Richard Raffan cuts small logs and an old bedpost into woodturning blanks.

In this video you see how I go about cutting small logs and flitches into defect-free woodturning blanks. And what to do with an old bedpost.

[@WhoGnu08]

Your running dialogue in which you share your thought process on each piece of timber is informative. Most instructive for me is how matter-of-factly you approached the cut selection. I know there are many others like me that agonize over every little cut. However, every time I watch one of your videos like this one, it reminds me to just get on with it.

[@johnvaness8445]

Great video, now I know how to handle odd pieces, and I'll be looking for old beds on the side of the road!!

[@garsonprice3441]

Thanks so much for your insight and well produced video, Richard. Extraordinaire! Salute from Canada. PS- A few hours invested in a home made brake for your beautiful bandsaw would pay you back for decades.

[@joepapalia-xs1ds]

I have a saw like Richard. I would be interested in seeing a short video on what your brake looks like if you wouldn't mind sharing

[@DancingFox6]

Seems like the more practice and experience you have in a craft the ‘luckier’ you get with your successes 😊

[@leftymcshea6876]

Your running commentary on salvaging scraps is priceless....and these recent videos on the subject have become some of my favorites. Thank you Richard. As an aside, I received my April issue of American Woodturner yesterday and enjoyed very much your authored article on Mike Mahoney. 👍👍👍👍

[@trurex007lee7]

Thank you. Watching you process the wood is a learning and relaxing experience.

[@woodrat1952]

The amount of woodturning knowledge you offer to us all is priceless! You would think Laguna would send you a new bandsaw with a brake for free with all the exposure you have shown us using their saw? Thanks so much for all the videos you have produced!

[@raydriver7300]

So interesting, Richard. As always, thank you for sharing 🌞

[@budj13]

It is always interesting to watch a master of his trade. I love the way you value every bit of wood and look for ways to use what others would burn. It helps me know I'm not crazy for the stacks of timber I have drying.

[@johnnyb95678]

Always learn so much watching and listening to you. I appreciate how you evaluate each piece and determine how it can be used. Thank you!

[@davidmorgan7522]

Very interesting lesson in analyzing and cutting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience Richard! Take care, Dave

[@jackthompson5092]

Always great to see how you prepare blanks for woodturning Richard.

[@willwyatt7023]

I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with these pieces in future videos.

[@klausalan]

Really love hearing your thinking process out loud. Makes me change how I view the odd bits of wood sitting in my shop.

[@daveandcindyamos5537]

I really enjoy how you study the wood. Great videos.

[@malbun3275]

Hi Richard As usual interesting and informative thanks for sharing,always hungry for the next video. Regards

[@brianmckittrick8665]

Nice to see how you size up the logs and convert them into useful blanks. Thanks

[@roystheboy]

Another good video thank you Richard

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

Lovely to see/hear your thought process. I cut blanks for my club, so its always good to get another experienced view of how/what to cut.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I was working with a club member who was cutting out some small bowl blanks for a future workshop. She said she picked up several good tricks from my assistance. I urged her to watch some of your videos on breaking down stock to learn so much more. I think it takes a lot of bandsawing blanks to really being able to read the grain. Not easy to teach, and learning only really seems to come from doing. But that is true of so much of woodturning, isn't it?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Like most things, you need to put in the time, the 10,000 hours.

[@annlaurie1484]

Fascinating to watch and learned a lot too. Thank you 😊

[@pbpleased7936]

Could you please disclose what blade you are cutting with? Thank you so much for your wise instruction!

[@valeriehenschel1590]

Great video showing how even small chunks of wood can become useful turning blanks. Do you ever cut crotch or Y pieces through the pith plane to expose the crotch figure? I slice mine on the pith plane, then keep the figure on the bottom of the turning to get maximum figure showing in the finished piece. Even small crotches like the ones you cut can have feather figure worth finding.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I'm always on the look out for suitable crotches but not many come my way. I always cut for figure and occasionally get lucky with blanks up to 230 x 30 mm or so that dry without splitting. The really frustrating thing is that when I do turn a utilitarian plate or bowl with really interesting figure, people won't buy it for use fearing they'd ruin the finish.

[@mtabai8623]

very good👌

[@timofeyzhukov-khovanskiy9173]

Got a branch of yellow birch with a pith that to the side. I did a few things out of it, probably should do a few more.

[@davo-h1t]

Privet!!! Does that turn to a decent chunk of wood?

[@Dominicaislandmon]

It may be paulownia or Empress Tree. Fastest growing hardwood, invasive from the orient, very light and also very stable wood. Japanese love it for making boxes for its stability. No sure but looks kind of like that. If it is, burning it for a finish hardens the outside of it and brings out the grain.

[@kendallcahan259]

When cutting stock from green wood, what’s the best way to keep the ends from splitting or checking until you get around to using them?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

There are quite a few commencial endgrain sealers but I find a thick coat of acrylic house paint works as well.

[@brianhawes3115]

You’ve got the wide blade in all the time? I’ve just recently started mimicking your technique and it’s great, just cut the pith out and never imagine projects where it’s left in. Cracks as well

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I use the 20mm blade unless cutting small disks as that's best for straight cuts. If doing a batch of disks, then the 10mm blade is best but I'm not going to change blades for one or two cuts.

[@josephpotterf9459]

Thanks Richard is it still summer there? looks warm in the shop. spring has sprung in Georgia USA you mentioned Easter so i'm curious of the season

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Autumn in Canberra. Trees losing leaves, daylight saving ends next weekend.

[@youenn2180]

That looks like box , creamy yellow , close to holly , wood almost like horn , very hard but easy ro turn , its hard to believe its "light in weight " , anyway , good for a woodturner !

[@tagi3d]

Is that first branch Jacaranda perhaps?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

A definite possibility.

[@tagi3d]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning i have found Jacaranda dries very well and does not split much. So maybe

[@cattleNhay]

Video Titel should be: cutting a leg on bandsaw