Ye gods......

[gus3049]

....having been inspired by the hollow forms that have been posted lately and not wanting to be a wimp, I though I'd give it a go!! We cut a Robinia (I think that's how its spelt) down about three weeks ago and there is lots of wood to experiment on. It incredibly quick growing so the rings are well spread (about 1cm apart) and should be interesting when dried out.

The only tools I have that are sort of suitable are the Hunter bowl hollowing tool and an ex-skew ground down to a metal cutting profile.

It is as hard as it looks! Trying to control the thickness of the sides when you can't see them has its interest and getting in through the small holes I have seen done boggles the mind.

These were matching! The hole on the first one got bigger and bigger as I worked! I think I made the rim too thin as there was not much heartwood left and it kept just flaking off. I have given it a quick seal to try and hold it all together whilst it dries out properly. The second went better but the hole is still about 1" across. How on earth do you do it with a smaller hole than that? And how do you finish off the inside? I've left the sides at about 3mm thick. I wish it were more even all the way down - thus the 'about'.

I don't think I will bother asking for a critique at this stage!!! But some guidance would be useful. I'm going to put them away full of their shavings for a few months whilst I ponder if all this is a good idea or am I just driving myself mad trying to master turning in six months!

 

[Chris357]

Hi

That looks like Robinia pseudoacacia.

Known in the US as Black Locust.

I have tried it on a couple of occasions. Found it to be hard work and tools need very regular sharpening.

The finished items were not that pleasing with the exception of some pens.

Also the dust caused some skin iritation.

It does make excellent firewood though.

Chris

 

[gus3049]

My wife says "yup that's the one"

I seem to be lucky with the problem woods, neither Iroko or this have had any effect.

I actually quite like the Robinia. So long as the heartwood is used it goes a fantastic colour. It does however, as you say, blunt the tools, especially across the grain.

The little box below was made from a dry bit before I had any decent chisels. Just done with a skew and a parting tool. I like the fact that it looks sort of old already - great colour. Dead hard to get flat though, certainly with the tools I was using.

We'll burn all the small bits!

 

[mark sanger]

Hi

Hollow forms were always the item I aspired to be able to make when started turning.

My only advice is to practice closed forms first. Don;t worry about working thorugh a snmall hole to start with as firstly tool control and the feel of hollowing is what you are after.

By turning closed forms you can still see what you are doing while getting the feel of the tools.

Also perhaps try some end grain beech. It will be much easier to turn and due to its even grain cause little problem.

You have done a good job with these. My first attempts at hollowing exploded all around the workshop, actually every now and then they still do.

Just keep practising as with anything it takes a while to get the feel of the tools.

 

[gus3049]

Hi

Hollow forms were always the item I aspired to be able to make when started turning.

My only advice is to practice closed forms first. Don;t worry about working thorugh a snmall hole to start with as firstly tool control and the feel of hollowing is what you are after.

By turning closed forms you can still see what you are doing while getting the feel of the tools.

Also perhaps try some end grain beech. It will be much easier to turn and due to its even grain cause little problem.

You have done a good job with these. My first attempts at hollowing exploded all around the workshop, actually every now and then they still do.

Just keep practising as with anything it takes a while to get the feel of the tools.

Thanks for the reply Mark,

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly do you mean by 'closed form'?

 

[mark sanger]

No not ignorance at all. Some would call it a deep bowl, or even a vase if it was narrow enough to hold flower.

A bowl that continues outwards is an open form bowl, if it starts to turn back in at the top it is a closed form bowl, then it continues in to a vase shape and continues to a small hole being a hollow form.

here are a few examples. Hope you don;t mind me posting pictures on your thread to show what I mean

Closed form

Closed form

open form

open form

hollow form

there is apparently a ratio for the opening for it to be a hollow from but not sure what that is.

 

[gus3049]

Thanks Mark

very clear!