my hollowing tools

[cornucopia]

here are my main tools

from left to right- hamlet big brother with little brother cutter, 1" tool, 45 degree tool 1/2" tool - these three are melvyn firmager designs and are very easy to use.



this is my main 5/8" bowl gouge- this one is from ashley isles





here is some home made tools- they are silver steel shafts with hss tips glued in using CA

 

[stevebuk]

Nice array of weapons there george, does the Ashley Isles bowl gouge come with the wings that far back, or have you altered it.

 

[Dave Huxley]

Great lot of tools and I am really impressed with all your hollowing work on this forum, especially the ones with very small access holes. I thought you may have had a swan neck or curved tool for the under cutting on some of these pieces.
The shafts do not seem that sturdy on the majority of these tools, do they take much holding onto especially when working on the deeper vessels.

Just to show my ignorance what is this CA glue you use for attaching the tips on the home made ones.

Many thanks for letting us see the tools which turn out such great pieces of work.
Dave

 

[wizer]

CA glue is Super Glue

 

[cornucopia]

Nice array of weapons there george, does the Ashley Isles bowl gouge come with the wings that far back, or have you altered it.

Ashley isles supply it so far back then i adjust it a little further to suit me

Dave: you dont need to be like popeye to do hollow form work- if the tools are sharp you just present the tool to the wood and it should do the rest- if your getting white knuckles and tense shoulders your trying too hard- relax and look at your posture and lathe height. long handles are needed though as you tuck the handle under your forearm whilist deep hollowing.

 

[Dave Huxley]

Hi George, Thanks for the advice and tips, I am quite new to hollowing I have tried a few different hollowing tools including the BCT which until I found the correct angle almost gave me a hernia.
I since bought a Sorby Hollowmaster which I find great for my level of hollowing with having such a robust flat shaft, long handle and small cutting tip its simple to use even with tight under cutting.
I will hopefully move onto the type of tools you use as I continue to improve and gain more confidence.
Thanks again and look forward to seing more of your work .
Dave

 

[mikec]

Hi George,

The Melvyn Firmager designs look interesting with a slotted type cutting tip.

Have they been forged from one piece or have the tips been brazed on?

I presume the grinds on the ends of the shafts are to allow better clearance on small holes.

Thanks for showing these.

Regards,

Mike C

 

[cornucopia]

hi mike- melvyn silver solders i belive and yes the ground away bits are to allow more clearence on certain shapes.