys!

 

[yorkshirepudding]

A lot of good advice above. Having reached a competent skill level I would suggest joining a club. Your skills will grow faster still.

 

[KimG]

Once I get to that sort of stage I find a negative rake scraper ground to a rounded pattern is the best tool for tidying up a bowl interior. I made mine from a secondhand 40mm wide skew, I ground a bullnose on it and then sharpened it as you would a skew. You can use it to take very fine cuts and it is very good for smoothing out small ripples etc.

Recently though I bought a heavier proper scraper and I will be grinding that to a negative rake soon.

Google the scraper type, I am sure there must be some videos out there that will give you some idea of how it works.

Very interesting.... I'll try grinding my scraper tomorrow and give it a go. I think my scrapper angle is to sharp an angle and snatches badly so I'm hoping the negative grind should sort it.

The rest isn't ideal but it is very strong. It's U shaped aluminium which fits perfectly over the rest.

Thanks again for the help. I'm getting there slowly and loving the challenge woodturning brings.

A negative rake scraper is must less inclined to catch at all, and can be used pretty much square on to the wood, but it is a finishing tool, it is not meant to remove a lot of material, just fine shavings leaving a very fine finish, but nice to use, and fairly easy to use too.

 

[Mark Hancock]

I'd have to agree with Paul regarding that video link. It is not a good example of how to turn a bowl. In fact it was painful to watch

I'd love to know how you made that swirl in your avatar picture

A one to one tuition day will reveal all

 

[Mark Hancock]

There are so many things in it that are misguided, misleading or just wrong it isn't something I would suggest as a learning aid. I appreciate people have different ways of working but that couldn't justify the errors in that one.

Can you expand on this for me please? I don't want to learn bad habits/techniques from the start! Feel free to PM me if it distracts from the original poster's thread - thanks!

I'm with you stiggy. I feel as if I know f... All now.

+1 for what Paul has said regarding everyone has to start somewhere and also giving advice when having limited experience. It's an issue I have with a lot of "internet turners" and their video tutorials. IMHO a hands on session and/or a club environment is a much way to learn.

I do feel it's only fair to comment further having made my previous comment about the video in question so I've listed a few points I can remember - don't want to go through seeing that video again

The positives:
I agree with getting the slight curve on the swept back grind and use of the body to turn.
The negatives:
The heel of the grind should be softened so better contact is made with the bevel and it prevent bruising of the wood fibres.
Angle of approach with the tool didn't look right.
Presentation of cutting edge could be much better.
The shear scrape technique looked more like a traditional scape being almost horizontal rather than angled.

 

[duncanh]

Does that video mention the difference between the difference between cross grain and end grain bowls? I don't think so but can't be bothered watching it again.
The one in the video is mounted cross grain so the cuts are different to what the OP Phill will need to do, so not relevant in this case.

Phill - the depth of bowl you have may be tricky for an early attempt with a less than ideal tool rest and little experience. I'd be tempted to put that turning to one side and come back to it when you've had more practice on shallower end grain bowls.

As others have said - tution can be useful early on, either one-to-one with a professional or through a local club.

 

[Phill joiner]

Well I had a play today and found the only tool which actually cut the wood instead of scraping was my bowl gouge. I found swinging the bowl and lathe head over/out helped massively. I ground a bowl gouge to a steeper angle and worked from the centre out to the edge and did a steep pull cut so to speak up the side. Worked a treat.

 

[Castanea]

In fairness to Mike Waldt he doesn't ever suggest that he's any sort of expert. Some of his videos are pretty good but that one's pretty poor and below his usual standard.

I'd suggest Lyle Jamieson is hard to beat on bowl turning. His YouTube video on the four cuts is very clear and thought out. He also sells a DVD which I think is good but paying is a bit of a chore as he's in the states and doesn't (or didn't) do paypal!

 

[Paul Hannaby]

I don't recall ever seeing a video or demonstration where the turner starts off by saying "I'm xxx and I'm an expert". Most people would initially assume that someone offering tuition (whether it was on the web, DVD or elsewhere) was experienced enough to know what they were talking about and demonstrating.

I recall watching videos by Del Stubbs and Richard Raffan. I learnt a great deal from both of those.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

In my head, bowls turned into end grain are spindle turnings - spindle tooling can be used though there is a benefit using a bowl gouge if the overhang from the rest is large.

Bowl turning has by definition, the grain running across the bed

Regards Mick

 

[Mark Hancock]

Hi

In my head, bowls turned into end grain are spindle turnings - spindle tooling can be used though there is a benefit using a bowl gouge if the overhang from the rest is large.

Bowl turning has by definition, the grain running across the bed

Regards Mick

This is a pet hate of mine, the terminology used in woodturning. Unfortunately most of it is historic in origin and no longer relates to present day practices.

Spindle turning: does this mean a spindle is being turned or the grain is parallel to the headstock spindle? The majority of my work is turned parallel grain, what most call spindle turning. Does that make me a spindle turner?

Bowl turning: does this mean a bowl is being turned or the grain is perpendicular to the headstock spindle? Mick the grain doesn't run across the bed with a swivel headstock lathe Bowls and vessels can be turned either cross grain and parallel grain.

Faceplate turning: does this mean the timber is held on a faceplate or the grain is perpendicular to the headstock spindle? Both cross grain and parallel grain timber can be held on a faceplate?

I could go on #-o It's no wonder inexperienced turners and beginners have problems!

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I drew attention to the definitions of spindle and bowl turning in order to highlight which tooling to use. Call it what you like, it is a good rule of thumb that if the grain is running along the bed spindle turning tools are appropriate, bowl turning tooling if the grain is perpendicular.

Point taken about the swivelling headstock

Regards Mick

 

[Phill joiner]

I'd like to say thank you very much for all your input and help. It turned out ok in the end apart for some splits which are too deep to remove. This one was a real learning curve.

 

[Paul Hannaby]

Hi

I drew attention to the definitions of spindle and bowl turning in order to highlight which tooling to use. Call it what you like, it is a good rule of thumb that if the grain is running along the bed spindle turning tools are appropriate, bowl turning tooling if the grain is perpendicular.

What exactly are "spindle turning tools" ? With the exception of the spindle roughing gouge, almost everything else I have gets used for both.