Woodturning: Using Rangate to Fill Cracks in Bowls

[@gregdownunderinOz]

Thanks for sharing this Frank, what a great product. I turn a lot of timber with cracks and bark intrusions and Rangate might be just what I need instead of using ca and coffee grounds. I really enjoyed this video, your easy to listen to instruction and problem solving solutions. I liked the voice over as well. Thankyou for no music. My wife and I didn’t like the stain at the end, the natural wood was much better we thought, but each to their own. You explained why you used stain and reasons why and we accept that. Thanks from down under in Oz.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks for the note, I still use the Rangate at times, but I am finding now that I more often just use 5 min epoxy with some color added to it. For me it kind of depends on the number of cracks to fill and the nature of the crack. Rangate does not provide structural strength, so that is why at times I prefer just the epoxy or the black med CA glue that is now offered by many CA companies.

[@RogerJones-cm5ft]

Wondering what you use for faceshield and respirator. Thanks

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks for your comments, The faceshield/respirator system is Sandstrom 500/570 and you can get this at Woodturning Wonders in the US woodturnerswonders.com/collections/all-respirators/products/sr-500-570-air-purifying-respirator and at Woodchuckers in Scarborough, Ontario woodchuckers.com/products/sr-500-570-air-purifying-respirator?_pos=1&_sid=17faeee1c&_ss=r. There are cheaper systems made by Trend, but this is much higher quality and lighter to wear on your head.

[@joehaynes2696]

At first I thought the bowl was kinda plain. After you applied the dye, it really made the grain pop and highlighted all the beautiful figure. Nice job, Frank!

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks Joe. Yes sometimes I tend to use dye on pieces that do not have a lot of natural figure.

[@MRBRADSTER96]

Hey frank. Your son Matt just showed me the video. Great channel love the content.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks for watching, ya I try to put out interesting projects but I am running out of ideas....may have to repeat some of my old content. Enjoy 😁

[@markh4926]

Nice work and thanks for the info on Rangate.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@misfit4777]

Very nice and thanks for sharing your new trick 😉👍

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@rodolfomeyer2836]

very Nice

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@ronnieoreilly821]

Lovely piece 👍

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@davidcampbell1312]

If you increased the temperature of the Rangate would that make it thinner and allow it to penetrate deeper into the crack?

[@NathansFerroceriumrods1]

Looks beautiful.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@tomroome4118]

Geez, Frank, when you went slo-mo I thought "Oh no!, it's going to fly off"! I enjoyed your commentary and subscribed.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks, I never noticed that part. I should let one fly off just to show a blooper, but I cannot bring myself to do that 😁

[@Tim_Pollock]

Hey Frank, thank you for the video. Have you had any issues with the rangate loosening or coming back out of any voids you've filled with it? Since it's not an adhesive I just have concerns on how well it will stay in over time.

[@frankdidomizio]

Good question Tim. I have not used it enough to know, but I wondered the same thing. It is used in the flooring industry quite a bit when they make up wood floor boards that need a quick filler, so I assume it must not loosen up if it is used in this industrial type application. It does bond to the surface of the wood, but not like an adhesive. These days I tend to use the black medium CA glue more often since it is actually an adhesive. I just have to be careful to not leave a black area around the crack that has absorbed the glue

[@Tim_Pollock]

@@frankdidomizio Thanks for getting back to me so quickly Frank. Having multiple options is definitely a good thing. I'm sure you already know this but using a sanding sealer coat before doing fills can help avoid the CA glue staining where it's not wanted.

[@frankdidomizio]

Yes, I try to use a sealer before I apply CA to prevent some absorption surrounding the crack.

[@RG-ce5hj]

Great video! Would you get a cleaner cut on the outside going right to left?

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks, the cleanest cut for any side grain bowl will always be from the small diameter to the large diameter on the outside (or from the base to the rim). This way you are cutting with the grain, which will minimize tear out and give the cleanest cut. Hope that makes sense.

[@johnmitchell1614]

I like the in slope of the rim and the colour. Not so sure about about the Rangate though. Best regards. ( From a wood dust and CA user )

[@frankdidomizio]

Yes, I also still lots of wood dust and CA, this is just an option I was checking out for larger cracks

[@johnmitchell3749]

@@frankdidomizio Okay Frank. We have to try these options out , don’t we. Best regards.

[@maurofantoni725]

Is the gun a normal hot glue gun or does it have something special?

[@frankdidomizio]

The glue gun is a high wattage industrial type at 300W, I think you standard low wattage gun might no get hot enough. These days I am mostly using the black med Starbond CA, it pretty much does the same thing

[@danielcross6815]

Great video, and work outcome, Frank. I am wondering on the Chestnut alcohol stains, do you dilute them to thin the colors down? If so, what do you thin them with? Thank you for any help.

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks. Yes, I always dilute my alcohol based stains with something like methyl hydrate or denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol/ethanol

[@danielcross6815]

@@frankdidomizio Excellent, thanks again!

[@richarddominguez7817]

Thanks for the video, will try! Also, what type of face shield are you using, and how well does it work? Perhaps it could be the subject of another video!

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks. The face shield/respirator is a Sundstrom unit available from woodturning wonders woodturnerswonders.com/collections/all-respirators/products/sr-500-570-air-purifying-respirator. I wear it all the time when I am turning. It is a great unit, but quite expensive. I also have an older trend unit, but this one is lighter and I think provides best dust filtration. Like any of these units, you have to get used to wearing them.

[@billy19461]

You know that they changed the name of the finish and took the food safe label off. Thanks for letting us know about the new product.

[@frankdidomizio]

Yes , I heard about that, but if it is the same General finish as before, I am just going to keep using it rather than find an alternative like Osmo or other.

[@billy19461]

@@frankdidomizio I agree!

[@jonlanier_]

All finishes in the United States are food safe once they cured. It is the law.

[@frankdidomizio]

Yes, I agree

[@ahsap.ugraslar]

Congratulations. These are beautiful products. I also do wood burning. I'm waiting for my page

[@frankdidomizio]

Thanks

[@johnwest9786]

Nice bowl, great technique. I don't think the Rangate is a good idea. Fast and easy to use but no structural support and no real penetration. You did a great job turning though.

[@frankdidomizio]

thanks, yes i only use it when there are a lot of small cracks to fill in, for large notes I use epoxy