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I must be sick

john lucas

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I enjoy hollowing Christmas ornaments. It's so much easier using my custom made hollowing tools and Johnny Tolly's thickness gauges. I made this tool using a Hunter #1 carbide cutter. I think Mike Hunter now sells and ornament hollowing tool that's similar. I did make a custom measuring gauge using Johnny's style to measure the top of my ornaments. It took me us just over 2 minutes to hollow this to 1/8" wall thickness. It weights 1/2 oz.
 

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john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
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I thought saying I love hollowing was similar to saying I love sanding meaning you must be sick in the head. But then you all already know it that about me so I guess I will self quarantine. You do realize this is probably the first time I've used that term since I had the mumps and measles at maybe 8 years old.
 
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I wouldn't say hollowing rates any where near sanding so maybe you could forego the quarantine.
The thickness gauges appear to be limited to a portion of the globe like maybe a 45 degree pie slice centered on the equator ( there must be a mathematical term I just don't know what it would be), but I don't have a solution. I did try at one time forming fixed gauges out of wire then using a ruler on the out side to get a value to subtract from the fixed value.
I do understand why you want to hollow them since an ornament should be light and not break the branch you hang it on, so you are not alone.
6085_87.JPG
 

Mark Hepburn

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Those are really nice ornaments Don. Love the precision work you did on them.
 
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