Product Description

Turning is a special brand of woodworking. Only a lathe and a few cutting tools are needed to shape pieces of wood into delicate pieces of sculpture or practical household objects. Considered the turning primer, Raffan's book covers all the basics, from tools to techniques. This edition incorporates new technologies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224950 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-17
• Released on: 2001-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781561584178
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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

Customer Reviews

Out of all the woodturning books I bought, this is number 1
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.

It includes some very important basics.
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.

excellent book!
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.