Pete - I was a Raffan fan learning before retiring. Have to get back
to it someday.

Remember the inside edge - protected by a large rubbing area or face of
the tool. The face rubs the wood and you angle or twist the cutting
edge on-the-fly keeping the face on the wood and inside edge cutting.

Raffan loves green wood - he can really fly with it and get sprayed all
over with juice.

Martin

On 6/24/2011 9:54 AM, Pete S wrote:
I have looked at several videos on using the bowl gouge and listened, as
carefully as I can to the audio.
In addition, I have looked at several websites/forums where this issue
is discussed.
---Still can't get the hang of it, the hollowing in particular.
Most videos are shot by a videographer, I think, who doesn't really know
what's going on, and so, misses the points that a novice like me needs.
One example: the instructor says something like: "hold the gouge like
this". The video shows the instructor's fist clamped around the tool,
while the tool's business end is completely hidden by the hand.

I would quit bowl turning altogether, and switch to basket weaving, but
we have 70 acres of woods and lot of bowl blanks drying.

Is there any way an ordinary human can learn this skill without a live
tutor?

Pete Stanaitis
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