Richard Raffan on turning a scoop

I designed this scoop as a production item in January 1970. Throughout the 1970s I sold at least 50 scoops a week and back then I could turn 10 to 12 an hour. Since 1983 I've turned only a few hundred scoops, mostly as workshop demonstrations.
For in-depth explanations of the tools and techniques you need to refer to Richard Raffan’s woodturning books and videos. www.richardraffan.com.au/book...

[@johnhoogenhout]

I’m thrilled to see Richard’s turning on KZbin. His early videos and books have helped me in this hobby for 40+ years.

[@cecilmccracken2192]

I am so glad The Great Richard Raffan is now on KZbin! It sure beats pulling out the VCR and RCA cables. After all of these years, I still learn something new every time I watch Richard's tutorials.

[@frankwice4864]

Many years ago I was lucky enough to attend a seminar that the wood turner’s guild in Ontario Canada. One of the items you demonstrated was a scoop. I was lucky enough to to be able to purchase it. Since then I scooped hundreds of pounds of coffee with it. IT IS ONE OF MY PRIZED POSSESSIONS. For some years I made my living do craft shows put I was not fast enough with scoops to be able to sell them.

[@redoorn]

my woodshop teacher in high school wore his prescription safety glasses 'when he wanted to see'. :-)

[@dougdeffenbaugh389]

I learned to turn reading your books. I probably have them all. I’ve probably been turning for 20 years now. Yesterday I finally turned a scoop. I was completely astonished at its beauty and now I see why it is featured. Thank you so much and for the you tube videos.

[@paulinmt2185]

Nobody does it quite like Richard. I've learned so much from him. Cheers!

[@luvwud]

9 scoops an hour that takes some doing. Nice design and explanation, thank you. Geoff

[@climmer7]

Holy cow, you really bulldog those tools! That's confidence born from experience.

[@woodworkingmcdanielstyle]

I was using a coping saw to cut my scoops. That sanding disc idea will work way better!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

A 40-grit belt sander is the safest way of cutting the bowl.

[@michaelsmith8380]

Thank you Richard for sharing your knowledge with us

[@jamescarter8813]

Great explanation of the process. Thanks Richard for sharing your knowledge. What a great way to check your wall thickness without cutting a bowl in half.

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

I'm trying to get to terms with the skew and enjoying it, there's nothing like learning new skills in your 70's lol. Thank you for a great tuitional.

[@daniel__clark]

I followed a link here from Rex Kruger's channel and I'm please I did. Really interesting work.

[@talltimberswoodshop7552]

Thank you, Richard.

[@pkaul5012]

Amazing as always Richard! You make it look so easy.

[@michaelquataert]

Richard, thank you very much for this and all your other videos.

[@dianadougherty7187]

Love your videos and your dry humor. Thankyou so much. diana

[@bobh5616]

Richard, thanks for a great lesson - much appreciated.

[@jjperetz1316]

You're an absolute legend

[@brianhawes3115]

I absolutely love the skew chisel, you sent me a link to someone that really has the classic shapes down perfectly. I watched that about 20 times in total amazement. I appreciate your reply, and happy turning, and I can’t thank you enough for doing these videos

[@markb8954]

Perfect. Thank you for sharing all of your techniques. I’m learning an awful lot from everyone. 👍

[@tomislavtomasicwoodturning]

Great vintage project from your books and dvds.... Love it..... Can't wait for more master in action videos

[@forestcalhoun6207]

Books, videos, and an in-person demonstration in Fort Worth some decades back serve as inspiration to us all. Thank you, Richard. Indirectly, my eight turning students thank you, too.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

September 1991 according to my demo list.

[@tallerpinocho]

thank you from Spain. For the people who learned to turn with your first videos, it is very interesting to see what things you continue to do the same way and what you have improved in some aspect

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Yes! I'm still learning... as you can see if you're familiar with the original Turning Wood written forty years ago and before we had the modern 4-jaw woodturning chucks.

[@gordroberts53]

Even more interesting than what you made was the how. Masterclass in the use of the skew. This will be watched many times before I feel competent with mine but I can see the path forward. Thanks for sharing!

