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Hollowing is where woodturning stops being a bowl and becomes a vase, a hollow form or a lidded box. It is also where turning gets harder, because you are cutting through a small opening with the tool hanging far past the rest, and you cannot see the cutter. A bowl gouge stops being useful once the shoulder curves inward. You need a tool built to reach around the corner.
The right hollowing tools for your first forms are a straight tool to remove the bulk and a curved tool to reach under the shoulder. Carbide cutters make that much easier, because there is no bevel to ride inside a closed form. Below are five hollowing tools and sets from Hurricane, Easy Wood Tools and Robert Sorby, with the specs each lists, and a guide to how hand-held, captured and articulated systems compare.
Our top picks at a glance
Quick picks
- Best Overall: Hurricane 3 Piece Mid-Size Hollowing Carbide Tool Set. Best for a straight and two curved hollowers in one purchase.
- Best Single Carbide Hollower: Easy Wood Tools Mid-Size Easy Hollower #1 (6601). Best for one straight-neck carbide hollower from a well-known carbide brand.
- Best HSS Multi-Tip: Robert Sorby RS200KT. Best for interchangeable HSS hollowing and scraping tips with a swiveling clamp.
- Best for Small Forms: Easy Wood Tools #1 Straight Mini Hollower (6501). Best for small boxes and miniature hollow forms.
- Best Budget Curved Hollower: Hurricane Mid-Size Curved Hollowing Tool #1. Best for adding one curved carbide hollower to an existing kit.
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Cutter | Profile | Handle / length | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane 3-piece mid-size set | Overall | 9 mm round carbide, #4-40 screws, 3 inserts included | Straight plus two curved | 15-1/2 in. beech handles | Check price |
| Easy Wood Tools Easy Hollower #1 (6601) | Single carbide | Ci5 carbide (Ci5-NR optional) | Straight neck | 14 in. maple handle, 22-1/2 in. overall | Check price |
| Robert Sorby RS200KT | HSS multi-tip | 2 HSS hollowing tips plus teardrop scraper | Half-round shank, swiveling tip | Handle about 12 in. per one listing | Check price |
| Easy Wood Tools Mini Hollower #1 (6501) | Small forms | Carbide | Straight | Mini size | Check price |
| Hurricane Curved Hollowing Tool #1 | Budget curved | 9 mm round carbide, #4-40 screw | Curved | Solid beech handle | Check price |
The best hollowing tools, reviewed
1. Hurricane 3 Piece Mid-Size Hollowing Carbide Tool Set: Best Overall
Who it's for: turners moving into vases, hollow forms and deep end-grain boxes who want the three shapes they will need.
Hurricane's set includes a straight hollowing tool (HTT-420) and two curved hollowing tools (HTT-421 and HTT-422). Each uses a 9 mm round carbide insert held with a #4-40 screw, and three inserts and screws are included. The handles are 15-1/2-inch beech, and the listing gives the tools as 6-3/4 to 8-1/4 inches long without mapping each length to a tool.
The straight tool removes the bulk through the opening. The curved tools reach under the shoulder, where a straight tool cannot go. A 9 mm round cutter is small enough to fit through modest openings, and because it is carbide you rotate it to a fresh edge instead of sharpening. Start with shallow forms and wide openings until you know how the curved tools behave.
Pros
- Straight and two curved profiles in one set
- Small 9 mm round cutters
- Replaceable inserts, no sharpening
- Long beech handles for leverage
Cons
- Mid-size reach, not for deep vessels
- Overhang demands a light touch
- Lengths not mapped to each tool on the listing
Hurricane 3 Piece Mid-Size Hollowing Carbide Tool Set
by Hurricane Turning Tools
2. Easy Wood Tools Mid-Size Easy Hollower #1 (6601): Best Single Carbide Hollower
Who it's for: turners who want one well-made straight hollower from the brand that popularized carbide turning tools.
Easy Wood Tools' Mid-Size Easy Hollower #1 has a straight neck for preliminary hollowing of vessels. Its listing gives a 14-inch maple handle, a 1/2-inch tapered square tool bar in stainless steel and a 22-1/2-inch overall length, and it ships with a Ci5 carbide cutter. Easy Wood Tools offers a Ci5-NR negative rake cutter as an optional upgrade for resin, acrylic and very hard woods.
A square bar sits flat on the tool rest, which helps you hold the cutter level, the way Easy Wood Tools' carbide system is designed to work. It is a single straight tool, so for the inside of the shoulder you will want a curved hollower too, either from Easy Wood Tools' own range or Hurricane's.
