WTB: turning tool with outrigger arm for hollowing

[SA-Motors]

Hi @daniscool I would make/grind my own cutting tips using old (made in usa) planer/joiner blades. I don’t know about the properties of this steel. I’ll do a reading up on it, and perhaps some alternatives. I agree, you would want to steal that does not vibrate. The alternative to a homemade tool is to use a premade hollowing tool and weld on the outrigger.

 

[daniscool]

Hi @daniscool I would make/grind my own cutting tips using old (made in usa) planer/joiner blades. I don’t know about the properties of this steel. I’ll do a reading up on it, and perhaps some alternatives. I agree, you would want to steal that does not vibrate. The alternative to a homemade tool is to use a premade hollowing tool and weld on the outrigger.

Those are HSS (usually) and are hardened so they should work. Don’t overheat them. It shouldn’t vibrate considering most HSS properties.

 

[SA-Motors]

Hi @Spinartist I hope you don't mind me asking if you could post some angles and measurement for your outrigger tools, or maybe trace out some templates. I've got my steel rods ready to bend and would appreciate your measurements. No worries if not, I'll make a few educated guesses, but I thought I'd ask someone with 20 years experience using them what the best designs are. Thanks in advance!

 

[SA-Motors]

Today in my shop I bent the steel rods for the outrigger tools. Based on measurements from the one in my original photograph and the picture from spinartist, I came up with a set, including various sizes, angles and curves, including a long one if I ever do a deep vase.

 

[ripjack13]

Those look pretty neat. Is there a video on how they're used?

 

[Mike Hill]

I'll second the request for a video. I've been watching this thread and have been waiting to ask a question. Every outrigger-type tool I've seen used (and that is very limited) looks somewhat like #3 and is designed to rest on the tool rest and keep the tool from rotating when cutting or is part of a "captured" type hollowing system. These seem to have the outriggers pointing toward the cutting tip.

 

[SA-Motors]

Hi @Mike Hill and @ripjack13 Most of the videos that come up when I search on hollowing and outriggers show specialized outrigging systems, but here is one video showing a tool like what I will be making. (start watching at 13 minute mark).

You have to have a really wide tool rest. I have a 12" rest with a bolted on steel bar making it about 18" long which should work. The guy in the video is turning in reverse, so his tool is backwards from what I am building. My lathe (old rockwell/delta lathe) does not go in reverse, but I might make my cutting tip attachment in such a way that the tool can be reversed in case I ever get a lathe that goes in reverse. I will have a traditional wooden handle rather than an elbow rest and vertical handle, so I will be able to reverse the tool. Another interesting feature of his tools is the caliper spring he put on there. I might do the same on mine too. I think that's a nifty idea. He explains the distance from the cutting tip to the outrigger is about 4 inches. The arms I bent might be a little wider, but I can always bend the arm in a little.

 

[ripjack13]

I like the vertical handle. I can see the advantage of using the outrigger, versus without the outrigger.

 

[woodman6415]

If you want a very large one to get in long sleeve ones. I have this one for sale … probably too heavy to ship … came from a company in Canada

About a 5 ft bar

 

[SA-Motors]

Hi @woodman6415 that’s quite an impressive setup! It’s too big for what I’m looking for, but maybe someone WB might be interested. Thanks for posting the photos!

 

[SA-Motors]

I like the vertical handle. I can see the advantage of using the outrigger, versus without the outrigger.

Hi @ripjack13 how do you feel about adding a vertical handle on one or two of them? (Maybe #1 and/or #2)? Do you have any scrap metal for this - or can I send you a few pieces? I’m intrigued by the idea too.

 

[Eric Rorabaugh]

If you want a very large one to get in long sleeve ones. I have this one for sale … probably too heavy to ship … came from a company in Canada

View attachment 287916View attachment 287915About a 5 ft bar

Good lord almighty!!!!! You could turn a HF with that, that @Tony could make a 3 story penthouse out of

 

[Tony]

Good lord almighty!!!!! You could turn a HF with that, that @Tony could make a 3 story penthouse out of

I might get that from him, it would work great for my pinch bowls!

