Richard Raffan turns a disc vase for the 17th. 4-Ways project

A disc vase is an interesting project that presents many design opportunities and technical challenges. This is the 17th. 4-Ways projects, so be sure to take a look at the three other approaches to designing and making a disc vase.
Tomislav - • Disc Flower Vase With ...
Sam - • Disk-shaped Bud Vase--...
Mike - • Multi Axis Disc Flower...
4-WAYS comprises Sam Angelo, Mike Peace, Richard Raffan, and Tomislav Tomašić who suggested that having a few turners publish their approach to one project on KZbin at the same time should be interesting. 4-WAYS publish after noon on the first of each month US time, which is evening in Europe. For Australasians it’ll be the 2nd. morning of each month. Each video has links to the others.

[@peg4692]

Well done Richard, I did watch the other three, and my comment to you Richard is, “you are the master of the master woodturners”.

[@Penqueen2010]

I totally agree with you 💯 %

[@MarklTucson]

Yours is the final video of the four that I've watched. Each one of you took a different approach and provided very interesting design ideas as well as demonstrated very useful techniques. I like the narrow shape and large disk on this piece. The figure in that juniper is really quite beautiful. These 4 ways projects really do inspire ideas and show the different approaches different turners take to the same general project. Thanks again to all four of you for doing these videos. It's kind of hard to wrap one's mind around the fact that we are heading into the hottest part of our year while you are heading into the coldest; it's been interesting watching your recent videos where your shop attire has become more adapted to cold weather.

[@jeanlong4285]

Very nice, well done Richard. Beautifully simple.

[@jeffkunch9416]

Thank You Richard!

[@alainnoel2198]

Quite a challenging turning! Your descriptive comments come out as thought processes, so valuable to the listener, thanks for sharing those since we learn how to address several problems. Quite an impressive turning lesson. Thanks

[@user-js2us1kc1w]

That wood was shockingly beautiful

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You demonstrated that there are lots of ways to solve turning problems, Richard. Beautiful end result.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I learnt a lot attacking this project, Mike. Now I'm thinking I think I'll do a series of disc vase variations.

[@sec9676]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Please do!

[@tomislavtomasicwoodturning]

Awsome job Richard, wood is amazing and you did it all on the lathe.... Now I need to make one disc upright

[@cudamank]

Very nice. The turning between centers and the layout process was good to see.

[@johnnyb95678]

A beautiful disk vase. I so enjoy watching how the 4 of you come up with these and your various approaches to solving the problem at hand. Thank you very much.

[@bradbyers7505]

I watched all four of these videos last evening. I was actually nervous! Please take this as a compliment because I was so drawn in by the process. Well done, gentlemen.

[@ianbedwell4871]

Wouldn’t be finished if we don’t see a sock! Nice project. I have drilled a disk on side using 2 of the four jaws on my chuck to drive the disk before turning the face ( did leave marks but held it well)

[@DavidBird-uu8km]

Very nice, the wood is beautiful off to see the other three. Thanks.

[@kenvasko2285]

I enjoyed watching you do nearly everything on the lathe. You've got to make it work with the tools you have. The grain pattern did look like a landscape. I'm glad you saved it all.

[@mootnmike]

Thanks once again Richard. I do so look forward to seeing you 4 guys sharing your skills.

[@tonyturnswood]

Man! I learned a ton from this one! I can't wait to try it! I might marry Tomisalv's inlay with your design concept! That was the best half hour of my day! Thank you!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Go for it, but use a thicker blank so you end up with a wider base. This one is now on a small round base so it can't fall over.

[@johnwhitteron5296]

Lovely job Richard, glad you found some Jonquils in your winter garden. Deceptively simple looking piece, very complex in the execution. Looked great.

[@jamesbrasseaux133]

Beautiful piece Sir.

[@totterdell91]

I quite enjoyed that one, well done.

