The go to method for turners is a wire with two handles to protect from heat when the wire gets hot. You do all the work and pull tight. Probably for most not an issue, why reinvent the wheel. Enter the almost one armed guy, we are going to have to improvise. Took some time to do some R&D and figure out a work around.

 

This is what I came up with. Takes any wire size, can be increase / decrease tension by way of the black knob at the top. No fancy springs and such just a 7/16 wrench and insert wire, bend around bolt and tighten. Repeat same for other side. Tension as you like and you are ready to go. Results speak for themselves. Used copper welding wire for this test.

 

This prototype is made to taken apart only for the purpose of showing how I did the insides. R&D is all done and this works so if I want a better one I have a template to work from. Works for left or right handed use, mostly because I am lefty most of the time. Pins have days they work, or don't work well. I can rest my bad arm on the top of the tool and push down with my good arm with the back handle.  Now that I have the proof of concept done I can work on making this smaller, or maybe just be happy this works and be done. 

 

The assembled tool:

 

 

Inside the tool:

 

 

Test Drive:

 

 

 

Now that is really cool!

 

I use old banjo strings for burning.

 

Like the Easy Wood Tools hollower!!!

32 minutes ago, lew said:

Now that is really cool!

 

I use old banjo strings for burning.

 

Like the Easy Wood Tools hollower!!!

 

Just arrived today.  Thanks @Jim from Easy Wood Tools

Looking good.

Proof of concept looks like a winner. Now to polish it up and start selling.

5 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Now to polish it up

Jim sent me a t-shirt, cap and some EWT stickers, I almost put a sticker on this....  

Very neat and useful project Gunny

 

12 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

or maybe just be happy this works and be done. 

 

That can't be - there is no paint or stain or varnish or anything applied to it!

12 hours ago, Cal said:

That can't be - there is no paint or stain or varnish or anything applied to it!

Well I can fix that..  

 

Cool idea and workable.  Now, to make it like an old coping or hack saw and market it.  Really great job.

3 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Cool idea and workable.

 

It is a bit large and with some time and effort it could be smaller in size.  For the moment I am going to finish it with some poly in next few days.  Then get some use out of it and see what improvements can be made.  The metal braces are larger than needed but I went with what I had in stock.  They could be shaped down some.  Tension adjuster is from something I took apart and kept the pieces.  Again no modification just used what I had.

On 1/30/2020 at 7:35 AM, Cal said:

there is no paint or stain or varnish or anything applied to it!

All done.