First attempt at hollowing a burl

That is an amazing looking piece of wood. I am not familiar with Red Gum, is it very hard and is that why you had to repeatedly sharpen the blade?

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

where could I get one of the grinders you mentioned. Haven’t had any luck locally. Like the piece. Very nice

-- Kevin, Blue Springs, MO

Mark. Red Gum is native to Australian and is very hard wood when dry. It is beautiful wood to turn on a lathe. The burls are very hard hence the sharpening of the cutting blade. I now have a Tungstun cutting wheel but haven’t used it yet.

kevinw. The Mini Grinder is a product of ARBORTECH and I am sure the firm is American, a quick look on the internet should soon tell you. Hope you find one they are a magic power tool.

-- Bob C, Australia. There are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither of them work.

Mark, that is not an easy task, as you have found. I have an Arbortech that I use similarly. The steel cutter that comes with it is not suitable for this purpose, if you ask me. As you have discovered, among its limitations is that it dulls quickly.

I replaced mine with their carbide cutter – it never dulls!

You didn’t ask for it, but I’m going to suggest another tool anyway – a 4” grinder with a chainsaw wheel attached to it. I can’t recall who makes it, but it is literally a little chainsaw wheel that fits on the standard 4” grinder. Our local Woodcraft carries them. King Arthur maybe? Not sure. Anyway, I use it to remove the bulk, then switch to the arbortech to finish up.

-- Just another woodworker

Thanks for the information Mark. I have some bigger burls (some 18”x12”) and the Arbortech wont cut, just burns. I now have a cutting wheel called a “Rotary Chisel” that fits a 100mm grinder. It has re-sharpenable tungsten carbide teeth and although I haven’t used it yet was told it will do the job. Like the idea of a mini chainsaw wheel and will have a search of the net. I live in a country town in Australian and the stores just don’t carry these tools. Burls are expensive out here and illegal to take from the bush but can be obtained. Wink wink. I have a West Australian Jarrah burl drying out and will be spectacular when hollowed.

-- Bob C, Australia. There are two theories to arguing with a woman and neither of them work.

Boy would I like to have some of that burl. They do make good looking bowls and other projects. Good looking job on that bowl.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps