I’m an amateur woodturner—about 5 years experience. While turning some expensive 6” Ebony bowl blanks my thinking was “What? Why do I have to waste all that wood in the center?” And so I took almost a year to design a hand-held tool which would save that center for another bowl. My purpose was to develop a tool for amateurs that would sell for under $40 and would core 6” and 8” bowl blanks. I succeeded and I’ve made over 40 sets of bowls from every exotic wood from Paduk to Cocobolo and Bocote All have turned out perfectly except for a bowl blank of Tulipwood that was cracked to begin with. When I took this tool to my club in Santa Rosa, they watched me demonstrate it while I made 3 sets of bowls in 40 minutes—then they sat on their hands with the objections—”It’s too dangerous. It looks wicked!” But they never tried it for themselves—just judged it by appearance. I’ve sent out over 35 copies of the tool, some free on evaluation—almost all positive responses—and even from the negative side came a response: “Would I buy it? Nope! But it does work? Yes, and probably better than advertised!” Now that’s what I call a “left-hand compliment”. Check me out at bowlsaw.com. —Richard R. Steussy
-- Dick, Novato





















15 comments so far
Splinters
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169 posts in 1081 days
posted 353 days ago
sounds nice…lets see some pictures of it in action.
-- Splinters - Living and Loving life in the Rockies - http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/ - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220040
jm82435
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508 posts in 641 days
posted 353 days ago
pictures or it didn’t happen…
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
albut
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48 posts in 590 days
posted 353 days ago
this is made like this set?
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49128&cat=1,330,49232&ap=1
scottb
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3402 posts in 1225 days
posted 353 days ago
the price sounds good… but lets see it!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Chris Cunanan
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224 posts in 379 days
posted 353 days ago
so, you said you succeeded…can I buy one from you for $40? =)
Steuss
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22 posts in 429 days
posted 353 days ago
i465.photobucket.com(BowlSaw in Action)! Yes, I can deliver the BowlSaw for $39.95—for either the 6” or 8” bowl blanks. (I’m trying to get a picture from Photobucket to insert in here. Does anyone know how to do it. I want to show you this tool. I’ve uploaded to Photobucket, but I don’t know how to get it from there.} Dick
-- Dick, Novato
StevenAntonucci
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179 posts in 837 days
posted 353 days ago
I wished I hadn’t put it in the club library. This past weekend, I could have used it to core a cherry burl I was turning with a fellow LJ member!
The quote on the original post is mine, and it is accurate. If you turn exotics on a regular basis, it may be worth the investment for the tool. It is not at all difficult to use, and works to produce a core in a few minutes.
-- Steven
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 962 days
posted 353 days ago
Need to see this thing in action. bump
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
John Gray
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1754 posts in 784 days
posted 353 days ago
PICTURES?
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Bob #2
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3055 posts in 920 days
posted 353 days ago
I too would sure appreciate some pictures and your detailed explaination for its use.
The system around now are relatively expensive and produce cores that leave a lot to be desired.
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Steuss
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22 posts in 429 days
posted 353 days ago
I apologize for not getting pictures in the BowlSaw blog yesterday, but I’m still struggling to get Photobucket to work with Lumberjocks and so far no dice. Will get that picture to you as soon as I can. If you want to know more you can e-mail me at Steuss@aol.com. Thanks. Dick Steussy
-- Dick, Novato
DaveR
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1527 posts in 619 days
posted 353 days ago
Dick, perhaps you could just use this link?
There are photos of it in action.
-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.
Steuss
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22 posts in 429 days
posted 353 days ago
-- Dick, Novato
mtnwild
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2026 posts in 426 days
posted 352 days ago
DaveR, thanks, Steuss, pretty cool. Not a turner much yet, but great idea, good luck with your idea.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
mmh
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1403 posts in 621 days
posted 258 days ago
This is such a practical and easy tool to use. It makes an expensive or unusually nice piece of wood into more finished projects than just saw dust! I recommend this tool for even the novice woodturner.
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe