Woodturning Hollowing Problems

I wanted to share a post I made about hollowing problems in our facebook group called Woodturning Basics. This is what our member Pedro had to say:

I must be doing something wrong while I’m hollowing out a cup.
I got a forstner bit to get it started, but even then it’s taking hours to hollow out a small maple cup. The only thing that does a good job of hollowing it, is my parting tool. Everything else catches badly including my $100.00 bowl gouge (that was recommended I use and it’s basically useless. Damn thing catches on everything.)
So, anyone have any suggestions?

Hey there Pedro ….I feel your pain my friend!

Pedro’s Problem with
Hollowing A Wood Cup

When I first started, I turned a little candle holder. Then I did a cup. I had no idea what I was doing and trying to hollow out the cup just about killed me! I tried all my famous harbor freight turning tools ….that’s all I had …spindle gouge, roughing gouge, scraper, parting tools, a really small gouge of some kind ….I ended up hacking the inside out with a small round scraper …..the thing was extended 4 inches into the up ….diaster waiting to happen 🙂

I got it done though.

Learning by myself, it took a while to figure out what tool is supposed to do what ….and then trying to make the tool do what its supposed to do is another story. But hollowing was always a nightmare!

Some Thoughts on Your Hollowing Problems

I had a couple of thoughts on your hollowing of the cup problem. You drilled it and then tried to use a bowl gouge to finish the hollowing …correct?

You say you have an expensive bowl gouge and all you get is catches? Are you pushing into the cup, entering from the top of the cup toward the bottom and then across the bottom?

I wonder what size your bowl gouge is? Minium for me is 1/2″ or 5/8″. If you are using a fingernail grind, you can cut down the side but as you move across the bottom you will catch. You need a standard grind if you are trying to use a bowl gouge ….even then, a bowl gouge is tough to do end grain hollowing.

Use A Pull Cut When Hollowing

I WOULD NOT use a push cut into the cup, you could try to pull the gouge across the bottom using tip, and then use the bottom tip/wing to pull up the side of the cup ….kind of a scraping cut for hollowing a cup. You just need to get the feel of it ….but it can be done.

Scrapers for Hollowing
Woodturning Projects

Better yet is to use scrapers for hollowing your woodturning projects.

I get as much out as I can (after drilling) with a gouge and then I use scrapers to finish up the hollowing.

One of the easiest methods to hollow is to use carbide tools. Use a 1/2″ or 5/8″ bar with a 1/2″ or 5/8″ carbide cutter mounted to it. You can make it yourself or you can buy one already made, carbide hollowing tool!

How to Prevent Catches When Hollowing

Carbide cutters take some time to learn how to use, but once you get it figured out you will be amazed at how easy it is to hollow out a cup, vase or bowl using one of these cutters. Just don’t try to hog out too much at once, learn to take light cuts and you will avoid catches. Also the postion of the scraper, being 90° off of the tool rest and then lifting the handle a little will prevent catches dramatically!

Using Tradional Scrapers for Hollowing

Along with carbide scrapers you should consider getting at least one big scraper. I have a Hurricane Scraper 1 1/2″ wide …almost 1/2″ thick round nose scraper. At https://amzn.to/2oQBmVB. The reason you want a big scraper is so you can extend it over the tool rest a good amount and still keep control of your cuts. I imagine part of your problem is that you are trying to hollow out a cut and have your tool extended 3 inches or more over the tool rest (disaster waiting to happen)  I’m just about ready to purchase a right and left side round edge scraper …you can see what I’m taking about here https://amzn.to/2Nt0T51 these are used inside a bowl or cup and outside of the same turning project.

So, for hollowing out projects get some good scrapers. Yes, spindle gouges work better on end grain but when it comes to hollowing ….you need some specialized tools. You can make these or buy them. One of the members in our group runs Yufutol, you can pick up an extra discount ….make sure you get a full size tool unless you are doing really small projects. https://amzn.to/2NndAhN

Make Your Own Hollow Tool With Carbide Cutters

Or just buy the carbide cutters ….this is what I did. Mount the cutter on a big cold steel bar. I keep one bar with a 5/8″ cabide cutter, I use this all the time. Over time I have learned how to use it …initially you will get some catches but you will learn the angle of approach and how to gouge out and how to finish cut with this one cutter. It actually becomes fun once you get a handle on it …..you just need to press on, practice, practice, …screw up, catch here and there until you master the process. At one time I thought I would start going by the name of “Catch” ….so I know how you feel 🙂

Big Bar For Hollowing

The reason why you want a big bar is so you have some control and stability as you extend the bar over the tool rest. The bigger the bar, the further you can safely extend the tool over the tool rest. I’m thinking of making one of these carbide cutter tools with a 3/4″ bar ….just so I can have more control.

Consider A Hollowing System

Once you get into hollowing large vases, hollow forms etc …you need to think about getting a hollowing system. Just google “hollowing system” and check the same thing on youtube and you will see what that’s all about.

As I think about your problem I wanted to mention something about the tool rest. You should be at the middle of the turning with your tool, not the tool rest….but you want to tool to hit the center of your turning. You want the tool rest as close as you can to the surface you are cutting. This means, if possible, stick the tool rest into the project your are trying to hollow out. Otherwise you are left with a tool that hangs over the edge by a lot ….thus the need for a hefty scraper, whether round nose scraper or a carbide cutter on a big bar.

I’ve been just thinking out loud …hope some of that makes sense.

Again, just keep at it.

You’ll get it figured out. When you get into trouble, keep posting your problem and maybe we can help further.

As I answer questions, I learn myself ….you will too. As soon as you get it figured out you’ll be sharing your wisdom 🙂