AWGB Woodturning Forum

General Category => Tool tips & reviews => Topic started by: Les Symonds on July 30, 2019, 07:05:19 AM

Title: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Les Symonds on July 30, 2019, 07:05:19 AM
One of my students expressed a wish to learn more about hollowing....not for closed forms, but for more open, deep vessels. He was having difficulty with his shielded hook, hollowing tool (I'm not surprised) so brought it along on his training day; and decided not to bother taking it back home!

So here it is, but what is it! I'm wondering if it's a cheap far eastern attempt at making an affordable tool for a western market.
The 18mm shaft is hollow and is fixed within the handle
The hook cutter is fixed on the end of a thinner shaft which telescopes in and out of the outer shaft.
The brass knurled knob rotates by about one full turn and draws the hook tool in and out by no more than a few millimetres
The shield over the hook has been formed out of the top edge of the outer shaft, and is adjusted by three screws.
Screws 1 and 3 are threaded into the shield and their tips just rest against/press against the inner shaft, so adjusting these two screws bends the shield up or down
Screw 2 passes through a clearance screw in the shield, down through a clearance slot in the shaft of the hook cutter and then down even further into a threaded hole in the underside of the outer shaft.


It's all rather crude!

Anyone know anything about this!

Les
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Mark Hancock on July 30, 2019, 07:22:40 AM
Les

It resembles a Woodcut DAHT (Deep Adjustable Hollowing Tool) but not sure if it's a genuine one. I believe Rolly Munro was involved in the design of it over 25 years ago. I use to have one but found it a bit of a pain to use.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Les Symonds on July 30, 2019, 09:45:09 AM
Thanks Mark....your suggestion that it might not be genuine, makes a lot of sense. Adjustment of the shield involves flexing an already thin shield. I imagine that after a lot of use, metal fatigue will set in and once the shield fractures, the tool is useless.
Les
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Derwent Woodturning club on July 30, 2019, 09:47:22 AM
I agree with Mark it looks like a Woodcut/Rollei Munro tool but a very poorly engineered copy. The worst part being the means of 'adjusting' the shield. The shied on the Woodcut is a separate component and can be adjusted forward/bacwards and sideways so you can get the correct amount of 'edge' exposed, but not up and down as this tool tries to achieve.

And looking at the fourth image, the edge looks really blunt, as well as not being 'level'. This all leads me to think this is a 'home made' tool, especially the cutting head.

I think your student did the best thing leaving it with you. My suggestion would be to remove that cutter head, drill and tap a hole in the end of the bar and mount scraper cutters on it, similar to the Hamlet Big Brother range and other makes.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: fuzzyturns on July 30, 2019, 05:01:33 PM
At the most recent AWGB seminar I was lucky enough to attend a master class with Michael Hosaluk on the usage of hook tools. He had several of them, and one of them had a shield. I tried all of them and have to say that once you've figure out how to use them, no shield is required (but attention to your cut is required at all times). So I am wondering whether this tool, after removing the shield could be shaped so that it does become useful?
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: bodrighywood on July 30, 2019, 07:07:10 PM
I've been using a hook tool for several months and it is not that different to using a ring tool but that thing Les has looks a bit dodgy, the hook is tiny and does look homemade as said. I don't see the point in having the shield either.

Pete
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Twisted Trees on July 30, 2019, 08:14:20 PM
I have a box for tools like that, usually they come as part of a job lot of second hand tools it's the "can't bin it don't want to use it" box.

Unless you think it may do a better job than tools you already use then it is not worth spending time on it. but if you want to play with a new sharpening system or something then it may come in handy as don't mind breaking it metal.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Mark Hancock on August 01, 2019, 09:18:49 AM
Thanks Mark....your suggestion that it might not be genuine, makes a lot of sense. Adjustment of the shield involves flexing an already thin shield. I imagine that after a lot of use, metal fatigue will set in and once the shield fractures, the tool is useless.
Les
The intention with the DAHT was to adjust the depth of cut with the knurled wheel on the handle not by moving the shield. On the version I had the shield was separate from the shaft and you could get a little sideways movement. Yours may be an earlier model; Rolly is notorious for changing things all the time!
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Bryan Milham on August 01, 2019, 08:48:14 PM
It's an Exocet, I have one and it is a fantastic cutter for slightly curved or straight internal walls on end grain timber.

A precursor to the Rolly Monro, but also from NZ.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Mark Hancock on August 02, 2019, 08:56:54 AM
It's an Exocet, I have one and it is a fantastic cutter for slightly curved or straight internal walls on end grain timber.

A precursor to the Rolly Monro, but also from NZ.
Another possibility yes but I don't recall the cutter on an Exocet being moved by the knurled brass part of the handle.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Bryan Milham on August 02, 2019, 11:47:14 AM
Mark, no idea if there are 2 varients but mine certainly has an adjuster at the top of the handle.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: hughie on August 02, 2019, 10:55:25 PM
I doubt if it is a early Woodcut, the earliest Woodcut was as far as I know was the Shepard tool. There are now many shielded hook tools around, many home made as you can often buy the cutter separately. I would suggest its probably one of those.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Sandy on August 03, 2019, 08:03:11 AM
Quote
Anyone know anything about this!

Pity you didn't have it with you at the Open studio event at Porthmadog, me thinks that "Damn Fool" polite lady would've known ... and told you!   :)
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: The Bowler Hatted Turner on August 07, 2019, 08:26:02 AM
Quote
Anyone know anything about this!

Pity you didn't have it with you at the Open studio event at Porthmadog, me thinks that "Damn Fool" polite lady would've known ... and told you!   :)
Or you could.ve found a convenient place to put it!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Les Symonds on August 07, 2019, 08:31:44 AM
or you could.ve found a convenient place to put it!! ;D ;D ;D

....Ooh John....I've never heard you make a rude remark such as that before.....you've just gone up in my estimation!
Les
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Bryan Milham on August 07, 2019, 01:47:17 PM
Less,  here is a photo of mine. I also have the handle extension for it somewhere.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Mark Hancock on August 07, 2019, 07:02:01 PM
Finally managed to find a link to an Exocet
https://www.drechseltechnik.de/hp/produkte/detail.php?art=61&r=1&hg_id=52&g=10 (https://www.drechseltechnik.de/hp/produkte/detail.php?art=61&r=1&hg_id=52&g=10)
It use to be sold by Craft Supplies UK and had 2 different shaped cutters available with the depth of cut being adjusted with a knurled bit at the head end which moved the shield. With the DAHT the knurled bit on the handle adjusted the depth of cut by moving the cutter as the shield was fixed to the shaft.
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: John D Smith on August 07, 2019, 08:56:32 PM

 Well done Mark in your investigations I think it is great the way woodturners try to answer Members Questions also well done to everyone who put the effort in to get the answers

                                                         Regards John
Title: Re: Shielded hook tool...unknown make
Post by: Les Symonds on August 07, 2019, 09:15:04 PM

 Well done Mark in your investigations I think it is great the way woodturners try to answer Members Questions also well done to everyone who put the effort in to get the answers

                                                         Regards John
....absolutely, John....it's one of the great assets of a forum such as this. I'll now be able to get an extensive response to my student.

Thanks to everyone who has gone to the trouble of adding to this thread.

Les