Richard Raffan turning a set of spillikins

A set of spillikins - 35 sticks in a long thin box, is a great project and challenge for any woodturner. In this video lots of things don't go a I might hope, so you see lots of not-uncommon problems solved.

[@Penqueen2010]

It doesn't matter what Richard Raffan turns, it's all very interesting and informative.

[@bushratbeachbum]

I've been watching your videos since the 90s and you're still my absolute favourite teacher. It feels like im in the workshop with you as you chat and take us on the mental and physical journey of creating the piece. Absolute delight, every time!!

[@Penqueen2010]

I was fortunate enough to meet Richard Raffan in person years ago. I purchased two or three of his books. He was happy enough to autograph two of them for me.

[@im4dabirds]

Magnets!!!!!!!That is a great tip. And, the split stick sander!!!! And, the soda straw!!!!

[@sethwarner2540]

OOOOH! I love the straw trick for getting dust out:cheap and effective! Also, the magnet trick to judge depth! Also to set depth!

[@billm2158]

Great instruction. Thank you. You show considerable restraint when something goes amiss. I usually swear like a trooper!

[@briantaylor9266]

Another way to deal with that divot left by a Forstner bit is to grind the pointy bit off the centre of a bit of the same size. Go back in the hole and clean up the bottom. The sides of the bit keep it aligned. Of course it's only good for extending a bore a few mm, so this bit has to be dedicated to the purpose.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@davidcochran9322]

They will be admired & cherished in Juno!! In addition to your skill I really admire your frugal approach with materials & equipment. I LOVE the drinking straw blow pipe!! You must have a Scots ancestry.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

My paternal ancestors were Scots.

[@MarklTucson]

Very nice looking pieces and box. Really appreciate seeing how you work through the various challenges you encounter and really admire your calm demeanor and sense of humor. I've always enjoyed box making, but have never attempted one with as much depth; can certainly see how that adds to the challenge. This definitely goes on the future projects list (I'll probably be in my 80's before I get to everything on that list but plan to get to this well before then).

[@dougsutherland6694]

The skill required to tackle a project like this is beyond me, but I did enjoyed watching .

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Probably not! It's a matter of attitude and determination.

[@terrysharp908]

Excellent as always, thanks

[@alancook303]

Hi Richard. I really enjoy you videos and learn so much. Thank you. You are the first person I have seen blow dust out with a straw. I use 4ml garden irrigation pipe, you can get a much longer piece and avoid a face full of dust. A lot of gardeners would have some lying about

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The drink straw does a good job inside boxes and in demos usually got a laugh. I hope to be entertaining as well as informative.

[@jackthompson5092]

Beautiful set of pickup sticks and box Richard.

[@thefaulenzer677]

Hi Richard. I want to thank you for this 1 hour long Video. I will try this out, even though I hate hollowing! I don’t know if you’ve tried it in all those years of turning, but I wanted to leave a tip for you and everybody reading this. When I am using the skew chisel on any wood and especially on really hard wood, I won‘t attempt it without polishing the edge on each side with a metal polishing wheel on a small bench grinder. It’s about the same thing with the tormek system, but even a bit faster. This extra step with polishing the edge takes about 5 seconds with a small 150W grinder and a 150mm polishing wheel. I takes 2 seconds to wind up for the grinder cause there almost no weight to spin with only one cloth or polishing wheel. Another thing I noticed is that using „advanced“ steels like PM steel in my case does make a slight difference in cutting really hard woods. It seems to be more robust and harder, so that it cuts hard woods a bit more easily. This topic a whole science by itself, with slight benefits to polishing and using the best steels around. I really suggest to try out buffing your skews when you haven’t tried yet. You can do it 2-3 times and „revive“ the edge that way, before going back to the grinder. Logically, this extra sharpness is fragile and won’t last too long even on PM steels, but making it sharp again doesn’t take long at all. I don‘t think polishing will help so much with hard wood + curly grain, but other than that its more fun to work with when extra sharp.

[@annlaurie1484]

Amazing to watch, thank you 😊

[@tomislavtomasicwoodturning]

I used to play that game as a kid, now to make one set and learn my kids😀

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

We look forward to your video.

[@9thousandfeet]

What a wonderful video! Respect!!!!

[@garryevans3594]

definitely going to attempt this. Thank you for sharing

[@karlio3368]

Straight away after watching this video, I gave a spillikin stick a go with a piece of poplar that was laying around. Managed to get mine down to 3/8's of an inch at the thickest and 1/4 at the thinnest. I'm thinking that is a little thick. Watching your other spiIlikin video, the diameters look like they are more in the range of 1/4 inch tapering to 1/8. I had to do it between centers, as I don't have any chuck jaws (have the chuck body, though). Better material and a set of step jaws, and I've got a new project! Thank you.

[@ronreynolds8207]

i'm amazed you could drill with a forstner bit at that lathe speed - i always thought it was best to drill at a much slower speed (if for no other reason than to reduce the amount of burning).

[@Sealight007]

Beautiful set.

[@randyscorner9434]

Very nice. I always learn something watching these videos. In this case the chamfer at the join and how to fit it so closely.

[@marcusfairly2688]

Brilliant video. I use a party balloon pump to blow out the dust.

[@jakegevorgian]

It's so beautiful! ❤

[@LewisKauffman]

Thank you!

[@patdugas9635]

Hi Richard, first thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your videos have been a weekly rendez-vous for me since you started. You’ve mentioned that you « downsized » your lathe. I’m curious to ear why you did? Thanks!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Around six years ago in my mid-70s and long retired from full-time turning I sold most of my lathes, tools, roughed bowls, and blanks and kept only the VL150 and a few blanks. I had painting and boatbuilding in mind and no thoughts of churning out videos for KZbin. Now in my 80s downsizing seems a good idea in case serious downsizing becomes a necessity.

[@louisjcharlett5804]

Lovely.

[@greyjustice]

Great video Richard. I notice your skews all have slightly rounded ends, what's the advantage over straight ends, does it help with accuracy or to give a smoother cut? Thanks for sharing, I'm going to add making a box and set of spillikins to my to do list.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The major benefit of a slight radius is that it enables peeling cuts where I want one or both corners clear of the wood.

[@sethwarner2540]

OHHH! Pick-up sticks! Can you actually TURN these things??

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The sticks are not that difficult. I've made dozens of sets, the first in 1978.

[@davidmawer859]

I am learning a lot from watching and listening to your videos, thank you. Do you ever burnish with wood shavings, I find this to be good, what are your thoughts, please?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Occasionally and expecially when not using abrasives and retaining the finish off the tool. If you're using abrasives finer than 400 grit, which I never do, I suspect shavings could scratch the surface. Depending on the quality of the shavings of course.

[@joescarborough1]

I am guessing the cross sectional dimension of the spillikin blanks to be in the neighborhood of 10mm square. Good guess?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Spot on.

[@DonnJaegger]

richard what type of sandpaper do you use whats the brand name

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

The abrasive is Colour Coded Grit www.veneerinlay.com.au/product-category/sandpaper/emery/. If you’re in North America, I’m told it’s stocked by Craft Supplies USA.