Would this tool work OK for hollowing small things like birdhouses?

[Jack Gaskins]

Im looking for a small hollowing tool for birdhouses and small turnings.

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Turning_Tools___Hollowing_Tools___Robert_Sorby_Hol lowing_Tools___Robert_Sorby_Box_Hollower___sorby_b ox_hollower?Args=

[Marty Eargle]

It would probably do the job depending on what kind of opening you are reaching in and how deep you need to cut. Sounds fine or an ornament though.

If you're only using it for a few small applications, it might be worth your time to bend and shape an old allen wrench for hollowing, as many people do.

[Paul Heely]

The shaft on that tool is 3/4" wide. Practically speaking, this will probably mean you'll have to hollow through a 1" hole. For the birdhouses this is probably not much of a problem. On other small turnings you'll need to think about how large a hole you want when you are finished. I know that on my globe ornaments a 1" hole would be too big.

[Dale Miner]

John Jordan has small diameter shank hollowing tools that work very well for ornaments and small hollow forms.

[Bernie Weishapl]

This what I use to hollow my ornaments. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCHOL3.html Cheaper than that one and work well.

[Steve Mawson]

I have a Sorby although it is not the one you show, it is smaller with two cutters- a round one and a straight one. Also I use a forstner bit for a lot of the birdhouses that I do and just drill a hole straight in. Hope that is not cheating:D:)

[Michelle Rich]

I made my own with allen wrenches ..sharpened them & stuck them in a handle..

[Jack Gaskins]

This what I use to hollow my ornaments. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LCHOL3.html Cheaper than that one and work well.

Yeah, I have looked at those a few times. But I think I would like something with a replaceable tip.

[Richard Jones]

Jack,

Depending on what you're doing, I find this to be great for doing small stuff like ornaments. As the page says, not pretty, but who cares.

http://www.rrosand.com/tools.shtml

Not replaceable, but able to be re-sharpened lots o' times..........

For straight-walled items, a spindle gouge is hard to beat, and leaves a great surface if it's sharp and you take light cuts.

Rich

[Richard Hutchings]

So how do you keep them from spinning in the handle? Epoxy?

I made my own with allen wrenches ..sharpened them & stuck them in a handle..

[Paul Heely]

So how do you keep them from spinning in the handle? Epoxy?

I use medium super glue to hold the shaft into the handle. Glue in the handle, stick the shaft in, pull handle off, spray with accelerator and slide handle back onto shaft. I've got 3 small hollowing tools that I made that way and no problems so far.

[Richard Hutchings]

Great. Thanks.

[Thom Sturgill]

I use a combination of the sorby hollower that is similar to the ones Bernie linked to and a 1/4" bowl gouge (DT's Jimmy Clewes model). The gouge works great on straight sided or slightly undercut acorns. The sorby works well on globe ornaments along with the hooked scraper (http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=tools-pkrd-hooscra) Packard woodworks sells