Turning a Hollow Vessel

I recently checked out a new hollow vessel turning set from Easy Wood Tools. I had the chance to interview the folks from Easy Wood at AWFS, and later had a chance to try out their chisels.

What’s a Hollow Vessel?

Hollow vessels are a bowl turning project, but instead of a large bowl-type opening (picture a cereal bowl) the turner leaves the hole in the top as small as possible and hollows by reaching through the hole. It’s a challenging turning since the turner doing the cuts by feel more than sight.

Why special chisels?

Hollow vessels call for specialized chisels because of the small access allowed through the hole in the top of the vessel. The chisels need to provide the ability to reach around a corner. A set typically consists of a handful of chisels with progressively deeper reach.

The cutting tips

Lathe chisels from Easy Wood Tools are carbide-tipped. What’s that all about? No sharpening. When the portion of carbide you’re using becomes dull, simply loosen a bolt and turn the carbide cutter to a new section of carbide. You’re back in business in seconds. When the whole cutter has been dulled, replace it with a new one. Easy.

And …

The other thing Easy Wood introduced that’s fun is their Easy Wire Burning Kit; two wooden handles and variety of diameter and lengths of wires you can string between them, A cool way to add burned accents to your turning projects.

Turning hollow vessels is fun, and a very interesting lathe turning project. The challenge is getting the walls thin by feel and sound.