Richard raffan cuts bowl blanks from a half log

For in-depth explanations of the tools and techniques you need to refer to Richard Raffan’s The Art of Turned Bowls (pages 27-45) and Turning Bowls (pages 51-57) www.richardraffan.com.au/book...

[@wilson113388]

Great video! Most I have seen don't explain as well as you and logs are already cut flat so i was happy to see a full log cut down there. Thanks!

[@glencrandall7051]

Yo just demonstrated the most important skill is processing logs for turning. That is how to visualize the parts that can become a project. I know I fail to look at possible smaller projects rather than one large one. I have several pieces in the shop now that I will re-evalulate. Thank you for sharing and educating.

[@WhoGnu08]

Well, the first thing I learned is it's time for me to replace my bandsaw blade. ;) Yours cuts so much faster than my 14" bandsaw and it's probably because I am using the blade too long after it loses its edge. I picked up a lot of tips from this video, including your pragmatism about processing the crack in the log: just cut it out. I think I have agonized too much over every little piece of wood and this video may have cured me of that. Thank you.

[@tomislavtomasicwoodturning]

Love the interaction, much like master and apprentice😀 Great video both of you

[@neabud]

Might be the basics, but you did a great job talking us through the pros, cons, and your thought process is.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Thank you

[@garryedwards7097]

Thank you Richard, I am enjoying all your videos, I am fairly new to turning. Cheers Garry

[@headhunter5672]

Excellent as always, thank you 😊

[@tricolorturners]

Great to see you out working in your environment, RR! Keep ‘em coming.

[@bradleycrewe1754]

Awesome to see your youtube channel , been a fan of your work for many years . Thank you !!

[@nicooosthoek1502]

Nice videos, thanks for sharing.

[@richardhodsdon571]

Richard, thanks great videos. A suggestion for a future video is to show how you sharpen your bandsaw blades. Thanks

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

That's on the list of videos to come. I take the top of each tooth to a high-speed grinder as lightly as I can. A blade can usually take about touch-ups before there's no kerf. With each sharpening the tightness of the curve you can cut dwindles.

[@johnmitchell1614]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning How many touch - ups? Best regards. Oops, sorry I read on, 5 sharpenings.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@johnmitchell1614 I can resharpen a blade at least three times, and ocasionally four or five if my touch is light enough on the first two or three.

[@lessketcher5342]

I have a Laguna 14BX with foot brake. Are your blade guides the standard ceramic block and if so how far do you tension up the blade when doing heavy work?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Unfortunatley mine is the model just before the footbrake, so I usually bring the blade to a stop by squeezing it between two wood blocks. I tension as recommended by Laguna, using the guide to the left of the upper wheel.

[@richardhefty]

Why do you need to wait three years for a box blank to equalise, if you can use a bowl blank much sooner? I'm really enjoying your new channel, thanks for making these videos.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The old rule-of-thumb for air-drying is one year per inch of thickness, plus a year, and even then there's no guarantee that a bowl will retain its shape when you hollow out the inside. It's common practice to part-turn bowls, let them season for a few months, the re-turn them. You can do the same for endgrain boxes. I turn 75mm diameter boxes out of wood known for its stability that's at least five years old; 50mm dia. boxes are at least 4 years old adn often much more. In Turning Boxes I go into this in much more detail. I turn a lot of bowls and pots green knowing that they'll warp.

[@richardhefty]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Thanks for the reply!

[@tallerpinocho]

a question, in 13:40 and in other part of the video, Richard put the blank against the blade, whats the purpose? thanks a lot, its very interesting, isnt usuall to see masters preparing blanks.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

This bandsaw doesn't have a break, so I'm squeezing the blade to a stop. The later models of the Laguna have a foot break: I purchased mine a month too soon.

[@amospeterson3251]

Richard, is that a 3/4” saw blade you are using? Amos

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It is a ¾-in 4-tpi, mostly used for breaking down logs to short boards. There will be video on that. For cutting bowl blanks I prefer a ⅜-in 3-tpi which goes around bends more easily and is easier to sharpen. I sharpen by touching the top of each tooth to a high-speed bench grinder.

[@neabud]

Richard, what are you using for a blade to cut this half log with? Thank you

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I'm using a ¾-in X 3tpi blade, but often use a ½-in x 3 tpi which cuts a tighter curve. Three per inch so I can resharpen these blades myself on a high-speed grinder, lightly touching the top of each tooth. I can do that 4 to 5 times but each time the kerf narrows.

[@tobykathan8277]

I just processed two walnut logs that had cracks and splits all the way through. They had been sealed, but drying for several years, which I assume was the problem. How soon should I process logs?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I process logs as soon as possible, removing all splits and any defects I defects I don't want in a final piece. This often includes bark and any worrm holes.

[@totterdell91]

nice timber...

[@johnkriplean1148]

what are your teeth per inch on your bandsaw blade. I'm enjoying your series of videos. thanks much.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I have 3 tpi so I can resharpen myself. I do this on a high-speed grinder barely touching the top of each tooth. It's saved my thousands over the years. I get around five re-sharpenings before the blade breaks. Every resharpening reduces the kerf so in the end they cut little more than a straight line.

[@CrimeVid]

Wish I could justify that saw !