Hollowing tools?

[Jon Finch]

Which hollowing tools do you like and why? Or are all of them pretty much the same? My wife's looking for Christmas ideas and I'm thinking I'd like to try hollowing (even though I know ZERO about how to do it).

[charlie knighton]

I'd like to try hollowing (even though I know ZERO about how to do it).

try some xmas ornaments first, so you can see what kind of forces you are dealing with

check out Bob Rosand website

http://www.rrosand.com/

[Bernie Weishapl]

Charlie beat me to it. I have two of his hollowing tools and one of his round skews. His hollowing tools I used in making christmas ornaments. These will give you a idea and will help you learn hollowing. Then once I got the hang of it I bought a bigger tools to do bigger HF.

[Jon Finch]

Is hollowing basically just scraping? Does it take forever?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Jon - if you are looking to turn something fast and easy - then hollowing is probably going to be a disappointment to you. Hollowing takes time - lots of time. If you decide to create a fair sized hollow form you will spend more time with the lathe off - clearing out shavings - than you will actually making those shavings! It is a different process than regular turning but because the end result is so different than anything else - it is worth it!

In addition to Charlie's suggestion on ornaments, I would also like to steer you towards Curt Fuller's version: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98860

It does give you a taste of what hollowing is all about and at the same time - you create a really cool ornament!

Have fun with it!