advice please

[Mickfb]

I am having a go at turning a box. What is the best tool for Hollowing the box out into the end grain. Tried using a bowl gouge but seems really slow going or is it me doing something wrong (more than likely).

Many thanks
Mick

 

[nev]

hi mick
I'm not as accomplished as some on here regards boxes (step forward Chas and George) but heres my tuppence worth.

if you have a look here you will see that there are a number of methods. have a look at the Michael Stafford one about halfway down the page for a good guide.

The problem with the bowl gouge is probably down to the bevel angle which limits its ability to cut cleanly into a steep hole.

My preferred method is a spindle gouge from the centre out and then a scraper to profile the bottom inside corners. then lots of sanding
hth

 

[CHJ]

Drill out the bulk with a saw tooth forstener bit if you have one.
You can then use a stiff scraper as a boring tool to remove the rest.

A smaller project than this but a similar process
Move on to using your bowl or similar gouges when you have more experience.
If you don't have a stiff scraper you can use a bowl gouge with a traditional straight grind as a boring tool in much the same way, only take small cuts gradually opening up the hole.

Think of the boring more in the nature of metal turning lathe tool use.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

I tend to remove the bulk of the waste with a forstener bit and then tidy up with freshly sharpened scrapers on small boxes. For larger boxes and goblets I use a bowl gouge and scrapers. You may need to check the grind of your bowl gouge, a fairly large angle, (65 - 70 degrees), will leave a better cut.

Regards Mick

 

[Mickfb]

Thanks for the advice. I shall dig out the forstner bits tomorrow and have a go.
Again thanks for the advice.

Mick

 

[tekno.mage]

My method for hollowing out a box is as follows:

1. Use a 6mm drill hand held in a wooden handle to bore a depth hole.

2. Follow up with a spindle gouge, hollowing from the centre outwards to remove the bulk of the material - or if it's a narrow deep box, remove the bulk of the waste with a large MAD bit (as sold to electricians for cutting odd shaped holes - basically as skeletal version of a saw toothed forstner which cuts much faster and cooler)

3. Finish up with specially shaped scrapers, depending on what shape the inside of the box is to be - squarish scraper for a flat bottomed box, curved one for a box with a curved base.

 

[Mickfb]

Thanks for the excellent advice. I have made the box to the best of my abilities, ha ha. Just a couple of pictures.

 

[CHJ]

Boxing clever, one down and many more to come judging by the success of that one.