THE BIG UGLY TOOL by Robo Hippy with Fred Uggla

Robo Hippy travels to Roseburg Oregon to chat with fellow wood turner Fred Uggla who is a master at the Big Ugly Tool. Fred shares tips on sharpening and turning with The Big Ugly.

[@JamesCouch777]

Why don't we see this tool used more in the wood turning world? I've made some similar tools but will definitely be making more! Thank you for sharing!

[@billy19461]

You can sure tell that you have been turning for that 20 years. Great video and a great job!

[@MikeWaldt]

Excellent video Reed, the "system" looks like that is virtually all that is needed to turn almost anything. Amazing stuff my friend. Take care Mike

[@paulschmolke188]

Very impressive! Nothing like years of experience with a tool that you know like the back of your hand.

[@johnhorsfall3281]

What an incredible tool Reed, it just goes to show that the old way of tuning (with scraper) is still a viable way of turning today. Reed may I suggest that you start to manufacture these tools . I for one would purchase the product. Thanks for shearing and I hope there is more to come on the use of the Big Ugly!!!! And thanks fred for your time in showing the tool.

[@Jeff1Jeff2Jeff3Jeff]

I would LOVE to make a couple of set of these .. if the Tantung-G was available to little fish like me. Fred did a GREAT job .. I would also REALLY like to see TheBigUgly performing more cuts .. Thank you both

[@robohippy]

I have used it with woods like black locust and osage orange. No problems, though you go slower than you do with softer woods, which is what you do with your gouges as well. I haven't tried it on any woods harder than that though. I did do a bowl from a glue lam beam section, and I had to sharpen a couple of times on a 12 inch bowl. The glue is very hard...

[@johnnyspropshop]

Reed & Fred very nice demo, enjoyed the production style turning. Yup, now I want a Big Ugly. Hey Santa you hear this? Thanks for sharing.

[@robohippy]

I hadn't planned on making them since they are a DIY tool, and figured every club could make a project since every club probably has some one with torch skills. I have a bunch of tantung on order since they don't carry it in stock, and will have some at the AAW Symposium in Atlanta. I will also sell the tantung and silver solder ribbon. Scrapers are a very versatile tool in the right hands, and better than the carbide tipped tools as far as I am concerned. Not sure if they can make cupped cutters though.

[@ernestmartin172]

Very interesting!! I believe I would rather have wood in hand as apposed to metal! Just my first thought. I wouldn't mind having one of these,. Thanks for sharing, keep us informed as to when they would become available.

[@tmikeporter]

Robo, you must come up with a way to make and sell these! Sign me up as a customer! Fred did a very nice job on the demo. Sold me.

[@robohippy]

It is made by VR Wesson in Florida. They do sell some to other businesses, and it is used for cutting metal. Most of what is sold is rough stock and then it is processed. They do not have distributors. I have a link up for it on the clip about making the Big Ugly. The flat stock is not some thing they keep handy. I will have 3/4 wide and 1 inch wide stock by 3 inches long coming. They are scrapers, and I guess one interesting thought is that even though I use different profiles, I use them pretty much the same way, and also very similar to the fluteless gouge that Doug Thompson makes, though it isn't a good scraper because of the round bottom. Perhaps another interesting thing about it is that no matter what wheel I use, 60 grit to 1000 grit, I get pretty much the same burr.

[@tonyjaco4975]

Thank you. All the way from Sydney Australia.I would be keen to buy few of thes tools from you. Excellent demonstration

[@robohippy]

+Tony Jaco Tony, I believe there is a source for tantung in Australia some where, but don't have the specifics. It came up on the woodworking/turning forum there some time back. Cheaper than shipping and import.

[@berniebrown1366]

Wow. Impressive for sure.

[@robohippy]

Speed is fine if you work your way up to it. Down side is that 'accidents' are way more spectacular at high speed....

[@darrendwyer9981]

WOW. Very interesting for a Newbie like me. May I ask, does all of this still work with hard woods. thanks and again, great video

[@kellyvcraig]

Interesting video. I am curious as to why he is working with such a big gap between the rest and the material?

[@ShifarAbdoelaziz]

Thanks for the vid! I'm completely new to woodturning, but I have a question: Can you plunge the spearpoint side of the scraper right into endgrain for hollowing? I've seen Indonesian turners using a similar profile to hollow large spindle work. So I was just wondering if it's the same profile.. Thanks in advance!

[@robohippy]

Well, I am not sure. I don't use that spear point type of profile on my Big Ugly tools. For hollowing, I like a much smaller cutter, 1/2 inch or less. I do have 2 that I use for boxes. If I am going to be hollowing out any distance from the tool rest, like 3 or more inches, I want a smaller bit yet. My main bowl hollowing Big Ugly tools are 1 inch wide, which I would consider way too big. Most bits for hollow forms are 1/4 inch or so at most if you are going for deep hollowing.

[@ShifarAbdoelaziz]

@@robohippy @robohippy Thanks a lot! I surely will consider this size when making the tool and will walk the path of scrapers, because (for me) they're easier to make then gauges. Looking forward to more of your videos! BTW, I meant this spearpoint scraper and this type of hollowing without removing the center of the spindle work (see link below from 5:10) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2XFp6eEp5qdis0 If you have some more tips concerning this, I would really to hear it. Thanks again..