Pros
- Square bar sits flat and stable on the rest
- Stainless bar and maple handle
- Negative rake cutter option for hard woods and resin
- Well-supported cutter range
Cons
- Straight only; add a curved tool for undercuts
- Premium price for a single tool
- Mid-size reach
Easy Wood Tools Mid-Size Easy Hollower #1 (6601)
by Easy Wood Tools
3. Robert Sorby RS200KT Multi Tip Hollowing Tool: Best HSS Multi-Tip
Who it's for: turners who prefer high-speed steel cutters and want one tool that hollows, scrapes and undercuts.
The RS200KT uses what Sorby's listing calls a massive half-round shank with interchangeable tips. The kit includes two HSS hollowing tips and a teardrop scraping tip, and a swiveling tip clamp lets you angle the cutter for undercutting. With the right tip, the listing says, you can hollow, scrape or run beads and coves. One listing gives a 12-inch handle length.
A half-round shank resists twisting better than a round bar when the cutter is offset, which is the main force you fight inside a hollow form. HSS tips need sharpening, but they take a fine edge and you can grind them to suit. One caution: a separate Amazon listing under a similar title shows a different brand and part number, so check that the model number reads RS200KT before you buy.
Pros
- Interchangeable HSS hollowing and scraping tips
- Swiveling clamp for undercutting
- Half-round shank resists twisting
- From a long-running Sheffield brand
Cons
- HSS tips need sharpening
- Check listings carefully for the correct model
- Heavier and more complex than a carbide hollower
Robert Sorby RS200KT Multi Tip Hollowing Tool
by Robert Sorby
4. Easy Wood Tools #1 Straight Mini Hollower (6501): Best for Small Forms
Who it's for: box makers and turners who make small hollow forms, ornaments and miniature vessels.
The 6501 is the mini version of Easy Wood Tools' straight hollower, sold for smaller projects. It uses the brand's carbide cutter system and the same straight-neck idea as the mid-size tool, at a scale that suits small boxes, Christmas ornament globes and miniature vessels on a mini or midi lathe.
Easy Wood Tools also sells a 45-degree mini hollower (6502) with a Ci5-NR negative rake cutter for reaching under small shoulders. Pairing the two gives you a compact hollowing kit for small work. For ornament projects, see our woodturning Christmas ornaments guide.
Pros
- Sized for small boxes and ornaments
- Carbide cutter, no sharpening
- Suits mini and midi lathes
- Matching 45-degree mini hollower available
Cons
- Too small for full-size vases
- Straight only on its own
- Detailed dimensions not on the listing we checked
Easy Wood Tools #1 Straight Mini Hollower (6501)
by Easy Wood Tools
5. Hurricane Mid-Size Curved Hollowing Tool #1: Best Budget Curved Hollower
Who it's for: turners who already own a straight hollower or carbide set and need one tool to reach under the shoulder.
This is the first curved tool from Hurricane's mid-size set, sold on its own. The listing describes a 9 mm round carbide insert held by a #4-40 screw, a chrome-plated steel bar and an ergonomic solid beech handle, and says the insert can be rotated to a fresh edge with no grinder or CBN wheel needed.
A curved neck lets the cutter reach the inside of the shoulder while the straight part of the bar stays on the tool rest. That geometry also means the cutter sits off the bar's center line, which creates twisting force when it cuts, so keep cuts light and hold the handle firmly.
Pros
- Reaches under the shoulder
- Same 9 mm inserts as Hurricane's other carbide tools
- No sharpening equipment needed
- Low cost
Cons
- One profile only
- Offset cutter twists under heavy cuts
- Mid-size reach
Hurricane Turning Tools Mid-Size Carbide Tipped Curved Hollowing Tool #1
by Hurricane Turning Tools
Buying guide: choosing hollowing tools
Hand-held, captured or articulated
| System | How it works | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-held straight and curved tools | You hold the tool on the rest and control the twist with your arms | First hollow forms, small and medium vases, boxes | See options |
| Captured (captive) system | The bar is held in a frame or arm fixed to the lathe | Deep vessels, less arm fatigue, fewer violent catches | See options |
| Articulated arm system | A jointed arm lets the cutter reach around the shoulder | Large hollow forms with small openings | See options |
Hand-held tools are where everyone starts. Captured and articulated systems cost more and bolt to your lathe, so check your lathe's tool post size, bed and swing against the system's requirements. Some systems add a laser pointer or camera to show where the cutter is inside the form.
Carbide vs HSS cutters
Carbide hollowers are held flat and level, need no sharpening, and use small cutters that fit through narrow openings. They scrape rather than slice, which may leave more sanding. HSS cutters, like the Sorby RS200KT's tips, take a keener edge and can be ground to shape, but you need to sharpen them. Our carbide lathe tools guide covers the carbide system in more detail.
