Kel McNaughton is a woodturner and engineer working in New Zealand.  His fertile mind leads him to create robust and imaginative solutions to the challenges which his woodturning presents to him.  The products featured below are those most commonly selected by UK purchasers but we will be happy to source any Kelton products for you.  As the UK distributors for these fine tools, we at The ToolPost will be bringing new products from the Kelton stable to your attention from time to time.  With a mind as active as that of Kel, of one thing you can be certain – there will always be something new and fascinating "just around the corner".

The McNaughton Centre-Saving System: Timber isn't cheap.  Good, attractive timber is positively expensive.  So why do we happily convert most of it into shavings on our workshop floors?  Primarily because we believe we have no alternative.  That may have been true before the advent of the McNaughton Centre-Saving system but this clever and versatile tool provides a realistic way for you to "core out" blanks from within your turning timber, creating extra material for you to use at no extra cost.  Hugely popular with professional turners and recently described as "the turning tool of the century" here's a real opportunity to actually reduce the cost of your hobby.  Imagine getting four bowl blanks or even two or three – but why not five or six, out of your source material? 

We now supply the latest, Mark 8, version of the McNaughton system which features a brand new toolpost/guide yoke assembly with extended functionality as well as now incorporating a hollowing gate.  There are now two sizes of gate assembly as well as four sizes of blades giving the system even more flexibility.

Five configurations of this great tool are available.  Each includes a pin gate, restraint yoke, toolpost, handle and a selection of blades, as follows:-

• Micro set: 3 curved blades plus one straight blade of 1/8" x 5/8" cross-section.  The four pin gate supplied accepts both Micro and Small centre saving blades and the integrated hollowing gate can be used with Kelton 5/16" hollowers.
• Small set: 3 curved blades plus one straight blade of 13/64" x 3/4" section. The four pin gate supplied accepts both Micro and Small centre saving blades and the integrated hollowing gate can be used with Kelton 5/16" hollowers.
• Standard set:  3 curved blades plus one straight blade of 1/4" x 1" section.  The five pin gate supplied accepts Small, Standard and Large centre saving blades and the integrated hollowing gate can be used with Kelton 5/16", 1/2" and 5/8" hollowers.
• Large set: 2 curved blades plus one straight blade of 1/4" x 1.1/4" section.  The five pin gate supplied accepts Small, Standard and Large centre saving blades and the integrated hollowing gate can be used with Kelton 5/16", 1/2" and 5/8" hollowers.
• Combined set: 3 curved blades plus one straight blade from the Standard set AND 2 curved blades plus one straight blade from the large set with the five pin gate described above.

Note that additonal blades may be purchased to extend the range of your basic set, up or down and that there is considerable overalp between the sizes of cores that can be taken with the different sets.

Please note that the system will be supplied with a 1" diameter toolpost stem unless you specify otherwise in the "additional Information" section of the checkout.

Whilst the centre saver is not a difficult tool for the competent user to master, it is certainly 'different' from most normal turning tools.  We found the excellent DVD produced by Mike Mahoney on the Centre Saver to be a great way of learning to get the best from the Kelton tool.  There are hints and tips here that you might spend a lifetime discovering otherwise.

A second DVD is available, created by Reed Gary, which takes a somewhat broader and very personal view of the McNaughton Centre Saver system.  This includes the use of the laser guide accessory, available as an option, and some tips on "disaster recovery"!.  Again, a very useful adjunct to ownership of the McNaughton system.

Kelton Tool Handles: The wide range of specialist woodturning tools developed by New Zealand-based professional woodturner Kel McNaughton share a common basis – the Kelton handle system.  Choose from a range of rigid, comfortable, easy-grip handles with a choice of capacities, or the superb Ultimate Handle which offers the flexibility to fit just about any interchangeable tool through its ferrule and collet system.  (NB:  All handles will equally accept imperial or closest metric size tools.  i.e. 5/16"=8 mm; 3/8"=10 mm; ½"=13 mm; 5/8"=16 mm; ¾"=20 mm)

Kelton Hollowers: A range of hollowing tools with various shaft configurations designed to fit into the Kelton Handles (supplied separately).  Use of these handles allows the extension of the tool to be regulated to minimise vibration.  The tip design ensures quick easy removal of timber through a shearing action, with cuts of up to 20 mm, yet is capable of leaving as surface which is virtually "as sanded".  The attention to detail embodied in these tools virtually eliminates the possibility of dig-ins.  Easily re-sharpened when necessary, these tools prove that deep hollowing can be both quick and easy. NB:  Handles NOT included

Kelton Shear Scrapers: A choice of two sizes of scraper tips with choice of shanks to fit KH3 and KH4 handles.  Shank automatically sets the tip at optimum shear cutting angle.  Ultra long life cutting burr holding tips.  Tips can be replaced and interchanged.

Kelton Undercutters: Designed to fit Kelton KH3 or KH4 handles (supplied separately) these neat tools are designed to assist in getting into those hard-to-reach places just under the rim of hollow forms or "retrousé" bowl lips.  Each set comprises three tools of different radius and form to suit a wide range of situations.  Also available is a box cutter for creating the perfect side to base transition in your boxes.

Kelton Hook Tool: Designed specifically for use with today's high speed lathes but based on the well-proven concept of traditional hook tools, this unique tool obviates dig-ins when used correctly.  With a shear cutting action it can be used to cut in either an inward or outward direction to leave a fine finish.  The ½" tip is supplied with a rigid shank shank (5/8" diameter x 10" long) which fits Kelton KH2, KH3 or KH4 handles (supplied separately).

Kelton Caliper: The ultimate caliper, capable of measuring the wall thickness of almost any part of your hollow form or bowl.   Unlike other calipers, this one measures in both an axial direction to assess base thickness as well as radially for wall thickness measurements.