Woodturning: Hollowing Basics - Turning a simple hollowform

This is a demo video I made for my woodturning club. It shows the steps I use to make a small hollowform vessel. If you like the video, please hit Like and Subscribe! If you have any questions, please ask in the comments.
Useful Links:
The American Association of Woodturners
www.woodturner.org/
First State Woodturners
www.firststatewoodturners.org/
John Jordan Hollowing Tools
www.johnjordanwoodturning.com...

[@kylewo0]

Probably the best video and commentary on how to hollow. .. and i have been researching … Wow 🍻🙏🏼🙌🏼. Thank you sir . What gauge is that wire ? 6?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Hi Kyle. Glad you found the video useful. I believe the wire for the thickness gauge I made is 9 gauge wire. I found it at my local Lowes.

[@rroberts8501]

Best explanation I've found. I see now where I was going wrong in trying small hollow forms and now excited to give this a go again, thanks! Subbed.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@charliejennifer3874]

Love the profile cut outs as a teaching tool! Your videos are great…always quality sound and multiple video angles

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thank you very much for the kind words. Most videos I've seen and most live demos I've attended have used drawings to show the hollowing progression. Drawings are great but I thought it would be a helpful visual aid to do the cut aways. It took a bit of time but I think it was worth the effort. Thanks for watching!

[@mikefoulkes9510]

Great and well explained, love the measuring tool.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@robertmcewen9231]

Thank you for your time in making this video, your cut--away pieces were a nice aid for visualization. A job well done and very helpful to me! Thanks again!

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I'm happy you found the information useful. Thanks for watching!

[@sharkbyte2681]

Thanks sir! Perfectly explained

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I'm glad you found the info useful. Thanks for watching!

[@theangrywoodturner9972]

Very nice that you went to the trouble to make the models so people can visualize what you are describing. Great job thank you.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I'm glad you found the video and the props helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@mikew2468]

Great tutorial Scott, thanks

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

You're very welcome and thanks for watching!

[@billstanley5317]

Never thought to use my hook knife! I also like to make the occasional spoon. Just bought a couple of hollowing tools from Simon Hope, so this was a great tutorial - the setup for removing the spigot is very clever - I'll definitely be making something along those lines. Made a wall thickness gauge from some thick bendy gardening wire, so saved me buying one. Great video.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

So many wins! I'm glad you found the info useful. There are a bunch of ways to remove the nub left after turning the tenon away. I actually find using the hook knife quick, efficient, and enjoyable. Thanks for watching!!

[@Tinker_man]

Excellent video, great explanations and use of your models to show inside the forms. 👍🏻

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks, much appreciated. Thanks for watching!

[@yindiartz]

thanks so much, so informative...and by someone who didn't learn to turn in the prehistoric age 😂...I just bought a swan neck hollower, so looking forward to getting into it. Your cut aways were awesome as a visual aid as well.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@ValentinaFaussone]

The hook knife trick is really smart. I have one hook knife doing nothing, so I will put it in use.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

So many ways to remove that pesky nub. I just find it relaxing to sit down and finish it by hand. I do the final sanding of the foot area by hand as well. It's therapeutic

[@derekweidman9373]

Great hollowing primer

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks Derek!!

[@charlesreece1704]

Very good video. However, I was curious how you sand inside the hollowform.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

There are exceptions to every rule, but generally I only sand into the hollowform as far as I can reach with my finger. The only people who will check to see if the interior is sanded will be other Woodturners 😆 If the piece is larger with a large opening I'll do my best to sand the interior since it will be more visible. If the opening is large enough I'll just hold the sandpaper in my hand. If the opening is large but too small to sand safely by hand, I'll use an inertial sander. Sometimes a combination of both.