[@Penqueen2010]

The timber is beautifully presented

[@whittysworkshop982]

I very much enjoy these 4ways videos 😁

[@LewisKauffman]

Thanks, Richard!

[@RABWOODSHOPSTUDIO]

Always enjoy seeing how the four of you approach the design and techniques for your projects, well done

[@TheFamilyWoodworker]

Always enjoy watching you get to a finished piece, especially with difficulties experienced along the way. A unique vase with remarkable grain. Well done, sir.

[@glencrandall7051]

Very nice vase Richard. Elegant shape and beautiful wood. You had me a bit worried while you were flattening the base though. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@glennnord2511]

Very nice bub vase , everytime I watch your video I learn someting new

[@gbjones54]

Always a joy to learn from you!

[@AlienLeader4]

Very lovely piece. Keep up the amazing work. 👽

[@jorisdemoel3821]

A beautiful object, and many problems overcome. I do love the differing ways in which you four approach each project. That's Virginia juniper/Red Cedar? Everything is better with Sock. ;-) thanks for another educational and entertaining video.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Juniper

[@Trashed20659]

Now THAT's thinking outside the vase...

[@kaybee2300]

A lovely piece of wood.

[@valeriehenschel1590]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@gav2759]

It's not hard to see why it's been a while. You need the heart of a Bengal tiger for that caper. Thanks for posting.

[@haraldmayer8113]

After your anouncement, what you are going to do i was wondering how you will drill the hole, i was thinking about how you attach it under the drill press, or if you are trying to do it on a flat surface. or which kind of jig you are going to put together....... 🙂and then you did the whole thing on the lathe, i am a newbie and was really surprised! Well done and a lot to see and learn for me! Thank you very much!

[@josephpotterf9459]

Thanks Richard i will give this a try I have a block of eastern cedar that will do.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Why bother?

[@josephpotterf9459]

@@johnmitchell1614 Because I like trying new things on the lathe . why are you here?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@johnmitchell1614 That's unnecessary. Come to that, why did you bother turning the vase you use as a thumbnail.

[@LAZZY0001]

Hi, a really interesting project and it turned out really nicely. BTW, you often mention you have downsized your equipment. Do you have video of your previous shed prior to downsizing? Just interested what you had before.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

When working full-time as a professional turner, I had three Vicmarc VL300s (two short-bed, one long-bed), three Vicmarc VL100s for teaching workshops away from home, a bandsaw, tablesaw, drill press, and a chainsaw. I've no photos or videos of my previous workshops.

[@LAZZY0001]

​@@RichardRaffanwoodturningThank you for your reply Mr Raffan. I really enjoy learning from your videos.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Hello Richard, forgive me for saying but that seems like a pretty hair brained idea. The thing is inherently unstable and will spend a lot of it's time on it's side. It needs three or four feet to support it no? You made a good stab at it though. Did the juniper have a particular smell?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I couldn't agee more regards the concept, but it's a popular woodturning project and I was happy to rise to Mike's challenge. If I'd had a slightly thicker blank with interesting grain, I can assure you I'd have used it. As it is, this vase now has a small round base and there's no chance of it being knocked or blown over.

[@patc7198]

Was this a challenge in which you were limited to only use one power tool "lathe" to make your project ?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

4-Ways aims to show four different approaches to the same woodturning project. Had my blank parallel faces I could have taken a different approach. As it was, this seemed the best approach using the tools I have.

[@holdemNE1]

Not sure why you wouldn't just use a bandsaw to cut the top and bottom.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I regard cutting a disc with curved faces on any saw as sheer stupidity and an accident waiting to happen. I did consider cutting a flat on the original blank, but that raised a host of other issues including dealing with vibration and aligning the hole. Sanding would be a better solution, but the whole point of the 4-Way series is to show a range of different ways of doing stuff in different situations.

[@BobBlarneystone]

Hmm, better put it up on the mantle where the cat can't get to it.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It's now got a small round base.