[@LewisKauffman]

Thank You!

[@ValioMadre7]

Thank you.

[@thefish5861]

You turn exactly like I do, only 100 times better!

[@colinchalmers1099]

Great to see you on you tube Richard,and sharing your vast amount of knowledge with the turning world. Thanks for sharing.Cheers Colin the bagpiper.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The unforgettable bagpiper, Colin - memories of you playing Happy Birthday in Utah and on the Gann in the fjiords. But more than that, my best-ever ansd most reponsive student in a hands-on workshop.

[@MikeWaldt]

Excellent video Richard. A belated happy new year. Cheers Mike

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Many thanks, Mike

[@masjabrikdiy8422]

hello friends greetings healthy and successful always. thank you for sharing knowledge and always faithfully watching your latest stuff I like your ideas

[@armus550b]

Umm making a jam chuck while it's running. Dang. That is decades of skill. Really impressive

[@WooDGooD-308]

Hai sir 🙏 your turning is good job💯 My turning video watching and your blessings...

[@marknienstadt6963]

I only made a few before, because I was using a saw to cut the scoop. The sanding seems to take less time and is a lot safer. Thanks.

[@nopelosi2012]

I had to give my head a shake when you said 35,000 units! That’s nothing short of incredible!!! Beautiful work. You’re getting my lathe hormones dancing. :-) Thank you for another fascinating video. Pete in Montana.

[@robkutner3193]

Coulda sworn he was kidding, then he talked about 50/day, 9/hour, and realized he wasn't. That's a lotta scoops...

[@robertcornelius3514]

I personally think this scoop is his trademark. He makes it look so easy.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

This scoop is my original design. It's been widely copied, often by production turners but few grasped the essentials of the design and few of those made them quickly enough to be profitable.

[@jimbrock8928]

I love that I’m going to try one and see I’ll probably screw a couple up before I get it right thanks you for my next project here in east texas USA😳

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Make sure you hollow slightly deeper than the diameter of the overall scoop, and that the opening in is slightly narrower than the inside. These are nothing like as easy as they look.

[@themagicwoodbus3211]

Thanks for this video!! I love this. I want to turn one right now but it’s the morning so I can’t. I bet I can crank these out.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

These are not as easy as they might appear. You need to pay particular attention to marking the depth accurately to obtain an even wall thickness.

[@longdriver2]

When you use that skew you make it look so easy. When I try to use a skew I am so hesitant.

[@samuronkanen1307]

Inspired by this I made one myself yesterday. It's a bit bigger and took more than one hour making it. I'd like to do tens of these just to go through the process of learning by doing. When doing just one the majority of the time goes on thinking on what and how to do next, instead of just doing.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Yep! Repetition is esssential if you're to come to grips with any technique. A lot of what's here is useful when turning endgrain boxes.

[@glencrandall7051]

Every time I see you turn one of these it looks like the cut between the bowl and handle is way too narrow. Optical illusion I suppose. These are great gift items. Thank you for sharing. Have a great 2022 and stay safe.

[@user-tx8mv4mr7r]

Good

[@hanstusk1731]

GJ

[@DennisSuitters]

Another excellent turning. I've seen others cut the scoop on the band saw, I think your way is much safer.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I no longer have a fixed belt sander but when i first made these scoops I shaped the bowl on a 36 grit sanding belt, followed by a 180 grit. For some years I did use a bandsaw with a ⅜-in blade, then finished the shaping on a 180 grit belt. Using a bandsaw it's essential to keep your fingers behind the blade so you drag the scoop through the blade. Bringing the curved surface into the blade is the dangerous bit, because the saw grabs the unsupported bowl and weak bowls disintegrate. Cutting on a bandsaw isn't recommended unless you're cutting dozens at a time.

[@DennisSuitters]

That certainly makes sense. Thanks for explaining, those were things I hadn't considered before.

