Need help with hollow forms ...

[Ron Smith ... Richmond, VA]

I turned a piece of figured maple this morning into a nice size hollow form bowl. I made the opening a little larger, just in case someone wanted to actually put something in it, like wrapped candy or nuts, maybe. My question is; to get the laminated woods, like Jennifer, Barbara and you other folks are doing, do you glue the pieces prior to turning? This would make the most sense to me, or do you turn the bottom and sides, then glue a piece on the top, to go though for the opening? What type of wood glue is best, that won't come apart when turning ... white, yellow, gorilla, epoxy or CA? My next piece of maple, I'd like to have another type of darker wood to give it accent around the opening. My first one I turned before this one, I just turned a piece and glued it on, but it doesn't look like it belongs. The one's where it's all turned together look great, and that's the look I want to get. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Bill Grumbine]

Hi Ron

I don't do a lot in the way of hollow forms, although I seem to be doing more and more all the time. If I understand you correctly, your question is more to do with an accent piece more so than laminated turning where the piece is built of of many smaller pieces. If that is so, then I have found that just about any glue will work for an accent piece.

My method is to turn the vessel to shape and hollow it as far as I can go. I leave a straight shoulder on the opening, usually with a small flat on the top at a 90 degree angle. This "flat and square" is designed to accept the accent wood.

The accent wood is then turned with a tenon and shoulder so that it fit snugly into the hole in the hollow form. If possible, I will hollow it out on the back side a bit to lighten it up. At this point I will glue the accent piece to the hollow form and let the glue cure. Being an impatient sort of fellow, I usually use CA glue.

Once the glue is cured, I will drill a small hole and do any final shaping on the accent wood. Then I will sand it to finish. Below is an example I posted on the Pond a while ago. I've done a few more, and have some more on the schedule, and will get some new pictures up when I can. Of course, if this isn't what you meant, feel free to ignore it all. ;)

<img src="http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/maplevessel050201.jpg">

Bill

[Ron Smith ... Richmond, VA]

I was looking for. The small accent on the top, or even as the foot of a piece. Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. The form looks pretty good. I'll have to get more adventurous and do some "rounder" hollow forms.

[Barbara Gill]

I have done it the way Bill does it using a tennon. The vase I posted on another thread was done differently. I shaped and hollowed out the piece leaving a flat spot around the opening. I sanded this with a board covered with sandpaper to get it smooth and square. I then glued a disc of walnut, which had one side sanded flat, on to the opening, using yellow glue, and brought the tailstock up to clamp it. I was told to avoid using Tightbond II as it tends to creep. After the glue dries, I sand the face of the disc, mark it as sanded and part off what I don't need saving it for another vase. I then used the parting tool to remove the center of the disc. I repeated the above steps for the other two laminations. I then used my small hollowing tool to finish off the inside of the neck and shaped the outside. Mac Ray taught me this method when he visited several weeks ago.

[Ron Smith ... Richmond, VA]

I'm anxious to ty one soon. I'll be sure and post a pic.!