Any tps on turning Shedua?

[Vic Baron]

Bought some Shedua from Cook Woods and I'm having a hard time turning this
stuff. Trying to make a 5" deep pencil cup. Spindle turning and hollowing
end grain.

Sharpened my tools and had at it. On the sides of the piece, I'm getting
chipping, even trying to use the skew. Tried hollowing with various scrapers
and no matter how lightly I tried, I'd get some hard catches. Seems like
this wood is very hard and dry.

Anyone worked this before?

Don't need any more expensive firewood. :)

Thanx,

Vic

[Bill]

I really don't like using scrapers, it seems much harder than using a
bowl gouge - Soren Berger makes a special tool for hollowing boxes, but
for one box/cup, try a 1/2 inch bowl gouge with very swept back wings -
once you get a basic shape inside, hollow "backwards" (from bottom to
top, with the handle of the tool on the far side of the lathe) with a
light cut - you shouldn't get chips - it is something about your tool
presentation or sharpness, particularly if you get catches. You can use
the gouge for the outside too - keep it really sharp