Shielded hook tool...unknown make

[Les Symonds]

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

[Mark Hancock]

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.

[Les Symonds]

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

[Derwent Woodturning club]

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.

[fuzzyturns]

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?

[bodrighywood]

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

[Twisted Trees]

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.

[Mark Hancock]

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!

[Bryan Milham]

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.

[Mark Hancock]

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.

[Bryan Milham]

Mark, no idea if there are 2 varients but mine certainly has an adjuster at the top of the handle.

[hughie]

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.

[Sandy]

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!   

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

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!!

[Les Symonds]

or you could.ve found a convenient place to put it!!

....Ooh John....I've never heard you make a rude remark such as that before.....you've just gone up in my estimation!
Les