Turning tools

[BOX]

Hi All,
Has anyone used the Woodcut turning tools with the removable tips and what are they like ?

BOX

[Harry72]

They work just fine for me.

[rsser]

Brendan is a fan too.

I've used a 13mm bowl gouge threaded tip which Pat is about to adopt.

Good steel. The only wrinkle is sharpening jigs that assume a long flute; then you have to grind a flat on the shaft for the clamp to register on.

[BOX]

Which jigs are you refering too

[rsser]

Any jig that relies for clamping on a stepped washer, the step of which is meant to centre in the flute.

[hughie]

I use the Proforme and love it and have picked up the Woodcut sharpening jig secondhand

[NeilS]

I use the Proforme and love it

Seems everyone who has it loves it. Must try it myself.

Now, if anyone out there has it and doesn't love it...... PM me... .

.....

[rsser]

It's only available to certified graduates of the Munro I'm afraid. When you've freehand hollowed a one metre deep semi-enclosed form ;-} Then a stranger will call you with the secret code to get one.

But you can circumvent the secret brotherhood and buy a head from Woodcut in NZ. Then fit to your own mild steel shaft. Some details here. Better still if you have the capacity to put a bit of a bend in the shaft; that's the most versatile form IME.

(All this sounds strangely familiar.)

[Jim Carroll]

Or you can buy them locally here

[rsser]

But not the Proforme head yet Jim?

[Jim Carroll]

You mean this one here

[rsser]

Bingo.

There you go Neil. The brotherhood has delivered ;-}

[rsser]

Just to add ...

The Munro is prob a better bet for beginning hollowers as Jim's posted in the past.

The cap is solid, the cutters are replaceable cheaply, and in any case easily sharpened with the mandrel provided. You also get 360* of edge.

The Proforme is more versatile. A J-shaped cutter. You can plunge cut with the tip and 'plane' with the side. The cap however is cast brass and bendable if you get too aggressive. Also bendable back. One of my cap castings was a bit crude and needed filing. The cutter can only be sharpened with a diamond hone. Takes a bit of care and is not quite as aggressive afterwards as from new.

[brendan stemp]

Yes the replaceable tip gouges are excellent. Why? Because they don't have a flute running down the length of the steel which weakens it. So, by having a solid shaft and only 2" of flute you end up with a gouge that doesn't chatter or vibrate when it overhangs the tool rest by any distance and you can get away with a smaller gouge. The tips are easy to replace and don't loosen with use. CA glue and a spigot design hold the tips in place and heating releases them when replacement is needed. I don't use anything but Woodcut gouges now.

[NeilS]

It's only available to certified graduates of the Munro I'm afraid. When you've freehand hollowed a one metre deep semi-enclosed form ;-} Then a stranger will call you with the secret code to get one.

Drat, I've only managed 40cm deep. Looks like I'm going to remain in the novice group...

But you can circumvent the secret brotherhood and buy a head from Woodcut in NZ. Then fit to your own mild steel shaft. Some details here. Better still if you have the capacity to put a bit of a bend in the shaft; that's the most versatile form IME.

Good thought, Ern, and thanks for the link.

(All this sounds strangely familiar.)

Yeah, yeah! I know, trying to do it on the cheap again....

Ern, your Munro head (and Hughie's shaft) are working a treat, thanks. I've just done an update on that here. It explains why I'm also now thinking about a Proforme.

Thanks Jim for the heads up on the head..... You've got me thinking!

I do have the predecessor of the Profome (the one with the Shepid cutter and the same or similar brass cap as the Proforme), which I didn't get to love. Might revisit that since I already have it but never use it. It currently is in the swan neck config. Might hack the end off that and have a play before taking the plunge (pun only slightly intended) on the new Proforme.

.....