[@israelcharo1563]

Great video--Thank you! Do you find that the Jordan tool was less "grippy" than the swan neck Easy Wood Tool?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

In my opinion, if used properly, the Jordan tools are more controllable. Let me explain. The EWT hollowers are designed to sit flat on your tool rest. This will prevent roll and should help you keep the cutter at the recommended angle while hollowing. The turner must still control the pitch of the tool. Handle parallel to the bed or slightly elevated should work OK. Handle lower than the cutter is just asking for grab/catch. The carbide cutter is very aggressive so a light touch is better. Hollowing should be slow and steady. Jordan tools use a HSS cutter. It's less aggressive. The tools are round so not only must you control pitch just like you would with the EWT, but you must also control roll. Roll the cutter up and you're asking for grab/catch. Roll the cutter down and it will be a bit more forgiving. Cutter down and handle slightly up, even more forgiving. Sounds great, but there is a downside. Learning curve on Jordan tools and any round bar hollower is going to be harder than EWT hollowers. If you're only going to be hollowing small vessels now and then and don't want to invest the time to learn round bar hollowers, perhaps EWT is the best choice. I do a bunch of hollow forms. I have purchased full sets of all three sizes of hollowers offered by Jordan. I also have purchased a full set of mid size EWT hollowers. I prefer the Jordan tools for 99% of all the hollowing I do. I feel as if I have more control, but perhaps it's just muscle memory. With that said, I do still use the EWT hollowers on occasion. I know this is more info than you asked for but either tool can be grabby if not used properly. I do feel that the Jordan tools (and similar) have a less aggressive cutter and once learned, do offer more control. I hope that helps.

[@michaelmoster1382]

Excellent Video! Thank you? My forstner bits all have a point at the bottom... yours does not...what brand is it...or would grinding it away work? Thanks again.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for the comment. In the video I mention measuring to the point of the forster bit. It may be slightly shorter than some, but there is definitely a point. The brand is Roman Carbide. I really beat up on these bits so the carbide cutting edges seem to hold up fairly well. I have a set of precision bits if I need an accurately sized hole, but these are great for hollowing. And if I hit a random nail in the wood it not a big deal since they're fairly inexpensive. Thanks for watching!

[@tonytomlinson-nz7pd]

Great video Scott, very helpful, great tips, In the hollowing process did you go from side to bottom or bottom to side? I'd appreciate your thoughts

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Hi Tony. In all my hollowing pieces I always start from the hole and hollow towards the chuck. This leaves more wood mass near the chuck which helps keep the piece as stable as possible. So hollowed from the hole to the chuck to about 1/2 inch. Then hollowed the same way to final thickness

[@fergusrb]

I have not turned in quit a while, so I was thinking learning the hollowing tools on a bowl so you can see what is happening. Do you have any videos showing that?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Hi Bruce, and thanks for the comment. Unfortunately, I don't have a video of turning a bowl with a hollowing tool. If it's been a while, just think of hollowing tools as tiny scrapers. In effect, that's what they are. Tool on center, handle slightly elevated. If you'd like to see inside a bit easier, why not just start with a small piece with a larger opening? My first pieces were small, something I could reach my fingers in to gauge the wall thickness. The pieces got gradually larger as I got better at hollowing.

[@fergusrb]

@@ScottsMiniWoodshop Thanks for the reply. Good information. I like your idea start with a large opening. Of course a bowl is a hollow form with a really, really large opening ha ha. Just need to get my shop set up as I just moved. I will give your advise a go. Liked your simple jar shape.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

@@fergusrb for me, a good progression to build your skills is Bowl, Goblet, Cylindrical Box, Hollowform. Each step along the path builds on the previous one and helps with skills needed for the next. Best of luck setting your shop and happy turning!

[@fergusrb]

@@ScottsMiniWoodshop thanks

[@kylewo0]

What jig for the larger forms are you mentioning . ??

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

I use the Elbo 2 hollowing jig for larger pieces. You can check out my video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5yzqnV9mq5pgbs

[@JoelElder2013]

Can I ask where you got the forstner bit extension that you used on the video?

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Hi Joel. Thanks for watching the video. I hope you found it helpful. Check the below link for the forstner bit extender. It's available in different sizes www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/76/4611/apprentice-Drill-Bit-Extender

[@ronniestevens1265]

ρгό𝔪σŞｍ

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks for watching

[@hswing11]

GREAT VIDEO VERY INFORNATIVE.

[@ScottsMiniWoodshop]

Thanks Howard, much appreciated! Thanks for watching