Customer Reviews

Woodturning with Ray Allen: A Master's Designs & Techniques for Segmented Bowls & Vessels

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This is arguably the best book on segmented turning that has been published. It far surpassed my expectations, even though I expected a lot. The book has three major parts: First comes a detailed, step-by-step guide with 95 color photographs that carefully walks the turner through the complete sequence needed to make one of Ray Allen's designs. This is certainly not for the novice turner, and a sound understanding of woodturning techniques and general woodworking skills would be necessary to follow this part. But for the intermediate to advanced turner wanting to try out segmented work, this book is the best introduction one could imagine. Even the experienced segmented turner will find a tip or two that will be of interest. The second part of the book is the gallery section, which is outstanding, and consists of no less than 55 pages with several full color photographs on each page. It features a large part of Ray Allen's work, and it is a wonderful source of inspiration. The gallery section alone would have been worth more than the price of the book to me. The last part of the book contains blueprints and assembly sequences for many of the vessels and patterns in the book. While this is not nearly as detailed as the first part, it is still an excellent resource, and will help the reader to come up with his or her own designs and ways to build them. All in all, a must have for segmented turners of all skill levels, as well as for anybody wishing to give segmented turning a try but wasn't quite sure how to start.

If you are interested in segmented woodturning it is pretty hard to go past this book. It was written on behalf Ray Allen by long time friend Dale Nish, and it's a sad fact to learn that Ray didn't live to see his book published. Ray should feel very proud wherever he is for this work, a full colour book all the way through with clear diagrams and pictures to assist you with that segmented woodturning challenge.

The first and second chapters are brief and consist of showing you Ray's commonly used tools and some explanations on segmented blueprints.

The third chapter gets into the meat of the subject with 29 pages showing a step by step, blow by blow process for cutting, sanding, gluing, shaping, turning and finally finishing a segmented bowl. Loads of pictures on every page will give a great idea of how to approach each step.

Chapter four has a beautiful gallery of over 50 full colour pages often with multiple bowls on each page that showcases Ray's art.

The fifth chapter has 11 projects of segmented bowls for you to try along with complete cutting lists of every ring.

And lastly the sixth chapter treats you to some of the more complex segmenting to achieve different patterns, such as bricks, spirals, flags and more

If you are looking to try segmented woodturning and need a place to start for instruction AND inspiration then you can't go wrong with this book. Good on you, Ray, and I hope you are enjoying yourself on the big lathe up in the sky.

This book is very inspirational. Although Mr. Allen was very focused on Native American motifs, the help he gives transcends that and seems applicable to any segmented work. There are some helpful jig ideas, too. The gallery is stunning and the step-by-step help is thorough. If I have one disappointment it would be that there are few design ideas outside of the Native American motifs. But that does not diminish the book in any way. I'm glad I bought this book, though I would not consider it a stand-alone volume. It needs some help to more fully equip the novice turner (like me!). The perfect companion for that would be "The Art of Segmented Wood Turning" by Malcolm Tibbetts. I think both books are needed to get the fullest understanding.

This book is worthwhile if you are learning about how to do segmented turning or if the designs interest you. The instructions are clear but brief and show one master's methods.
The photos and designs are excellent making this not only a how-to book, but a nice photo book for the coffee table.

Not quite as in depth as the Malcolm Tibbetts book on segmented turning.

I have scanned the book again and again. It is hard to leave an object for the next one, the art work is so perfect.
It is an endless source of inspiration

I don't own the book, but I checked one out from my local library, and plan to buy one very soon. Dale Nish (an icon in the wood turning world) did a great job of documenting another icon in the turning world, Ray Allen. Mr. Allen, who passed away in 2000, invented a lot of the techniques and designs that are standard for segmented turners today. I also have Malcolm Tibbetts book, The Art of Segmented Wood Turning: A Step-by-Step Guide. Between the two, there is little about segmented turning that isn't presented. Mr. Allen's book is also one of the best books around for describing how lots of different feature rings are designed and assembled. If you are into segmented turning, this is a book you must have in your library.

This very inspiring book is very detailed with beautiful photographs. Together with the book, I purchased: woodturning with Ray Allen(DVD).
I found that the DVD is the perfect complement as Ray Allen himself is shown working in his workshop, explaining his choice of wood, colors, and describing some of his techniques. The bowls are filmed as they turn, which gives an even better idea of beauty of this art and the quality of the artist. I can highly recommend both the book and the DVD.Woodturning with Ray Allen (DVD)

This book is very instructional for those practicing bowl and lamp construction as wood turning projects.

I found this book worth my time to read and it was very useful for my woodturning. I would recomand it to all woodturners.

Ray Allen is easily one of the best on turning Segmented bowls. This book is very well laid out and is a tribute to Ray's many great bowls. Ray Allen was a classic and this book does him proud. This book has it all. Each of the sections of the book are great. That last section of the book shows the secrets to making some of the complex designs. With this knowledge, you can soon learn to adapt his designs to make your own. The pictures will inspire you. We now have tools that Ray Allen did not have and so some of his techniques may be out dated, but you can see the process he used and learn from him. I don't have to make some of his complicated designs to be successful. Even some of his simple bowls are quite beautiful. There is a bowl in here for everyone. Ray Allen has broken down a complicated process and made it simple for the rest of us.

This book is a classic and will be used by me for many years.