Making an Arm Brace for Hollow Form Woodturning - Page 1

I like to turn hollow forms. While the normal set of hollowing tools work for smaller forms, I like to use a set with an arm brace for larger ones. In fact, if I can work through a hole of 3/4" or more, I would just as soon use an arm brace for smaller pieces as well. An arm brace gives a nice control over the torque of a side cut on a hollow form. Incidentally, Solomon was right as usual, there is nothing new under the sun. After I had come up with this idea, I saw a virtually identical arm brace in a GMC publication on tips for wood turners.

Making the arm brace is trivial work. For a set of two you need

1. 1 24" length of 1/2" galvanized pipe
2. 1 4" pvc coupling
3. 4 1/2" galvanized elbows
4. 2 1/2" galvanized 3" nipples
5. 2 1/2" galvanized 4" nipples
6. 4 6mm x 1 set screws
7. a tap and handle for 6mm x 1
8. 4 #12 x 3/4" self tapping sheet metal screws

Set the pvc coupling on end and run it through the band saw to give 2 arm rests.

Cut the 24" nipple in two to give 2 12" arm extensions