Making a small box...OMG it's hard!

[Dave Leishman]

I decided to try my first box in applewood today. I think I'm being over ambitious, as it's 36mm internal diameter and 80mm depth. It's going ok so far, but I can't see a damn thing inside when the scraper's in there!

I'm nearly at the bottom, and have yet to attempt to get the inside walls parallel...should be interesting with no side scraper :shock:

I do have one of the Robert Sorby shear scrapers...not that I've used it before

I'll post a piccy if I don't manage to wreck it...or me in the process :?

 

[TEP]

Hi Dave.

That Sorby hollowing tool is great once you get a bit of practice in with it.

What I have found is that most new to this tool use it far too aggressively, it can really rip the wood out but leaves a really rubbish finish if you do that. Take 2 or 3 small cuts instead of one using the half tips, then a gentle shear scape with the scraper tip to finish. Do it right and you will hardly need any sanding.

Also to make life easier, there is no need to make box sides straight, often it is better to make them curved, with a curved bottom. That way if anyone wants to use the box in anger they can reach in and draw out the contents with their finger tip. If you have a square corner between wall and bottom you usually have to up end the box to get at the contents. :wink:

Hope these tips might help you.

 

[Dave Leishman]

Tam,

That's great, thank you

Just a quick question...do I use the long thin round bar scraper, or the flat multi-edge scraper??

 

[TEP]

I get a bit confused myself with these tips. What I use is the 'half bar' tips to hollow. I have ground the cutting ends to one shape instead of having a pointed and round tip. You can angle these tips round to get under a small over hanging neck, or around 35deg from the front to hollow and finish a box.

Then I switch to the flat egg shaped tip to shear scrape. I NEVER use the sharp point on the big scraper blade, just the round end and side. Mount the blade upside down so as you can have the rounded side of the bar on the tool rest, and twist it slightly so as to give a shearing action as you clean up the inside.

Good luck!

 

[Blister]

If you are trying to make the inside straight use the flat edge tool , but when looking inside the box , imagine its a clock face and use the flat edgd at about 7pm to 7.30 pm in a trailing position , if you use it at 9.00pm it will be more aggressive , you will feel when you are on a high point , slowly push and pull the tool in and out of the box , where there is a lump concentrate on that part till its flat , take your time and you will be OK :wink:

 

[Dalboy]

if you go to [url=http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/]http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/ and look at the movie clips pick the tool you have and watch will give you an idea of how to use hope this helps

 

[Dave Leishman]

Thanks all

All finished and it turned out ok in the end - I didn't damage either the box or myself in the process

I'll post some photos of it when I take them

 

[Dave Leishman]

Photos

Thanks for the advice all

 

[cornucopia]

=D> thats lovely, was the wood dry?

 

[Blister]

Yep , " Jobs a gooden "

very nice :wink:

 

[Woodmagnet]

"Super, smashing, great" said in my best( ) Jim Bowen
voice.

 

[Paul.J]

That looks really nice Dave
Nice finish too.Inside and out.
I was using the same tool last week and found it a lot better after i'd reground the edge and just touched the top with a diamond file.
I found the scraper to leave a really good finish.
Keep em coming

 

[Blister]

"Super, smashing, great" said in my best( ) Jim Bowen
voice.

Did he invent a knife of some type ? :wink:

 

[stevebuk]

absolutely beautiful, i hope when i eventually start, i can produce something of that quality.

 

[PowerTool]

Nice design,well finished,and looks beautiful

Andrew

 

[Steve Jones]

=D> excellent

 

[CHJ]

Very elegant and well finished, clean sharp lines of the beading are excellent with no hint of sanding erosion/blending.

 

[Anonymous]

8) That's good for a first box!

Small suggestion... work on 2/5ths lid, 3/5ths body as ideal proportions (close enough to the golden mean :wink: )

 

[maltrout512]

Has a nice allround shape, size included. Something that you just have to pick up and fell. That's what I call crisp.

 

[Dave Leishman]

Thanks all - I suspect it's been something of a fluke though!

I did think about the 1/3...2/3 rule, but not until after I'd nearly finished it...doh!!

My wife's not sure about it. I'm planning to do some craft fairs (as far as I know there's no-one else locally doing woodturning) and she doesn't think it'll sell.

I'm doing mainly pens, but a couple of boxes, clocks, spinning tops and anything else I can think of that'll part people with their money :wink:

Oops!! Just reread your post Graham and correctly this time! I hadn't come across 2/5ths lid and 3/5ths body before...I'll bear it in mind though!!