Homemade Carbide Hollowing Tool
Recently I made a small hollow form, using my Mini Easy Finisher to do the hollowing. But with only 4 inches of bar, I couldn’t hollow very deep. I started looking for a new hollowing tool, but they are all around $100.
Red Oak Hollow Form
While browsing YouTube for turning videos, I ran across some videos by Cap’n Eddie Castelin (Blackhawk Tools & Big Guy Productions). They showed how to make a hollowing tool that only costs a few dollars to make.
I already have the three mini tools from Easy Wood Tools: The Mini Easy Rougher, Mini Easy Finisher, and the Mini Easy Detailer. I like them a lot.
Seeing Cap’n Eddie’s videos inspired me to make my own. I knew that I wanted it fairly long. Therefore, it needed to be pretty hefty. I settled on a piece of 1/2″ square hot rolled steel bar stock. A 48″ piece was about $8.00. I decided to cut it into 3 – 16″ pieces.
Cutting the Bar Stock
I ground the tip down and shaped it for the carbide cutter. These I got from Cap’n Eddie on his Products and Services page. I ordered the 3 pack of the 12 mm round cutters for $24. I drilled and tapped it for the 6-32 machine screw.
Tool Tip with Cutter
Here’s a shot of the cutter installed:
Cutter Installed
I also ground the tang round to better fit the handle:
The Tang
Now the handle. I found a piece of ash on the firewood pile, and decided to give it a go. I mounted it on my bigger Jet lathe in the shop.
Ash Log From the Firewood Pile
I roughed it down
Roughing the Handle
Shaping the Handle
and cut it just above a big knot.
Handle with Ferrule
Then I moved it to my Rikon lathe in the studio.
For the ferrule, I used a 3/4″ steel conduit coupler, cut in half. It has a set screw, so I can use this handle for multiple tools, simply loosen the set screw and remove the tool.
Here it is almost finished:
Handle Almost Finished
And the finished handle with the tool.
Completed Handle with Tool
All put together.
Completed Tool
All told, this tool cost me about $11 to make. Not bad.
Good timing!!! I was ready (but not willing) to buy the same tool!! Being an ex-machinist and retired, I figured it is a good time to save mega bux!! Thanks!!
No problem. I agree, it kills me to pay a hundred bucks for a tool when you see what’s in them. I just took a bowl turning class at Woodcraft in Indianapolis. The instructor had a carbide cutter tool made by Sorby, but the cutter was at a 45 degree angle. It cut very clean, as it was shear cutting. I think the next one I make will be at a 45.
This is great. I just used tool steel that I cut from industrial planer blades to make two specialty bead cutters. I welded each of these to a piece of 1/2″ square tubing.
They worked great to decorate the three walnut candle holders I made.
I had a need so I did not take the time to make the handles yet. Just used vise grips so I could complete that project. I did like your idea for the handles.
Thanks, Randy. I recently took a bowl turning class at Woodcraft. The instructor, Jim Dupler, makes a lot of his own tools using planer blades. I got to try a couple and they cut really well. That’s probably on the horizon.
Randy,
I would appreciate info on how to cut an industrial planer blade. I have a bunch of these and would like to make tools from them.
Very nice indeed. But please note you don’t have to mill in a seat for he insert. It will work as well just screwed down proud on a steel shank you can get from McMaster Carr for a few bucks. The metal working inserts with a relief are better for cutting wood fibers than the flat lapped klepto tool consumables, almost 10 x less cost and available everywhere.
One good turn deserves another
red
Thanks for the great tutorial! I just picked up my square stock today (only $5.56 for 4? after cuts!) and cutters ordered from Capt. Eddie. Whoo hoo!…j
I have the same idea since I have been given many many carbide tipped square shanked cutters about 3 inches long. I would like to make a metal handle for these with a couple set screws to hold these inserts and am struggling with how to go about it.
I have also been given some round, square, and diamond cutters that I plan on making tools similar to these shown on this site.
Your carbide tool sure looks like a money saver. How did you machine away the portion of the bar to make the bed on which you install the carbide cutter? A wheel grinder, belt grinder, angle grinder, file?
Just my bench grinder.
I used .75′ square Hot Roll bar and a Captain Eddie Round and Square cutters. This stuff is not hard to cut/file. I think it took me about 30 minutes to file one end round to fit into a Jimmy Clewes quick coupler. I used a small angle grinder (Harbor Freight) to make the primary flat slightly negative taper for the cutters and finished off with a file then drilled and tapped a hole for the set screw.
Oh, I forgot. I bought one Wheelbarrow handle, straight grain Ash and made several handles.
Where did you purchase the steel from? I would like to make some of these but haven’t found the steel so cheap anywhere.
I got it at a local farm store, but the big box stores like Home Depot and Menards carry it also.
Great post. My brother is always mentioning how I should save some big bucks and make my own cutter bars. After reading your post, I’m going to do exactly that. Thanks for taking the time to inspire us, Bill.