[@robohippy]

@@ShifarAbdoelaziz Well, they don't show a clear picture of the tool that is used here, but most likely it is a hook tool, which is not used as much in the US as it is in Europe. This shows one manufactured version, and I know there are others. They are specifically made for end grain turning. Using a standard scraper to take of shavings like the ones in your link would be way too big.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/paqnf3R9qpWlrrc

[@ShifarAbdoelaziz]

@@robohippy Actually it's not a hook tool. I also thought of that when I saw the shavings. In the link bellow they show their spearpoint scrapers at 3:00 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIaQkpaAbLqlf68 I'm still amazed how they use the tool and it's very common among Indonesian turners I've noticed. I really want to try it out, but knowing that I've little woodturning experience, I thought to ask the scraper rebel first (you :-D)

[@Ukjon72]

Interesting video and I am sure that lots of people will be interested in the Tatung bits. One thing I did read is that when sharpening you need to wear a mask due to the high cobalt levels?

[@robohippy]

On that, I have no idea. I do know that CBN grinding wheels put a lot of fine metal dust in the air that floats like wood dust. I don't know if cobalt is any worse than any other dust, and no idea about cobalt in the tantung. I will look into it.

[@robertcornelius3514]

Now, Reed, we would hate for you to get all dressed up for a special edition of the Big Ugly tool.

[@ralphvanpelt9325]

What was the email? It wasn't on the information with the video. I would dearly love to be able to to reach out to either or both of you. Since watching the first video, I have aquired 2 pieces of 3/16 X 1 X 6" Tantung G and I have 15% silver solder. What size and type of steel bar stock would I need to make my first big ugly tool. I would like to make some different sizes also. Thank you for this awesome video and all help will be appreciated. I have spent a great deal of money on different gouges since starting to learn wood turning. I think this may be a great help solving some of my sharpening issues. Thanks again.

[@robohippy]

Ralph, I am reluctant to put e mail address up here. I do have a reed's woodworking face book page, and you may be able to find contact info if you google my old web page, reed's woodworking. As for the Big Ugly tool, the traditional one that Fred uses here is on square stock. I have one but don't like it. Main reason for that is that it is top heavy, which to me means that the cutter is very high on the tool rest, and if you are rolling it on its side for a shear scrape, it wants to tip into the cut. I prefer flat bar stock. 5/16 thick and 1 inch wide. You can use silver solder wire. One guy did it and kind of pounded them down flat and put a couple of strips. If you try to get the solder to wick in from the sides, it just doesn't go all the way in to the center. The ribbon is a simple solution to make sure it is spread all the way through. I had some steel blanks laser cut so there was a smaller tang for the handle, which was easier than grinding it out, or cutting since I don't have a torch or metal cutting tools, but I do have an angle grinder with metal cutting blade on it now. You could go 3/8 thick, but to me, that is more than is necessary.

[@ralphvanpelt9325]

@@robohippy thanks for the reply. Don't blame you about the email situation, every spammer in the universe has mine. I'll look you up on Facebook. I managed to find 2 peices of the metal on Ebay 1X 3/16X6 for $32. I was a welder in my past life and have some silver solder left over. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks again.

[@1015RG]

that was absolutely amazing how fast that cut....I have a shopsmith 10er. gets up to 1800 rpm...would these work at that speed....thank you for show this was mint....cheers too you to Robo.....☺

[@ralphvanpelt9325]

I have a ton of questions and comments. This is the first time seeing this tool and am very impressed with this video and the previous videos concerning the use of scrappers. Would you send me Fred's email please. My tablet dosen't show it. I need to redo my settings, maybe. Between You and Fred, I've learned more in the last 4-5 hours than in the last 6 months concerning turning and tool usage. An entire new world just opened up for me on the use of scrappers. Awesome, Please reply with Fred's email. Thanks

[@robohippy]

Fred took it down. Haven't heard from him in a while. Not sure if he is turning any more or not. Perhaps I can help? I am up in Eugene, he is down in Roseburg.

[@55dougie]

Me too - it does no good to tell us about these fine tools and then have no way to get one,,,,, I'm not a welder.......... Please someone make these...

[@michaelogden5958]

Awesome.

[@driftergw]

Reed: In the video, Fred says that you will include a contact address for him in the "show more" area. It is not there. Can you provide it, please?

[@robohippy]

+driftergw We took down his e-mail because he was getting a lot of spam. We are working on another way of contacting him. If you have a question, I can pass it on, or leave the question and I can have him respond.

[@driftergw]

+robohippy Tks much, Reed. I have the answer that I was looking for. I didn't see it before posting. I was interested in finding out where I could buy the Tantung. Will you be putting it on your site for sale when you have it available?

[@robohippy]

+driftergw I have it in stock, but need to get it up on the site, next week some time.

[@hvr19041984]

muy interesante. Maestro una pregunta se puede hacer esa herramienta con una cuchilla de canteadora(JOINTER) y pegada con epoxica de dos componentes....gracias....y saludos desde medellin colombia

[@billy19461]

Couldn't find the link.

[@ernestboatwright7172]

That was make me won't one so bad

[@cheryldarrow7808]

ok I will find you. I'm in Ten Seconds Studio. Www.tensecondsstudio.com we sell reactive paint.

[@georgevalente4223]

Use of glover around a spinning lathe... obvious not a safe practice!

[@robohippy]

This is one of those controversies that comes up frequently. There are a lot of turners who use gloves. I don't. Fred has been turning for many years.