WIP: deep hollowing

**rsser** · 26th April 2008, 03:22 PM

As requested by Cliff.

It's cypress, about 24cm square and 50cm long. Aim (now) is to turn a tapered vase with a shoulder at the top.

Pic 1: mounted with a cup centre at the tailstock to distribute the load, and 2 spur 1" drive at the business end. (Some turners mount big lumps with a 2" spur threaded for the spindle to avoid trashing their spindle MT if the spur taper starts to move. Vermec make a nice one. Not needed here though).

Pic 2: trued at about 500 rpm. Plan was to turn a spigot at the headstock end and mount that sacrificial end in Titan Powergrips, but in the pic you can see a branch with bark which poses a challenge. It runs right through the centre, and 90 degrees around there's another smaller one that does the same.

So what are the options?

1. Lop that end off and end up with something very much smaller
2. Continue and call it a rustic piece.
3. Reverse the piece and see how it might go at the foot.

Thoughts:
1. It's a practice piece for deep hollowing, so no to 1
2. Prob option 2 is best, though the knots will make for bumpy hollowing and strength will be compromised. Can wrap some duct tape round it though.
3. Option 3 would increase the ratio of unsound to sound wood at the bottom where the narrowing taper will have to carry a deal of force and it's likely that one or both branches will fly out.

What does the brain trust think?

I'm gonna get an ale and set fer a while ;-}

**weisyboy** · 26th April 2008, 04:19 PM

ignore it and itl go away

just keep going on your original plan it sould be ok.

**Jim Carroll** · 26th April 2008, 05:10 PM

The rough peice may well fall out and give you an idea on wall thickness.

Artistic licence.

**rsser** · 26th April 2008, 06:32 PM

Hi Jim,

Yeah, I expect option 2 will leave 3 holes. Licentious it may be but artistic? ... in the eye of the beholder ;-}

**Zarguld** · 26th April 2008, 06:41 PM

Yeah leave the holes it is a nice piece of wood.

**TTIT** · 26th April 2008, 07:25 PM

A good dose of CA will keep the branch in place while you turning it (usually!). I try and get the glue into 'em before they loosen up.

Watching ... watching .........

**dai sensei** · 26th April 2008, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by TTIT

A good dose of CA will keep the branch in place while you turning it (usually!). I try and get the glue into 'em before they loosen up.

Watching ... watching .........

+1

Also use the duct tape whilst hollowing.

**rsser** · 26th April 2008, 07:39 PM

Thanks DS and Vern.

Should've mentioned it ... unfortunately there's a deal of coarse bark around most of the branches and some voids as well. Would take a lot of filling. And filling, and yet more ...

**hughie** · 26th April 2008, 11:57 PM

Ern,

Interesting, looking forward to the WIP. By the look of it, its about to throw up some challenges.

**rodent** · 27th April 2008, 09:08 PM

Ern try this I'm brain dribbling so my selling will be cra-- now lets put that compression spigot on and re chuck . then re-true ,to shape do your thing as to shape and desighn , with the live center in place . RE tighten chuck remove center , tape out side voids up then bore down to and including the void remove from lathe with chuck attached . time to get messy. plastic on the bench remove tape and blow out with compressed air .new tape on vase . Now get some thin epoxy or rustins clear finish tint if required .pour into hole . now if your really worried about penetration , you could turn a plug drill a hole to take a tire valve screw and glue in place after you have put epoxy into vase put in plug tape down well then put 20lbs or less of pressure into it ( thats why all the covering on the bench ern ) Balistic glass looks good about now hey ern .

**rsser** · 27th April 2008, 09:34 PM

That's solid food for thought. Thanks Rodney.

Will chew it over.

**lubbing5cherubs** · 27th April 2008, 09:39 PM

Ern what on earth do you use to hollow out a hunk of wood like that?
Toni

**Gene45** · 28th April 2008, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by rsser

Thanks DS and Vern.

Should've mentioned it ... unfortunately there's a deal of coarse bark around most of the branches and some voids as well. Would take a lot of filling. And filling, and yet more ...

I have used epoxy for big fill jobs. Sometimes with color added. For example a dark brown (burnt umber) added to epoxy to fill light wood is no longer a flaw, its a feature......

**rsser** · 28th April 2008, 07:07 AM

Toni, the Proforme and Munro hollowers mounted in a rig.

Rodney and Gene: is epoxy only a post-turning option or can you turn it? Assuming the latter from Rodney's post (which also suggests the option of spinning the wet epoxy in the form while on the lathe; like a pipe roto-mould).

**DJ’s Timber** · 28th April 2008, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by rsser

is epoxy only a post-turning option or can you turn it?

Yes you can turn it Ern

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