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Harrisons Specialty HF Setup

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Ups just dropped this off to me today and I hope to "play" with it tonight. Any suggestions from the pro's? I got the entire setup with the laser point and swan neck carbide tool. I have to say that my first impression is that it is well built with tight tolerances. Hopefully everything stays tight and in place one I flip the switch.
 

hockenbery

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Sorry folks. Here's a pic, assuming I add it correctly.<img src="http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7237"/>

You asked for suggestions.
Put on your face shield and
Add some wood. :)

If I had something new out of the box like you do I would try it out on an open form.
That way you can see how the cutter works and how the arms move.
With the scraping cutter you want to at or a bit above center on the cut..
The laser will be most accurate when cutting at center.

Have fun, Al
 
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An important suggestion, but not about the hollowing rig....

Scott:

My suggestion is that you re-design the tool rack under your lathe. In my opinion, it is fundamentally unsafe and is an accident waiting to happen.

ALL sharp ends of tools mounted in racks should never have the opportunity to come in contact with the operator at the operator position. I can only imagine the injuries involved with accidentally slipping and falling into that rack; even walking past or brushing against the exposed ends of those tools establishes much too great of a risk of operator injury.

PLEASE try to find another way to store your tools conveniently and SAFELY. I can't, in good conscience, see that tool rack in the image and not comment about it. I care about the safety of all of our turning brothers and sisters, and strongly suggest removing the tools from it now, or at least turn them so the sharp ends are pointed down and into the rack.

Just trying to keep you enjoying woodturning, uninjured, for a very long time....

Rob Wallace, Chair
AAW Safety Committee
 
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Scott:

My suggestion is that you re-design the tool rack under your lathe. In my opinion, it is fundamentally unsafe and is an accident waiting to happen.

ALL sharp ends of tools mounted in racks should never have the opportunity to come in contact with the operator at the operator position. I can only imagine the injuries involved with accidentally slipping and falling into that rack; even walking past or brushing against the exposed ends of those tools establishes much too great of a risk of operator injury.

PLEASE try to find another way to store your tools conveniently and SAFELY. I can't, in good conscience, see that tool rack in the image and not comment about it. I care about the safety of all of our turning brothers and sisters, and strongly suggest removing the tools from it now, or at least turn them so the sharp ends are pointed down and into the rack.

Just trying to keep you enjoying woodturning, uninjured, for a very long time....

Rob Wallace, Chair
AAW Safety Committee


Rob
Thank you very much for mentioning this. Sometimes, the obvious just doesn't jump out at me. I have taken your post to heart and will redo where I keep my tools. Appreciate you caring enough to point it out. I actually created my setup from a picture online...obviously flawed. Any suggestions on where to put/hang the tools, would be appreciated. Don't have the largest shop but large enough to stay safe.
 

Bill Boehme

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Just to put an exclamation point on what Rob said about storing tools, I had some in a five gallon bucket and reached across to get a pencil. Then the next thing that happened was that my wife took me to the emergency room. We get concerned about safety around powered machinery and sometimes forget that sharp tools don't really have to do anything other than be in the wrong place. The incident prompted me to write a safety article for our club's newsletter -- you can read the whole story here.
 
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As Rob suggested, turning the tools around with the points down should work well. If you have identical tool handles, mark them somehow, (paint, colored tape, etc) so they will be easy to identify. Or you could turn new handles from different woods.
 
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Like the tool

I try to keep up with all the hollowing systems. I looked up Harrison Specialty hollowing tool but found one completely different. I like the unit you bought. Cleanly designed with nothing extra and everything seems to be plenty heavy for the medium duty lathe I have. Please report how you like it after you use it awhile. I have my own design circling in my head now but no machine shop to build in anymore and buying a rig might be my best bet.

Lots of tool rack ideas, I do like my tools where I can see them. As I populate my shop with more homemade handles I suspect that it will become more and more of an issue. I can tell I'm doing a good job sharpening because I have gotten a few nasty little slices reaching across a tool to get something else! Barely feel it but then I start painting everything around the lathe! I have some pieces with some interesting brown stains under the finish adding character to light colored wood. I don't mention those stains used to be red.

Hu
 
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I try to keep up with all the hollowing systems. I looked up Harrison Specialty hollowing tool but found one completely different. I like the unit you bought. Cleanly designed with nothing extra and everything seems to be plenty heavy for the medium duty lathe I have. Please report how you like it after you use it awhile. I have my own design circling in my head now but no machine shop to build in anymore and buying a rig might be my best bet.

Lots of tool rack ideas, I do like my tools where I can see them. As I populate my shop with more homemade handles I suspect that it will become more and more of an issue. I can tell I'm doing a good job sharpening because I have gotten a few nasty little slices reaching across a tool to get something else! Barely feel it but then I start painting everything around the lathe! I have some pieces with some interesting brown stains under the finish adding character to light colored wood. I don't mention those stains used to be red.

Hu

One thing in regards to the video. I too saw what must have been an older version and was not impressed. Not sure why they haven't removed that video. I think I saw the unit I bought in a video on their website but not sure I saw a youtube one.
 
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Tool Racks and Settingf up Your Woodturning Workstation

Any suggestions on where to put/hang the tools, would be appreciated. Don't have the largest shop but large enough to stay safe.

Scott:

Here are three links to an article I wrote (3 parts) on this topic, as a contribution to the AAW's Woodturning Fundamentals e-newsletter. (From the first series, sent in 2012)

I hope the links open OK:

Part 1: http://library.constantcontact.com/doc207/1103600789564/doc/3jTgF0ZFXEebNyya.pdf (May 2012)

Part 2: http://library.constantcontact.com/doc207/1103600789564/doc/Gzgx91xbIfPcFa5Q.pdf (June 2012)

Part 3: http://library.constantcontact.com/doc207/1103600789564/doc/r1vQD1ofHhs3RxQd.pdf (Sept. 2012)

Note: Part 3 (Sept. 2012) has information specifically on tool rack design and placement considerations

I hope this information helps you in setting up your lathe area for safe, efficient, and enjoyable woodturning.

Rob
 

Steve Worcester

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Scott:

My suggestion is that you re-design the tool rack under your lathe. In my opinion, it is fundamentally unsafe and is an accident waiting to happen.

ALL sharp ends of tools mounted in racks should never have the opportunity to come in contact with the operator at the operator position. I can only imagine the injuries involved with accidentally slipping and falling into that rack; even walking past or brushing against the exposed ends of those tools establishes much too great of a risk of operator injury.

PLEASE try to find another way to store your tools conveniently and SAFELY. I can't, in good conscience, see that tool rack in the image and not comment about it. I care about the safety of all of our turning brothers and sisters, and strongly suggest removing the tools from it now, or at least turn them so the sharp ends are pointed down and into the rack.

Just trying to keep you enjoying woodturning, uninjured, for a very long time....

Rob Wallace, Chair
AAW Safety Committee

Blah, blah, blah, just turn the tools over and use a silver sharpie to mark the butt ends with what the tool is. Or embrace your ER for leg stitches, whatever works. Although there is a major artery in the leg, that wouldn't be pretty, and don't you dare post a pick of a spurting artery!
 
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Looks like a good system that should work fine. I would suggest you mount the base at 45 deg angle to the ways. By doing that you will reduce any vibrations. Can you also get a straight bar and different cutters. I really like my articulated system and have hollowed to 15" with it. I also have a captured system when I want to go deeper. A 1" boring bar also helps. Let us know how it works for you.
 
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