Bar shape and size
A bigger bar is stiffer and vibrates less at long overhang. Square bars sit flat on the rest and help you keep a carbide cutter level. Half-round and round bars are common on HSS tools; a half-round shank resists twisting when the cutter is offset. Whatever the shape, the farther the cutter reaches past the rest, the more force a catch delivers to your hands.
Straight vs curved profiles
You need both. The straight tool clears the center of the form through the opening. The curved or swan-neck tool reaches under the shoulder. Start with the straight tool to establish depth, then work outward with the curved tool.
Handle length
Long handles give leverage against the twisting force of an offset cutter. Hurricane's set uses 15-1/2-inch handles and the Easy Hollower #1 a 14-inch handle; both are reasonable for mid-size work. Deep hollowing benefits from even longer handles or a captured system.
How to hollow a vase safely
- Mount securely. Hold the blank in a four-jaw chuck on a solid, full-depth tenon, or on a faceplate. Our wood lathe chuck guide covers tenon sizing.
- Start slow. The AAW advises starting unbalanced work at the lathe's lowest speed and increasing only while it runs smoothly.
- Shape the outside first with a bowl gouge, leaving extra thickness around the shoulder. See our best bowl gouges.
- Drill a depth hole with a drill chuck in the tailstock so you know where the bottom is.
- Open the top and clear the center with the straight hollower.
- Reach under the shoulder with the curved tool, taking light cuts.
- Clear shavings often. Packed shavings block the cutter and cause catches. Stop the lathe before reaching in or blowing out shavings.
- Check wall thickness with calipers or a light; stop well before the walls get thin.
- Keep the tool rest close to the opening and move it as you go, always with the lathe off.
Wear a full face shield; the AAW says full face shields provide the protection needed for vessels and any turning with chucks. Hollowing also makes fine dust and shavings near your face, so add dust protection; see our lathe dust collection guide and woodturning safety gear picks.
Common hollowing mistakes
- Starting with a narrow opening. Make your first forms with wide openings so you can see and reach.
- Too much overhang. Move the rest in and take lighter cuts as you go deeper.
- Leaving shavings packed inside. Clear them frequently.
- Cutting above center with a carbide tool. Keep the cutter level at center height.
- Thin walls on a weak shoulder. Leave the shoulder thicker until the inside is complete.
For project ideas and vase shapes, see our guide to turned wooden vases.
How we chose
We did not test these tools ourselves. We compared the cutters, bar shapes, handle lengths and included parts that Hurricane, Easy Wood Tools and Robert Sorby list, and weighed them against AAW guidance on lathe speed and face protection. We chose tools that cover the straight and curved profiles a beginner needs and noted where listings conflict.
FAQ
What tools do you need for hollowing on a lathe?
For your first hollow forms: a straight hollower to remove the bulk through the opening, a curved or swan-neck hollower to reach under the shoulder, and a secure way to hold the blank, usually a four-jaw chuck on a solid tenon. A bowl gouge shapes the outside. Larger, deeper forms often call for a captured or articulated hollowing system.
Are carbide hollowing tools good?
Yes, especially for beginners. Carbide hollowers are held flat and level, need no sharpening, and use small round cutters that fit through narrow openings. Hurricane's mid-size hollowers use 9 mm round inserts and Easy Wood Tools' Easy Hollower ships with a Ci5 carbide cutter. The trade-off is a scraped surface that may need more sanding.
What is a captured hollowing system?
A captured (or captive) system holds the hollowing bar in a frame or arm attached to the lathe, so the tool cannot twist when it catches inside the form. It takes the leverage off your arms and makes deep hollowing safer and less tiring. Articulated systems add a jointed arm so the cutter can reach around the shoulder.
How deep can you hollow with hand-held tools?
It depends on bar size, overhang and your control, not a single number. As the tool reaches farther past the rest, catches become more forceful. Most turners start with shallow forms, keep the tool rest close to the opening, and move to a captured system for deep vessels.
What speed should I hollow at?
Start a hollow-form blank at your lathe's lowest speed and increase only while it runs smoothly, as the AAW advises for any unbalanced work. Once the outside is round and balanced, use a moderate speed that lets the cutter work without vibration. If the lathe shakes, slow down.
Verdict
The Hurricane 3-piece mid-size carbide set is the best way into hollowing: straight and curved tools, small cutters and no sharpening. Add the Easy Wood Tools Easy Hollower #1 if you want a stiffer square-bar straight tool, or choose the Robert Sorby RS200KT if you prefer HSS tips you can grind. For small boxes and ornaments, the Easy Wood Tools mini hollower is the right scale.