Thread: Wedge tool

Originally Posted by NeilS

Hughie, from my lesser experience with hollow forms, I'm in agreement with much of what you are saying there. You turn more hollow forms than most of us on this forum, so good advice from hard won experience!

I know some want to start out turning trophy hollow pieces for the appreciation of their cheer squad before having acquired a firm grounding in the basics. Gensol, I'm not assuming that applies to you. For those that does apply to my advice is to 'cheat' by turn two bowls, glue them together lip to lip and true off the outside and if necessary add some decoration around the join line. The cheer squad won't know any difference and will be astounded at your skills.

My own journey with hollow forms took the slow road and I didn't attempted my first fully closed form until sometime well after my first 500 bowls. By that time I could turn with my eyes closed, which in effect you are doing when you are hollow turning.

I also crept up slowly on fully closed forms by first undercutting the rims on bowls that I wanted to finish that way...

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... then progressively closing them in...

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then onto smaller more fully closed forms...

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that became larger over time, with some up around 12" high...

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I only finish the inside to the same standard as the outside down to a finger reach. For forms with small openings I don't take the finish below that much beyond off-the-tool. For slightly more open forms that can be peered into I do take them to slightly better visual standard with sanding to finer grits.

I like my hollow forms to be lighter to hold than visually expected. The flow of external form is the key feature.

If I turn a piece of wood into two bowls I get twice the price. If I turn that piece of wood into a full hollow form I might get three times the price, but with four times the effort. I readily get the three fold price at the gallery, but would struggle at four times. I find that there is more aesthetic satisfaction than economic return in doing them.

What I would call a bowl with a closed top is a form that requires less wood and sells well...

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Yes, I've seen the best 'back there' on occasions!

Some mighty fine piece there, love all the sharp detail.