Hi woodworkers
I’ve recently picked up a few tools to get into artisanal woodwork, and I want to do 1 or 2 projects that entails hollowing out natural branches.
The “perfect” outcome would be something similar to bamboo shoot, which have a narrow edge and hollow center. I’m not really expecting to be able to do this by hand with millimetric accuracy, but it gives you an idea of what I’m aiming for.
I own a high-speed rotary tool that is “technically” able to carve wood, but the bits I own atm are more of a finish toolkit. I successfully used a sanding head to carve out some wood, but I don’t think it’s remotely optimal for projects any bigger than what I was working on.
So all this context leads to this question: What would be the optimal tool to efficiently hollow out a branch? I can’t reliably use a drill, because there’s no certainty that the branches I’ll work with will be remotely straight, I’m guessing that a mill file could get me some mileage but it sounds like a last resort kind of tool.
Depends on the type of branch but you could split it in half, carve out the insides and then glue it back together.
Indeed, I think splitting the branch will be mandatory to get some carving done.
I’m not sure what would be the best tool to do the carving, however. I’m considering getting some wood scissors, because it’s not immediately obvious to me which power tool could carve out material with a nice mix of accuracy and efficiency.
Router with a round nose bit. Not sure what size bore you’re aiming for, if it isn’t too massive you could make short work of the carving
Something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/DIABLO-1-4-in-Carbide-Round-Nose-Router-Bit-DR18108/100660642
This is a new tool to me, I might look to nab a used one off market place or something. Thanks for the suggestion!
No problem! Happy building!
I think the exact tool you’re looking for is called a spoon chisel. I’m only barely into the craft, but it seems like a set of chisels is one of the fundamental tools of a woodworker.
I also think your best results when cutting the branch in half is going to be on a band saw of some kind
Yeah I’ve been meaning to get a chisel set, of the few projects I did I certainly had a few moments where I thought a chisel would be handy.
I saw a youtube pipe maker using a hot wire to burn holes in green branches for pipe stems. General theory being that the pith would burn easier than the sapwood, so the wire would follow the natural curve of the wood. Obviously only works on relatively small diameter branches, but the general idea of fire forming might be helpful.
Search up how to make shrink pots, they are effectively cups made from hollowed branches. The center can be bored out, or carved with a long and skinny knife. A gouge can also be used
Had no idea those were a thing, I’ll be reading up on them, thanks!
Might be worth doing some research into how the Australian Aboriginals make didgeridoos:
https://didgeworkshops.com.au/Making-a-Didgeridoo
TLDR: Use termites to hollow it out for you.
Dunno if that suits your use case, and I dont know how you avoid them going rogue and eating the rest of the wood, but worth some consideration if you have access to termites.
Somewhat inconvenient but fun thought experiment
Definitely is a bit inconvenient. But if you already have termites, may as well put them to work :D
can you possibly drill the interior, as in start with a very fine drill, and keep increasing the drillbit size progressively - this would depend on the wood quality i think- if too dry, it might snap, if too damp, then you would not be precise.
The branches I wanna work with are too long and needs too much material removed for drill to be a realist tool. I could try it out just to confirm that theory, I guess.