 

[Nubsnstubs]

My lathe (old rockwell/delta lathe) does not go in reverse, but I might make my cutting tip attachment in such a way that the tool can be reversed in case I ever get a lathe that goes in reverse. I will have a traditional wooden handle rather than an elbow rest and vertical handle, so I will be able

This description below is for using the carbide cutters that is used in Easyway tools.
When you drill the hole to mount your cutter, drill all the way through. For the flat spot for the cutter to sit in, grind down about 1/8" on each side. Thread the flat spot for the cutter all the way through. Now, you can put your cutter on either side of the tool. So, to cut in reverse, set the guide bar to the direction you want, and place the cutter in place. In other words, the cutter goes on either side for which ever direction you want to cut in.
Before I made my own hollowing tools, I had a Sorby tool that has a round side and also a flat side. The flat side against the tool rest is what the tool was designed for hollowing in the forward rotation. I will flip the cutter over and screw it down with the bottom of the cutter onto the flat of the bar. Now I can do all the reverse turnings I need to do without doing anything other than flipping my cutter.
If you don't have much of a life, you can click my website in signature line, click on a youtube video, and search my videos until you find one that has a description of how I make my single forward/reverse hollowing tools.
Any questions, do not hesitate to ask. ............ Nubs

 

[SA-Motors]

Hey @Nubsnstubs I’ll definitely take a look at your site. What’s the link? Your description of a flat spot for the cutter on each side makes good sense, so that’s what I’ll do. Appreciate the real practical advice!

 

[Nubsnstubs]

Hey @Nubsnstubs I’ll definitely take a look at your site. What’s the link? Your description of a flat spot for the cutter on each side makes good sense, so that’s what I’ll do. Appreciate the real practical advice!

here it is. There are over 30 videos, and I do not know which one you should be looking for. here is the link to my webpage, then click on a video and it will take you to youtube. http://www.woodturnerstools.com/ From there, you'll just have to look at them until you find the one that shows the hollowing tool. .......... Nubs

 

[Nubsnstubs]

here it is. There are over 30 videos, and I do not know which one you should be looking for. here is the link to my webpage, then click on a video and it will take you to youtube. http://www.woodturnerstools.com/ From there, you'll just have to look at them until you find the one that shows the hollowing tool. .......... Nubs

Steven, I just went to my youtube channel, and from what I could see it there probably won't be any on showing me using the tool. I'm gonna look at my pictures and see if there are any. If not, I suppose I'll have to take a picture. My biggest problem is my computer won't accept pictures from my camera, otherwise this site would be flooded with'em. ............ Nubs

 

[SA-Motors]

Thanks @Nubsnstubs I appreciate all the advice!

 

[Nubsnstubs]

Thanks @Nubsnstubs I appreciate all the advice!

Here are a couple pictures of the Sorby. This one is for forward turning.

This picture is showing the cutter in reverse turning mode.

I have to do pretty much any hollowing in reverse. Back at the time when I started turning 2009, I broke my neck removing an Olive stump from my truck. It starts hurting when I have to bend my neck to see the inside of the HF, so I looked at my tool, saw the possibilities, and have designed my own hollowing tools that can be used in forward and reverse modes. I'll get pictures tomorrow of my actual tools rather than this Sorby. .............. Nubs

 

[Mike Hill]

Hi @Mike Hill and @ripjack13 Most of the videos that come up when I search on hollowing and outriggers show specialized outrigging systems, but here is one video showing a tool like what I will be making. (start watching at 13 minute mark).

You have to have a really wide tool rest. I have a 12" rest with a bolted on steel bar making it about 18" long which should work. The guy in the video is turning in reverse, so his tool is backwards from what I am building. My lathe (old rockwell/delta lathe) does not go in reverse, but I might make my cutting tip attachment in such a way that the tool can be reversed in case I ever get a lathe that goes in reverse. I will have a traditional wooden handle rather than an elbow rest and vertical handle, so I will be able to reverse the tool. Another interesting feature of his tools is the caliper spring he put on there. I might do the same on mine too. I think that's a nifty idea. He explains the distance from the cutting tip to the outrigger is about 4 inches. The arms I bent might be a little wider, but I can always bend the arm in a little.

Never thought about hollowing in reverse - that might be too confusing to a troglodyte! They are used pretty much as I expected, but did not think about a long tool rest. When I first saw them, they seemed limiting to the size of a hollow form that you could turn. I think he says he even uses a laser type system when hollowing big HFs