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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome and are pleased to answer any emails and inquiries you may have. Email support@woodcut-tools.com.

Below we have compiled a list of questions that we get regularly and hopefully they may help speed up an answer to your question. Please also visit our User Guides tab where you will find helpful product user guide PDFs and videos.


Please also find links to our social media pages at the bottom of this page. 

Bowlsaver

Can I use all my Bowlsaver blades at once?
No you must only use one blade at a time on both the Bowlsaver and Bowlsaver Max3.

Can I change the shape of a bowl I am coring with either the Woodcut Tools Bowlsaver or Max3? 
Yes. To change the shape of the base of the bowl you are coring simply slide the Tailstock along the track of your Woodcut Tools Bowlsaver or Max 3 to achieve the shape you require.
To change the shape of the top of the wall of the bowl you are coring we recommend you core a thicker wall with your Woodcut Tools Bowlsaver or Max 3 and then use your Bowl Gouge to achieve the shape you require.
Please be aware that adjusting the Bowlsaver pivot point from being aligned with the tenon and tail stock may reduce the stability of the product when coring.

I would like to purchase one of your Bowlsaver coring products but am unsure which is best for my lathe.
A decision between the Bowlsaver original (2 blades) and Bowlsaver Max (three blades) is influenced by two main factors a) lathe horse power and the condition of the wood b) the diameter of the wood blank to be cored.

The Bowlsaver original can operate on lathes with a minimum of .75 hp if the Stellite cutter is sharp, the wood is wet and the wood is not dense and is free of defects. If the wood is dry and dense with defects a lathe with 1.5 or more horse power is recommended. 

​If the diameter of the wood to be cored is greater than 12" the Bowlsaver Max with the additional and much larger blade will be required. 

My Bowlsaver blades are chattering when I use it, what am I doing wrong?
Firstly ensure the front of the Stellite cutter is freshly sharpened with a diamond hone. When coring a large bowl that is dry and dense it maybe necessary to sharpen the cutter several times. You can establish when to sharpen the cutter when the wood shavings transition to dust. 

Establish if the lathe live centre/ tail stock is aligned with the Bowlsaver rotation post and the lathe drive dog. If the alignment is off centre then there is a real risk of binding. If you are off centre because you are probably coring a large project then we recommend you open up the kerf to enable greater clearance for the cutter. This can be achieved by cutting a wide channel to create more clearance for the cutter. I create a wider channel when I back out of a cut to clear chips, then pull slightly on the cutter when going back to the cut and then retract and push on the cutter bar getting back to the cut. This provides an extra 1/64" clearance on each side.


My Bowlsaver Max3 blades do not ride on the nylon on the base plate, and the blade holder has some play.
An option is to remove the plastic washer under the blade holder

Is it possible to re sharpen the Bowlsaver Stellite cutters?
Yes you can simply re sharpen the front of the Bowlsaver Stellite cutters with a diamond hone. 

Can I replace my Bowlsaver Stellite cutters?
Yes, replacement Stellite cutters can be purchased from your local Woodcut Tools distributor. A user guide is supplied to assist the process to remove and add the new Stellite cutter.

CBN Wheel

Do I need to use water to cool tools when using a CBN wheel?
No, you do not need to use any water when using a CBN wheel.

There is a small amount of sideways movement of my 8" CBN Wheel on my grinder, how can I fix this?
Some 8" grinders will create a little side to side movement in the wheel due to seating problems against the shaft shoulder near the motor housing, or unequal pressure from the shaft nut. This movement will interfere with the accuracy of sharpening when using the radius edge of the wheels. If this occurs we recommend you use a CBN Wheel Self Aligning Spherical washer (or good quality flat washer) on each side of your 8" CBN Wheels. Spherical washer sets can be purchased from most grinding machine retailers

Replaceable Tips

How do I remove and replace my replaceable tip turning tools?
The worn tip is easily removed by applying heat (to approx 250 deg C) to the join area between tip and tool shaft - do not allow steel to discolour - apply just enough heat to allow the tip to be twisted off with pliers. 
The old adhesive will turn to powder - clean stem with wire brush - not sandpaper. Let cool.
Apply a few drops of adhesive to the spigot.
(Recommended brands of anaerobic adhesive are : LOCTITE 602, TITAN 7620 or LOXEAL 82-33)
With safety glasses on, push the new tip on to the shaft spigot. Lean against tool, pushing the tip against a bench for 1 minute.
Allow adhesive to cure for 24 hours - don't disturb.
Clean off excess adhesive. WARNING - Do not get adhesive on skin or eyes.
Alternatively use the link below to watch a video.

https://youtu.be/9Qytrpl_XsI

Tru-Grind Sharpening System

I have a Tru-grind jig and I have downloaded the manual from your website. However, the current jig must be an upgrade from the one I have, as mine is numbered from 1 to 4 and the manual shows numbering from 1 to 9. Can you please tell me if there is a conversion or template that I can apply to get my jig to be consistent with setup instructions in the manual?
The previous Tru Grind version set on notch 3 is equivalent to notch 4 on the new product. The previous version set on notch 4 is equivalent to notch 6 on the new product. The top of the 2nd notch on the old version is equivalent to 9 on the new product.

Pro-Forme Hollowing Tools

My Pro-Forme cutter clogs with chips. I clear it out and it just clogs again.
We recommend you 1) increase the gap to at least 2mm or 5/64" b) shim up the front of the brass gauge with washer or similar c) ensure you're not cutting over existing shavings, recommend you frequently clear shavings especially if a closed form d) adjust your lathe speed 500 to 700 rpm should be ok for a typical sized hollow form. 

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