New Opportunities

Recently I was approached by "Crown tools of Sheffield" to try out their new "Revolution" hollowing system. I have used it for some time now putting it through its paces in many variations from deep closed forms to hollow forms with small entrance holes with combined steep under cuts.

Since my initial use of the tool I am now proud to say that Crown Tools are Sponsoring me and have asked for me to demonstrate the hollowing system and other tools at shows through-out the country.

So I hear you say " well you would say what you are about to now that you are being sponsored by them".

Well I can only say I would naturally understand peoples scepticism and this is good. People should hold marketing by manufacturers for what it is and should have the statements made by companies quantified.

For this reason I was pleased to put my name to this tool and proud to be associated with "Crown tools" as I have used their HSS tools since starting out in turning eleven years ago.

Further more I am happy to quantify the quality of this tool and stand by my statements based on my knowledge having used a wide variety of hollowing systems and tools over the years.

There are many good systems out there and I have no desire to put my name to or to use this tool now as my preferred hollowing system if it could not perform to the high expectation that I have as a professional turner specialising in hollowing.

Crown Tools have always been my preferred manufacturer with me owning few other makes within my standard range of turning tools. This is down to the quality and affordable price and any of you that have been to one of my demo's will have seen that my main tools are crown. I have never seen the need for me to spend more money on tools when I personally see no benefit over what I am using. So I have always stayed with Crown as the quality is not compromised in any way.

The "Revolution" tool is exceptionally well made/engineered. I am so impressed with it that I will now be selling the tool from my website and will in the future be stocking other Crown Turning and woodworking tools.

The cutting tips include the new "Super Ring" pictured below. This is a ring type cutter with a brass limiter which reduces the amount of cutting edge exposed. The benefit of this is being that the issues of a standard (unshielded) ring type tool and the catches that can occur are greatly if not totally removed as the limiter prevents this from happening. The cutter will also never clog due to having an open face/cutter, however it still produces the fine surface finish and shavings as with a ring tool.

The system is supplied with a high density foam encased handle which is very comfortable during use especially over long periods. The handle itself is well weighted to reduce vibration but not too heavy so to remove sensitivity during fine cuts. So you can really feel what you are doing inside of a form without the need to see the cutting tip.

Into the handle fits a brass collet. This is simply tightened via two allen screws on the side.

The length of tool shaft protruding from the handle can be indipendantly altered via allen screws in the collet itself.

The handle is multi use and will fit various collets of differing sizes. In turn these take various diameter tools from bowl/spindle gouges to texturing tools and larger diameter hollowing shafts. Again this can be seen in a picture below.

The cutting tip and scraping tips supplied of which there are five different types including two super ring cutters. All fit easily into the articulation links at the end of the shaft and again are moved/articulated and tightened with ease with allen screws.

The small cross section of the cutters and articulation of the tool gives the system is great versatility without limitations other than the small 16mm diameter hole that it can be placed through. Other than this it has in my opinion no limitations within the sphere of hollowing and hollow form turning.

This when people are spending their hard earned is very important. It is no good investing in a system that will not work exceptionally well across a wide variety of work. Even when you first invest in a system you may only want to make deep closed forms through a large opening, but later may progress into hollow forms with undercuts etc. This system allows you the versatility to achieve this.

With the tool I can easily produce deep hollowed closed form to hollow forms with a steep under cut through a hole as small as 16mm.

The articulation is such that I am able to cut backwards towards myself with minimum torque on the cutting tip due to being able to alter the amount of cutting edge protruding thus lowering the forces on the tool tip if so required. Or when producing fine cuts to a thin wall thickness easily and quickly with a single allen screw at the centre of the cutter.

The key type scrapping cutters also supplied and shown below have a very small surface area at the cutting tip and with the versatile articulation can be used to cut into sharp corners again with control.

The scraping tips being heart shaped and pear shaped can be altered to follow various profiles and by tilting the tool anticlockwise all of the cutting and scraping tips can be using in the shear mode, thus producing a finer cut.

Currently I am producing a short video showing the tool in use. As I say the proof is in the pudding and I am excited to get the message out about this system as it is very good indeed and should be seriously investigated by any one wanting an excellent system that will not break the bank.

All the pictures in this blog entry with regards to any Crown tools and the "Revolution" name and symbols are shown with kind permission by Crown Tools of Sheffield. All copyright remains that of Crown tools for these pictures and symbols.

The first picture below shows the system as it is purchased and the items included. Other items shown are optional extras for the system. For any further info you can visit my web site.