Turning Wood With Richard Raffan

Rating:
Summary: excellent book!
Review: 165 pages. 16 page color gallery. A technique book, not many projects, a lot of instruction on tool usage. Projects include: Box, Scoop, Light Pull Knob, Bowl, tool handle. Contents: The Lathe; Fixings: Drives, Faceplates & Chucks; Cutting Tools; General Approach; Measuring; Centerwork; Facework; Notes on Finishing; Gallery; Appendices: Troubleshooting; Selecting Timbers; Make a tool handle; Make a screw faceplate.

Rating:
Summary: Great book. Most useful, broad & well illustrated.
Review: Great book. Very useful for a novice, particularly with regard to tool selection & use.

Rating:
Summary: Great book. Most useful, broad & well illustrated.
Review: Great book. Very useful for a novice, particularly with regard to tool selection & use.

Rating:
Summary: It includes some very important basics.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: It includes some very important basics.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Out of all the woodturning books I bought, this is number 1
Review: Turning Wood with Richard Raffan is my number one pick out of the several books I bought on wood turning. He went into the lathe, its components, safety, and techniques. The editorial reviews go into all of the subjects covered in this book, so I will not reapeat them all. What I wanted to share with you is the overall feeling of the book. You know the frustration of buying a book, and it doesn't feel right. I guess you could analyze some of the reasons why. This book feels right. The photos, the explanations, the way it is laid out, all are done in a way that makes me say, I really like this book.
I turned wood when I was in high school. Recently acquired a lathe, and wanted someone to walk me through the essentials. This book covers that. Safety is a primary concern. For example he explains, that you always want to use your wood turning chisel from the higher areas, into the shallower. If you do it the other way around, you could have a piece of wood flying into your face. It is like your skiing down the side of the mountain. I know this sounds trivial, but he is not afraid to cover the essetials for those of us renewed in the hobby.
Great book, highly recommended.