DIYbanter - View Single Post - Is there an easier way to rough out interior endgrain?

Ecnerwal

In article ,
(Arch) wrote:

Rough hollowing and cleaning out large end grain blanks is getting to be
more chore than fun. Even with two toolrests and a cobbled up
....
5. A simple better way other than sending me to the turning accessory
suppliers.

A set of large Forstner bits and a drill chuck mounted in the tailstock.
Brief search finds Forstners up to 4-1/2 inches, and they are a lot
faster than fussing with a boring bar setup. There may well be bigger
ones available, the search was not extensive. With a hole of up to 4-1/2
inches to start from, any further hollowing could be done sidegrain
rather than endgrain, and would thus be easier cutting. Be careful when
working with such large bits...

Otherwise, sure, you can use a boring bar as for metal on wood. Tedious,
but it would put the strain on the machinery, rather than on you. Would
be slightly less tedious with a power feed, as on a metalworking lathe.

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