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Thread: Bit for large 3d bowl

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Glendale, WI
    Posts
    107

    Default Bit for large 3d bowl

    Hello everyone,

    I have made many, many flat bottomed trays using bowl/tray bits, and I would like to branch out and create a proper bowl/dish using thicker stock. This is new territory for me. There's no fine detail -- just a nice big oval dish cut from 2" stock.

    I can handle the basic programming in VCarve Pro 9 (thanks to Vectric's great tutorials). I would love some guidance on this:

    1. Should I use both a roughing and a finishing toolpath?
    2. Which bit(s) are ideal?
    3. Using a radiused end mill isn't a great idea, right?

    I have a 1/4" ballnose, but that would take forever for a large dish. So I am willing to invest in the right tooling to do this. I also don't mind a little extra sanding effort after machining since there's no detail to worry about.

    I have a PRS Standard 96-48 with the 2.2hp HSD spindle.

    Thanks!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Pro Signs, Coal CIty IL
    Posts
    312

    Default

    Judging by your description, I'd be inclined to use a 1/2" ball nose. I don't always do stuff by the book, more often I use what I already have on the shelf when I can, if it means saving a trip to the tool store.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Glendale, WI
    Posts
    107

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pro70z28 View Post
    Judging by your description, I'd be inclined to use a 1/2" ball nose.
    Thank you. Any opinion about cutting height? Looking at Amana tool options, there are 1.25" and 2.125" cutting height options. I guess it depends on the angle of drop as you bowl out the stock, right? Steeper angle would require a longer bit to keep the collet from interfering.

    I don't mind going to the tool store since it's usually either Amazon.com or Toolstoday.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    gleason, wi 54435
    Posts
    449

    Default

    you should probably be looking at a core box bit rather than a ball nose since you get a deeper cut for larger bowls. I would use a .5 to a .875 diameter bit with a .5 shank for more aggressive cuts then a finish cut with the same bit but a finer stepover to reduce sanding labor. In my experience a smaller ball nose won't help much.

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