Tauntons Complete Illustrated Guide To Turning [Hardcover]

Richard Raffan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2005

Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Turning features step-by-step descriptions for an abundance of wood turning techniques, including both spindle and faceplate methods. Over 900 color photos accompany detailed, hands-on instructions for turning wood, including how to use lathes, turning tools and materials, chucks, as well as sharpening tools.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (February 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561586722
• ISBN-13: 978-1561586721
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Til by turning, turning, we come round right.", February 12, 2006

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tauntons Complete Illustrated Guide To Turning (Hardcover)

I've avoided lathe work for a great many years, satisfying my lust for sawdust by cabinetry and furniture. But in the back of my mind there has always been a little voice that would ask me 'why not?' every time I looked at a block off wood with beautiful grain. Well I finally broke down and spent the sizeable amount of money needed to buy and equip a good lathe. "While I'm waiting for it to be shipped," I thought, "I'll read a book about it." After all this is how I've taught myself just about everything else.

Let me preface the remarks I'm about to make with the fact Turning, by Richard Raffan, is an excellent introduction to the subject of turning. The book is an inexhaustible resource for learning about the lathe, its tools, wood, preparation and the main varieties of lathe work - spindle, end grain, and face. There is even a bit on sanding and finishing. Well illustrated, I don't think you could do better for starting out and shop reference.

But, and this is a big but, learning to work on a lathe is not like learning to work on a table saw. The latter presents a set of basic mechanical tasks that become clear quickly. While the table saw has some esoterica about it, there is nothing actually difficult to master. The lathe, however, is a world unto itself. The possible choices of tools and techniques are large, shapes are nearly infinite, and it is all going on at high speed only inched from your fingers.

No book can accurately describe the shift one makes in holding a gouge or the proper pace for cutting threads. For that you will need a human with enough patience to take you through the learning period. Indeed, by this book, read it carefully, and put it on a shelf. Then sign up for lessons, figure out what you really want to do with your lathe, and return to this book. Mastery will follow, but not without a few unnerving moments.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A woodworker's 'bible' on master techniques, May 12, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tauntons Complete Illustrated Guide To Turning (Hardcover)

Richard Raffan's Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide To Turning is a woodworker's 'bible' on master techniques for turning bowls and spindles. Turning is typically covered in general woodworking guides; not afforded its own specific title: a quick access organization makes for specific tips and techniques paired with over 800 photos and drawings on using turning tools, specialty finishing techniques, and more.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars almost complete, June 2, 2006

By 

MojoMMjojo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tauntons Complete Illustrated Guide To Turning (Hardcover)

This is a very good book:
Turning covers to many areas to be complete it skips details to make room for the different diversities in each field of turning that it does cover. Its a compilation of 3 books and each field is to an extent covered, but shortened. I have no regrets to buying this book since i'm not a pro the books really more than adequate for myself but just from reading tibbets book i could recognize missing details in raffans book. This book is good for a beginner, buy it with tibbetts book and it will be completed. Raffans book is really diverse and could keep a beginner busy for some time buy it you wont regret it. Overall this is excellent book worth the buy and an attractive book to add to your library.