| Project by Bob Collins | posted 295 days ago | 297 views | 1 time favorited | 8 comments |  |
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My second project using Dick Steussy’s bowlsaw. Starting with a 9” diam. blank I shaped the outside of the larger plate, forming the base and the sacrifice wood for the lathe. Reversing the blank and securing it in the chuck and with the pin at the tool stock I cut the 5/8” grove for the bowsaw. I then used the parting chisel to cut the thin grove for the 5” top plate the same depth as the larger grove. The smaller plate can be rough shaped now or after the next procedure. REMEMBER: the lathe is now turned to the low speed of 500rpm or less. With the 6” bowlsaw I turned the lathe by hand to make the initial cut then turned on the lathe and proceded to cut off the ring which can be used later as a part of another bowl or vase. Pic. 2. Finish shaping the base of the smaller plate and it can now be cut from the main plate, once agan a small tap with the rubber mallet will set it free. Re-adjust the lathe speed and complete the hollowing of the large and small plate. The column can be turned from any scrap wood you have. Advantages of using this saw is you only use one blank for two plates with identical grain markings and minimum sawdaust waste.
With the 6” and 8” bowlsaw this will be a valuable tool for the hobbyist and will pay for itself with the wood saved. More information can be viewed on www.bowlsaw.com. For those that are a bit worried about holding the saw one handed and turning on the lathe I have found at low speed the teeth of the saw on the wood will stall the lathe long enough to get a two handed grip but I can assure you there is no problem starting the cut normally.
-- Bob C, Australia. There are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither of them work.
8 comments so far
Cathy Krumrei
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344 posts in 1065 days
posted 295 days ago
WOW! That’s really a nice project..can use alot of smaller pieces for the middle spindle even use differant woods. This is exciting to see…not just for bowls…but also now platters. A question for you, my lathe speed only goes down to 660 that should be slow enough to start that first cut isn’t it? I can’t touch my tools yet..(BIG sniffle) but saving all this info for the time I can try the BowlSaw. Great project Bob…can’t wait to see what else you design.
-- Cathy Krumrei
lew
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4411 posts in 634 days
posted 295 days ago
Cathy,
According to the maker, the saw works fine at that speed. When I used it the first time, I guess I was a little timid and ran it around 450 but it worked fine at the higher speed.
Lew
scottb
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3391 posts in 1205 days
posted 295 days ago
great project to show the versatility of the bowl saw. Impressive.
-- 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/
Bob Collins
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191 posts in 562 days
posted 295 days ago
HI cathy, Yesterday as an experiment I cut a number of rings from a round blank on the Ledacraft Midi Lathe with the lowest speed 750 and had no problems with the bowlsaw. The only problem was ring hitting the tool rest and snapping in two. 660 should be fine, look forward to seeing your projects, once you do the first cut there will be no stopping.
-- Bob C, Australia. There are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither of them work.
pat sherman
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466 posts in 1251 days
posted 295 days ago
nice bob. you are a fast learner. i like the bowl and my birthday is in sept.
-- pat,ohio...http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/patshwigar/
Chris Cunanan
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213 posts in 359 days
posted 294 days ago
i’ve used it on my ridgid lathe, the lowest speed is either 825 or 850 rpm. First turned it by hand, then toggled the switch to get it a little deeper, then turned it on fully to get through the cut. I admit I was timid at first, but after doing it I felt safer afterwards…
cabinetmaster
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7999 posts in 437 days
posted 294 days ago
Never heard of the bowlsaw before. Where can I get information on it. Sounds like something I need to use.
Good looking project.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Bob Collins
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191 posts in 562 days
posted 294 days ago
Pat, Thanks buddy, September sounds good, remind me. Chris. I do the hand turning, haven’t tried toggling but will, I have gone to higher speeds all under 1000 rpm, your right once you have done the first one, you get confidence, I have found the bowlsaw as safe as any turning tool.
Cabinet master. This is a tool every turner should have, inexpensive, saves wasting wood, less sawdust .
More information on www.bowlsaw.com.
-- Bob C, Australia. There are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither of them work.