Turning Boxes with Richard Raffan (Paperback)

by Richard Raffan (Author) "Having the right tools makes any task easier and more enjoyable..." (more)
Key Phrases: Terry Baker, Stephen Hughes, Vic Wood

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Richard Raffan reveals the tricks and tips a woodworker needs to know when turning boxes -- from the cutting and seasoning of wood to finishing the piece. Now improved with color photos, Turning Boxes includes detailed instructions for turning each part of the box, as well as variations. Woodworkers will learn how to turn both basic and more challenging boxes.

About the Author
Richard Raffan is an internationally respected woodturning artisan and teacher. Collectors prize Raffan's gallery-quality production pieces, and he is the author of "Turning Wood, Turning Boxes, "and "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Turning,"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent box turning book, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Turning Boxes with Richard Raffan (Paperback)

170 pages. Black and White photos with Color photo gallery (20 pages). Excellent book on how to make boxes and many example forms. Step by step instructions with photos on making end-grain boxes, what to consider in designs, and many variations on the basic box (needle cases, earring cases, saturn boxes, mushroom boxes, screw-on lids). Many boxes shown throughout the text and a chapter on forms. The Gallery is a little far out, but interesting. The video is also great.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for turning ideas, June 20, 2005

By	Barbara Rhoades "Jackie of all Trades" (O'Fallon, MO USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After reading Turning Wood and "Turning" (Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Turning by Richard Raffan), I was ready for some new information. While Turning Boxes" didn't give me any new ideas on how to use the lathe or turning tools specifically, it was packed with many, many photos of boxes Mr. Raffan has turned. This alone will provide me with ideas on what type of profiles to turn and should keep me busy for hours.

The book covered how to turn threaded boxes and hit heavily on how to correctly fit a lid. Mr. Raffan also covered hollowing on end grain which is particularly tricky. A section on finishing gave me some ideas to ponder and the one on off-set turning creates some very unique boxes. There is another section that describes chatter work. And you thought that the tool chatter wouldn't be useful!

If you are looking for a book to learn the basics of turning, I would not recommend this one but "Turning Wood" by Mr. Raffan instead. Buy this one after you get a feel for the lathe and are looking for ideas to inspire your work such as making needles or drill cases.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Video, September 20, 2004

By	D. Terry Rogers (Jackson Hole, Wyoming) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Richard Raffan is a master turner and a better instructor than some others who have produced woodturning videos. The DVD format is great. Raffan very clearly shows how to use a skew chisel and other tools to turn wonderful little boxes. I highly recommend this video to all novice to intermediate woodturners.