Turning Wood W/Richard Raffan [Paperback]

Richard Raffan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2001

This book is considered a primer for anyone who is interested in learning how to turn wood. This revised edition includes new techniques, up-to-date information on tools, and all the basics -- from the lathe to the techniques necessary to get started.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

It is hard to improve upon perfection, but Raffan does, bringing his classic introduction to woodturning up-to-date. Readers are introduced to the lathe, the methods of attaching wood to it, and (most importantly) turning tools and their proper care and use. Woodturning is arguably the most difficult woodworking discipline because proper technique is so important (a slip or moment of inattention and the project is gone, sometimes flying directly toward one's face). Raffan is a gifted instructor whose years as a production turner have developed a pragmatic style and an economy of motion. By mastering these techniques, one can move on to any style of woodturning. This is the standard title on the subject and an essential purchase; even libraries that own the original edition should consider this update, since many changes have occurred, especially in the area of equipment.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this revision of a 1983 book that sold nearly 100,000 copies, chapter one is a brief guide to the lathe that explains its standard parts. Attachments for the lathe--drives, faceplates, and chucks--are described in chapter two, and cutting tools, such as gouges, scrapers, chisels, and parting tools, in chapter three. Chapters follow on safety precautions; measuring diameters, depths, and wall thickness; centerwork and facework; and finishing surfaces. Problems, symptoms, and remedies are discussed in one appendix, and selecting and seasoning wood in another. The useful paperback contains 355 color photographs and 69 black-and-white line drawings. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press; Rev Upd edition (March 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561584177
• ISBN-13: 978-1561584178
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Power Tools

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It includes some very important basics., January 27, 2002

By 

charles t. noack (Bay Area, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turning Wood W/Richard Raffan (Paperback)

I have some experience in turning wood. I am getting back into it and wanted to freshen up on some safety items. I was having a hard time finding what speed to start turning a piece of wood I had preparted. After reviewing several book on a book store shelf, this book was the only one that actually has a chart for wood sizes and speeds to match. I think this is very, very important. For this reason alone I would give this book a 5 star rating; valuable information that other authors left out.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book!, February 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Turning Wood with Richard Raffan (Fine Woodworking Book) (Paperback)

Raffan's book is excellent! There is also a video that is available that gives footnotes to pages in the book. I have been turning for a year and a half and I was given a copy of the video and I later purchased the book. It has helped me greatly as I study it. He covers sharpening, turning spindles, bowls, boxes and making other round things.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for the novice turner, May 2, 2005

By 

Barbara Rhoades "Jackie of all Trades" (O'Fallon, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turning Wood W/Richard Raffan (Paperback)

As a brand new wood lather owner, I wanted a book that would give me some basic instruction, some exercises and a simple project or two. I was not disappointed in Turning Wood by Richard Raffan. Mr. Raffan writes with humor although what he is saying is not to be taken lightly. He cautions again the things that can harm a new turner and even one who has worked on a lathe for years such as wrapping a rag around your fingers when applying oil to a project or an even better one: "Don't work when you are tired".

Turning Wood begins with an explanation of the parts of the machine and continues with the extras one could buy to enhance/make your turning easier. He discusses chucks, drives, faceplates and adhesives. There is even a chapter on sharpening the tools which is very important as a dull tool can get you hurt. He also recommends getting The Complete Guide to Sharpening by Leonard Lee which I plan on purchasing. He does speak to safety many, many times and I have to agree that this is one area that cannot be over emphasized.

The projects offered were a Pencil Pot, a Vase and even a Lidded Box. He does recommend "wasting" wood so you become familiar with the best way to make grooves, coves- turn your square blank to a cylinder, create your grooves, coves and bead and turn it back to a cylinder again and keep repeating until there is nothing left. Simply stated PRACTICE, PRACTICE and more PRACTICE! As in all woodworking, dust and wood chips are a constant. Mr. Raffan describes how to make a Handmade Vacuum System.

I did find several proofing errors in the book like the one on page 62: "Over the years I've had four lots of stitches mending my face and forehead..." and a photo reference on page 14 that refers to page 65 (the actual graphic is on 67). I also found a sentence split by the Vase project which took me a bit to figure out where the end of the sentence was. It was four pages over.

I thought a glossary of terms would have been useful to the novice turner. And it would have been nice if the book were ring/wire bound as it would stay flat on my workbench so I could reference the exercises and projects as I used the lathe.

All in all, this is one book that every beginning turner should invest in. If you do nothing other than look at the photos and read their captions, you will get a small part of what this book is all about. It is packed-full of all the do's and don'ts of turning wood.