Product Info
Bowlsaver Max4 Coring system is safe, solid and simple to use.
Designed, tested and proven over last 30 years in sheds all around the world. No compromises made.
Three uniquely designed knives or blades use to core from 3″ (75 mm) to 18″ (450 mm). The cutters on the knives will outlast any other coring cutter and they are easy to hone/sharpen. A robust platform that can take the intense pressure of coring that is precisely machined to make the work easy. Added support, and unique to the Bowlsaver Max4 is the tailstock support with the #2MT adapter. The included handle give you the leverage to operate the Bowlsaver Max4 with out breaking a sweat or a shoulder.
Read on for all the fine details.
Knives
- Three zinc plated knives supplied that support a cut size from 75mm (3″) to 450mm (18″) diameter. Each knife is shaped to a radius and is supplied with a precision sharpened Stellite cutter.
- The large knife uniquely features a concave shape that provides solid support for the knife without the need of an additional tool rest for the knife that can be complex to operate, especially with natural edged bowls, therefore making bowl coring simple for the turner.
- Knifes are manufactured from high performance steel that is proven to retain shape and therefore ensure a lifetime of efficient bowl coring.
Cutter
- While bowl coring the cutter will probably need to withstand shocks caused by knots and nails. To minimize sanding the turner will also want to produce an excellent finish off the tool. Given the range of cutter options available including Carbide, Woodcut Tools researched what cutters are in use in sawmill operations. Woodcut Tools established that Stellite is proven to deliver an excellent wood finish and experience a long operational life with great wear resistance and uniquely produces large, thick wood shavings.
- The Stellite cutter supplied with the Woodcut Bowlsaver Max 4 is supplied sharpened and features a straight front edge that enables the cutter to be simply sharpened with a diamond hone. A negative rake can be created on the top front edge of the cutter for cutting hard wood.
- To prevent wood material from sticking to the cutter as it cuts and therefore reduce friction, the Stellite cutter can be sharpened with a hollow grind.
Platform
- Bowl coring will apply pressure to the platform, especially if the wood is hard and dense. The Woodcut Bowlsaver Max 4 is therefore made from precision machined cast aluminum and steel that is anodized to last and support turners to successfully core bowls small or large, wet or dry.
- When coring large bowls the knife experiences immense downward pressure, to prevent the knife from twisting the top of the large knife is supported by a machined steel post and the bottom of the lower knife is supported by a bearing.
Tail stock
- Machined No 2 Morse Taper is supplied to enable integration of the Bowlsaver Max 4 product with the lathe tail stock and therefore ensures a stable bowl coring platform.
- 3/8- 16” threaded rod supplied to provide integrated support and stability from the No 2 Morse Taper to the Lathe tail stock.
Handle
- Supplied with a 20” long handle that features double skin steel and 8 ½” long foam grip to support the turner.
- The 20” long handle uniquely features a spigot that supports an additional handle for further handle length and leverage if needed.
Versatile
- A simple adjustment of the tail stock slide on the platform will support the turner to core the shape of the bowl they require.
Support
- Detailed user guide including planning templates to support the turner to successfully core a nest of bowls straight away. Online user guide video available.
Dimensions (approximate)
- Base platform footprint: 9 ¾” long (measured from front edge of base plate to tail stock assembly and excluding 20” long handle) x 8 ¼” wide
- Weight: 8kg/ 17 ½” pounds
- Height: 150mm from Shaft collar to top of rotation post
Operating requirements
- Minimum 1.5 hp lathe with flat bed.
- Swing of 16” to 25”.
- We will assist you to select the tool post size to enable the Bowlsaver Max 4 to mount with your lathe. Give us a call or email us for information.
Basic equipment included
- 3 x high strength steel zinc plated knifes with pre- sharpened Stellite cutters
- 20” long handle
- Platform
- No 2 Morse Taper
- Detailed user guide including planning templates
- 3/8- 16” Threaded rod
- Kit bag of all Hex keys required to fasten
- A tool post is required to fit the product to your lathe.
Accessories available:
- Bowlsaver Max4 Light Guide– Easy to use taking the guesswork out of setting up to core a bowl. Save time and simply attach the Light Guide to your Bowlsaver, line up the light with the knife tip and discover the path. The light guide traces the path of the cutter across the outside of the bowl allowing you to ensure you get the perfect cut. Quickly and easily adjust the knife to get your desired coring.
- Replacement Stellite cutters– fitting guidelines supplied.
Some helpful coring tips and techniques.
- Coring works best on green or wet wood.
- Use a diamond hone and sharpen each cutter. Hone the top of the cutter a bit and then hone the front cutting edge. Be sure to not change the shape of the cutter. The trapezoidal shape to the cutter is important as the front two pointy corners act to clear the path wider than the blade.
- If you core dry wood expect it to be a more difficult task. On dry wood adding a small negative rake on the top edge of the Stellite cutter will help. Use a finehone and add the negative rake bevel.
- To hold your prepared blank, use as large of a tenon as you can. At minimum the tenon should be 1/3 to 1/2 the diameter of the blank. For a 12″ blank using a 4″ – 6″ tenon is recommended. For a 20″ blank a 5″ to 8″ tenon is recommended. Using a faceplate can work as well.
- Set your coring device up where the cutting tip is at the spindle center.
- Set your lathe in the low speed belt position (if applicable) which gives the highest torque. Also check that the drive belt is sufficiently tight so that it does not slip
- Position your coring device to cut (core) you desire.
- Start the lathe at about 350 rpm and start feeding the blade. Use steady, light pressure at a slow pace to start cutting the core. You will notice the shavings are ribbon like.
- Retract the cutter to clear shavings as needed.
- As the cut proceeds ‘around the corner’ to where it starts cutting more end grain you will notice the shavings are more sawdust or chip like. The cutting action will also feel more bumpy. This is the time to increase the speed of the lathe.
- As you get closer to the center of the core the surface speed is slower so increase the lathe speed. I will usual end the core at around 600 rpm
Notes: If you stall the lathe try these things:
- Purchase a larger lathe. I am a Robust dealer and would be happy to sell you a Robust American Beauty 3 hp lathe. Haha, kidding but not really.
- Stop coring and slightly move (bump) your banjo and Max4 about 1/8″ perpendicular to widen the kerf. This will allow the shaving from binding the blade.
- Check the belt to ensure it is tight and not slipping.
