Thread: Raffan technique

Saw it demonstrated at the Bris Woodshow. Looked scary to me, and Mr R did suggest you practice with someone watching to work out where the mistakes were!

It worked a treat though.

Cheers,

P

The trick is to keep the bevel rubbing the whole way.
Question: End grain only?
I've seen it referred to as an endgrain cut.
What happens if you do it across?

looks like a good way to get a dig in to me. if you keep the shaft of the tool against the edge of the bowl it should be ok.

Tried this a number of times over the years, always with the same 'oh ????' result

This is typical of a number of Raffans early video techniques, like roughing with the long point of the skew, etc. Works for him, and only a few others!!

regards

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Saw it demonstrated at the Bris Woodshow. Looked scary to me, and Mr R did suggest you practice with someone watching to work out where the mistakes were!

It worked a treat though.

Cheers,

P

Agree 100% - a very accomplished woodturner with techniques that scare the carp out of a novice - I know Neal and i were not enthused by his techniques - the results impressive but the methods appeared dangerous for him so for us a invitation to hospital. I am sure woodturning doesn't have to be stressful or seem risky. We all were uneasy when he made some quick reflex actions to avoid what we could not avoid - there were some murmurings and gasps during the displays.

Its used for endgrain hollowing for goblets, scoops etc.

Quick and easy once you get to know it.

We, here, are lucky in having Richard walk us through it.

Thanks for posting this, Hughie. Short but sweet video.
If I had a gouge with that squared off grind on it, I'd give it a go. Looks like fun... at least for a small box or goblet, etc..
I wonder what angle the bevel is, in relation to the flute....

Back hollowing is it called? demo'd it at the turnfest down here.

Would seem one advantage is that you're controlling the tool handle on the side of the lathe you stand on.

The bevel looks fairly short Al.

Thanks for the post Hughie.

I was watching a video on the Woodworking channel by a French fella and he said Richard had instructed him in its use, but "it wasn't for the fainthearted".

It does not take much to learn how to do it. I prefer to use a 10mm spindle gouge.

It really is the ideal way to cut end grain as the timber is supported by the grain underneath leaving a very good finish.

It could be used on bowls but the reverse is true. When you cut downhill on the inside of the bowl the grain is supported by the uncut timber.

Cutting in and out can get rid of a lot of material very quickly.

Saw him at the wood show in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago. He's very approachable. I managed to get a quick (about two minutes) hands on lesson on how to turn "quick" beads on the outside of a bowl. He's a very good teacher. His method was really fast (as most/all of his turning is) and once you got the "hang" of it was really quite easy. Really nice when someone as well known as that will give advice freely.

Peter

LoL, I asked him the same thing at the show in Melb last year and he was kind enough to add it to the demo. Missed out on a 1 on 1 though.

Two questions:
who is my long lost twin: short, bold, bearded and bespectacled, Raffan or Festo?

Is all that's different in this technique that the tool moves vertically instead of horizontally, or am I missing something?

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Two questions:
who is my long lost twin: short, bold, bearded and bespectacled, Raffan or Festo?

Is all that's different in this technique that the tool moves vertically instead of horizontally, or am I missing something?

"Little" Festo is the taller. Raffan's the bold one, just like his tool work.

Peter