[@atelierunterderteck7583]

Hello Mr.Raffan, I agree l it makes sense not to use a bandsaw. I saw you sawing one in one of your books ages ago and estimate using sandpaper ist much safer. I want to thank you so very much or one of your books, "Turning Wood..." I read it in German ("Drechseln") and it was the begin of my learning how to turn wood, by keeping things simple. I still use "your" spigots and improvised Chucks today and "don't use top much time to get a perfekt sharpened tool". Best advices! Kind regards from Germany, Fabian

[@123hurst3]

Wow

[@restlessjuggalo]

Richard, what is the grind angle on that skew? I love your work, you have taught me so much and inspired many of my pieces as well as inspired me to push myself beyond what I know and am comfortable with, Thank you.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The included angle is 40°. It's the first time I've measured and I was expecting nearer 30°.

[@restlessjuggalo]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning I truly appreciate your reply, thank you sir, keep up the amazing work

[@CrimeVid]

I have seen you do this before, I’ve never made one. My thing is coffee measure/tampers.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I made a few tampers and they all sold to felters for felting.

[@andyp9290]

would love to see dust collection set up

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It's on my list and it's modified since the early videos.

[@andyp9290]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thank you!

[@JeanMerken]

Bonjour M. Raffan. J’ai acheté votre plane avec tranchant courbé, via « Aupres de mon arbre » 🇫🇷. Pouvez-vous me donner des conseils d’affutage sur TORMEK et, ou : l’angle idéal d’aiguisage. D’origine elle a environ 60 °. Merci d’avance.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

You need an included angle of 30-40 degrees Vous avez besoin d'un angle inclus de 30 à 40 degrés

[@sethwarner2540]

Looks like an egg cup!(18:00)

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Nah - more of a goblet in that it contains rather than supports.

[@adlitahar141]

wood name please

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Pear

[@bobturner7995]

Your headstock bearings are loose, that's what is causing the vibration.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

There is absolutely npothing wrong with the lathe bearings I can assure you. The bench at the back of the lathe is jammed against the shed wall, so any lathe vibration is transferered to the what is essentially a fairly flimsy structure and rattles that end of the building. Loose bearings make a knocking sound.

[@imapseudonym1403]

You lost me at using a skew to rough out the wood. HOW? I've been trying for 4 years and gave up doing this because it was so bloody dangerous. Nothing but catches and my skew across the room.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Make sure only the leading part of the edge or corner contact the wood. You need to avoid the wood ciming down on the unsupported portion of the edge. Take a look at my Skew Chisels and Catches video.

[@imapseudonym1403]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning I've watched it. It didn't help. So, my skew chisel is used as a scraper, it's the only way it works. Thanks for trying though.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@imapseudonym1403 Sounds like you need a few minutes hands-on with someone who can use a skew chisel. Is there a woodturning group near you? It shouldn't be that difficult: tool on the rest, then bevel shoulder on the wood, then raise the handle slightly as you rotate the edge on to the wood. When there's some dust coming over the edge, ease the tool forward. Practice on a round spindle before trying to rough down a square.

[@imapseudonym1403]

Oh It would take more than a few minutes. I've read and watched every bit of advice online I could find. Doesn't matter how I go about it, slow, fast, light or death grip, the second the cutting edge makes contact "POW' I get a catch. And the nearest woodturning group is over 2 hours away. Besides I wouldn't want to waste their time. I've come to terms with the fact that it will never work for me and I'm okay with it. I do thank you for taking the time to try to help, it's much appreciated and something that is rare these days.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@imapseudonym1403 Sounds like you need hands-on with someone who can use a skew chisel. I'd say you're pushing the tool into the wood which makes any catch more dramatic, and you're clearly catching an unsupported edge. It should be simple: 1: Chisel on the rest. (The chisel should be on its side, not flat on the rest like a scraper.) 2: Bring chisel bevel shoulder to rest on the wood. 3: Raise the handle to pivot the edge to the wood. Try this with the lathe off, rotating a smooth cylinder by hand. Any more problems, message me or email via www.richardraffan.com.au/contact/.

[@armus550b]

Les than 20 minutes. Dang. I just made one, took me 2 and a half hours and it's no where near as good. He made hollowing it out look like cheese wiz.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

You need to complete nine an hour to make them commercially viable. I'm well out of practice.