Coring 20" white ash blank

[Bob Bergstrom]

Got some nice birthday present and had to try them out today. My second Elsworth bowl gouge, the large Kelton coring knives and handle ( the handle is quite big. I also picked up a Crown 1" bowl gouge that were on 30% off on Hartville last week (it is also quite big. The blank was 20" and almost 12" deep. First 3 cores went fairly uneventful. Because of the deep blank and using the smaller knife, I buried the blade and couldn't push any more of it into the blank. Used the longer one but should have used it first. Got it cored, but had to work a lot harder. The 1" gouge is powder technology and stays sharp longer than my 7/8"Sorby
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[David E Keller]

I'll be copying this post for my wife regarding my next birthday! That's quite a haul of new toys. Thanks for the pics, and enjoy the new setup.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Congrats on your new tools! Sure looks like you have been enjoying them! Looking forward to seeing the bowl set once finished!

[Curt Fuller]

You can probably feel my jealousy all the way from here!

[Harry Robinette]

Nice haul for the birthday,Great job on the coring I haven't got that consistent with my coring yet.Nice work

[Baxter Smith]

Great presents. Great bowls!

[Reed Gray]

That set of bowls should pay for the coring system, and the gouges. Congrats!

robo hippy

[kevin nee]

How much time from start to finish on a project like this.

[John Keeton]

Bob, I bet that ash was quite a workout! Really some great gifts - you are a lucky man, for sure. Some nice results from the effort, too, and I bet we see some more fine looking bowls from you.

[bob svoboda]

Congratulations on the tools and nice coring job! Will look forward to seeing the final products.

[Cory Norgart]

Very impressive Bob. Great job on the coring.

[Scott Hackler]

Thats pretty neat. I wish I had a coring setup. It sure would be better to have extra bowls than extra shavings!

[Bob Bergstrom]

How much time from start to finish on a project like this.

Ripping the blank out of the log and getting into the trailer = one sore back. Getting it down in the basement on a two wheel truck = a bouncy ride down the stairs. Lifting the blank onto the lathe with a weight lifting belt on = a smarter idea. First three bowl = an easy 45 min. Fourth bowl = a learning experience and another 45 min. As can be seem by the size of the larger coring handle it is more physical than the smaller ones. I sure it will get easier after doing a few.

[Reed Gray]

I have come to the conclusion that the "less shavings" is a myth. Coring is a lot quicker than turning out the inside, so you have more time to turn more bowls. The piles continue to build.

robo hippy

[Bob Bergstrom]

I agree. I had a bag full of shaving just from the outside. I get multiples of just about anything from 10" up. I did two very nice 8" spalted blanks the other day. Getting extra bowls is a no brainer for me. I started on a Delta 450 with only 1hp. Things got a lot easier with electronic variable speed and 2hp. lathe.

[Fred Perreault]

Bob, those are great pics of the process. And a fine job of it, regardless of the ride you got....

[James Combs]

Happy Birthday Bob, hope I'm not to belated. Hope mine is half as great.

[Jon Nuckles]

Bob,

Very well done, and I envy you the 20" blank you started with. Must be bigger trees in the south suburbs than we grow here in the city!

Happy B-day!

[Bob Bergstrom]

Yea. We don't have those hash winters like you guys on the north side. Like most of my wood it came from the local wood dump. Love those city workers who harvest it for me. Too big for the grinder, so they set them to the side and then I grab them.:D

[Dan Forman]

Looks like some good work there. How do you get a blank that big on the lathe to begin with?

Dan

[Bob Bergstrom]

Looks like some good work there. How do you get a blank that big on the lathe to begin with?

Dan
Strong back and weak mind:rolleyes:. I think it weigh about 75 pounds. I've been using a electric chain saw to cut the corners off. I cut the four corners, and then cut the four new corners off and by then it is pretty round. The 3520 and the 1" bowl gouge handle any thing left. I do it that way instead of beating up my 14" delta bandsaw trying to cut it round.