The Kelton Hollowing Gate
Guide for Use
ASSEMBLY OF GATE
Put the collar supplied loosely on the column below the boss. Place the column in your lathe
banjo with the grub screw in the round boss facing towards you. Tighten the tool rest handle.
Slide the hex bar into the boss with the appropriate yoke in one end of the hex bar facing up.
Using the supplied hex key tighten the set screw in the round boss so that it tightens down
onto a flat side of the hex bar. Move the banjo and rotate the hollowing gate so that the yoke
is in the desired position in front of the vessel to be hollowed. Tighten the banjo to the bed of
the lathe. Raise or lower the gate in the banjo to a position that allows you to keep the
hollowing tool level and present the cutting point to the wood at centre height. Tighten the
toolrest handle. Drop the collar down the column to the banjo. Tighten the grub screw in the
collar.
A GUIDE FOR USING THE GATE
Six important principles to remember:
1
Keep the toolrest – in this case the Hollowing Gate – as close as possible to the work.
2
The hollowing tool should always be held parallel to the floor.
3
Set the height of the gate and
tool so the tool is cutting at
exactly centre height of the
lathe. Failing to do this
means the tool can be pulled
downwards (and dig in) when
below centre or ride up the
work face and fail to cut if too high.
4
Keep each length of metal that is beyond the lathe bed – banjo; toolrest; cutting tool – as
short as possible. When more length is required share it between the parts. Never exceed
the maximum designed extension of any part.
5
Double check that all locking handles and grub screws are tight.
6
Always rotate the lathe by hand before turning on to check clearance between work and
toolrest.
For all uses ensure that you use the correct yoke that fits the hollowing tool neatly. Correct
assembly and placement of the collar on the column will ensure that the hollowing tool is
always in the correct centre-height position.
If you have a swivel-head lathe then turn the head
slightly so that you are standing erect when using
the hollowing tool. Don’t swivel the head too far
as
that
will
unnecessarily
extend
the
banjo/hollowing gate combination beyond the lathe
bed.
