Richard Raffan cutting a pear branch into woodturning blanks

[@trurex007lee7]

Learn so much from you cutting up chunks. I’m rethinking how I store my wood, as long as it’s dry, rough shape it and toss the cracked and punky bits. Saves space and time in the future.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

As a general rule, if you can cut up a log before it starts splitting you get a lot more out of it that's free of splits and defects.

[@DiemenDesign]

Excellent, some good pieces out of that lot. Who would have thought blank cutting would be so entertaining, lol. Good info for beginners harvesting their own wood, and the thought process, as well as what bits to cut out. Thanks Richard.

[@leftymcshea6876]

A good lesson on harvesting and salvaging the small stuff......valuable timber I've been guilty of squandering a lot of times. Thanks for the reminder Richard.

[@jackthompson5092]

Always great ro see you preparing stock for wood turning Richard. Keep up the great work.

[@andyaveyard]

Another very helpful video for a woodturning novice such as myself, please do keep them coming Richard. I wish you were here with me right now, I could do with your knowledge on how best to process a piece of wood that I'd recently been given. All the best from North Yorkshire.

[@mikelarlham6764]

Thanks, very informative video! I’ll definitely look differently at how to cut logs up👍

[@johnnyb95678]

Thank you for the great education on how to select and cut blanks from timber.

[@clydeschuyler]

You are a wealth of knowledge fine sir.

[@bobh5616]

Very useful - thank you.

[@charlesisrael8717]

Never turned Manchurian pear, but have Bradford. Really great turning wood and surprisingly stable for a fruit wood. Many landscape plantings and I try to remember where mature trees still remain…first big wind and entire rows are on the ground…rush to beat the chipper. Does Manchurian pear have similar properties? Very much enjoy the humor injections.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I can't tell Bradford from Manchurian and they might well be the same botanically. I've never checked but always enjoyed turning either of them.

[@LewisKauffman]

Thanks!

[@ShevillMathers]

So useful to see how you approach even a small log, and knowing what to look for and eliminate, is valuable to know-it must also save many a failure at the turning stage. Once again, thank you for sharing your knowledge so freely. Greetings from Tasmania Australia.😁🦘

[@williamschattschneider6116]

Could you confirm the position of the tool rest for a neg rake scraper when turning the outside vs the inside of a bowl. Thanks

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I never used negative rake scrapers. I think they spoil an otherwise far more useful tool. The point of a negative rake is that you cna be far more casual about rest height and blade angle. Just ensure that the angle between the top bevel and the surface you're cutting is less than 90 degrees. It's difficult to do otherwise.

[@randycosgrove3608]

Thanks yet again Richard. Not on point for this video but about your other videos. You use a 1/2" spindle gouge for a lot of your turning. When you say 1/2" are you measuring across the flute or the diameter of the stock from which it's made? I'm in Canada and the usual reference I use is the stock diameter and just judging from the size of your tool to the size of your hands it looks like what I'd call a 5/8" tool.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The spindle gouges are Henry Taylor or Sorby who measure the flute, so the ½-in is the flute width. Amrican manufacturer go by the width of the steel diameter.

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

I have a ton of respect for you and your turnings, but PLEASE advise others to turn off the band saw before reaching around the blade and when possible, use a push stick to keep your hands safe. I had the fun of cutting through 2 of my fingers and the resulting surgeries and recovery makes me very aware of how to work safe around a band saw.

[@Amybaumgart]

It looks like you have after market guides for your bandsaw blade. I find I have difficulty setting my blade up with the proper tension so that it consistently runs straight. Any tips?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

My bandsaw is as it came from Laguna. I would go to your manufacturer's website for tracking advice.

[@johnalex3023]

What bandsaw blades do you recommend

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I've 20mm-3tpi blades for cutting in straight lines to create boards and spindle blanks, and 13mm-3tpi blades for cutting disks. Those will cut a 65mm radius, so a blank roughtly 5-in diameter. I could use a narrower blade for smaller disks but changing blades is a chore and I get near enough round using larger blades.

[@alessandrosuppini943]

Hi Richard, nice blanks, what blade are you using on your bandsaw? It cuts really well 👍

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I've 20mm-3tpi blades for cutting in straight lines to create boards and spindle blanks, and 13mm-3tpi blades for cutting disks. Those will cut a 65mm radius, so a blank roughtly 5-in diameter. I could use a narrower blade for smaller disks but changing blades is a chore and I get near enough round using larger blades. The main reason they cut well is that they are sharp. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaW6m2aBltCffqs

[@alessandrosuppini943]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thanks Richard, I was wondering if you use a bi-metal blade, a carbide tipped one or a simple carbon steel blade, from the video it looks blue colour

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

​@@alessandrosuppini943 My blades are Flexback and that's about all I can tell you. I've always avoided the thinner silver blades that often arrive on new saws. I never invested in carbide tipped because the flexbacks have done me well. I usually resharpen them three or four times and used to use about 10 blades a year when converting several tonnes of timber to blanks.

[@tonyturnswood]

What bandsaw do you use? I am shopping now, and the one in my shop won't do what yours does! You are so generous with your experience and such a marvelous teacher! I love your posting cadence as well! I learn something in each video that I immediately try to apply in my own little shop. Thank you!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It's a Laguna 14/12 bandsaw. 14-in throat, 12-in depth of cut.

[@tonyturnswood]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thank you so much! That really helps me solidify my decision! Laguna it is!

[@dtork47]

Very helpful as always, thanks. I need to increase my bandsaw blade width for creating planks more square and with straighter cuts……3/8” just doesn’t cut it!

[@jorisdemoel3821]

Ah, another log sawing video. *[our tea. Sit back. Learn* Many thanks