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Richard Raffan wrote a book called 'Turned Bowl Design'. I got a used copy from Amazon. I assume the book copyrighted in 1987 is out of print by now.

The reason I am posting this is the book talks about using templates as guides to doing bowls. I just did 6 rough bowls using a template made from cardboard. I drew a picture of the bowl shape I wanted and cut it out. The negative of the bowl (Raffan's term) is the template. He also says be sure to turn off the lathe before touching the template to the bowl you are trying to create.

Perhaps the real experts can make all their bowls look alike but it appears templates can be a real help to the rest of us. I have seen pictures or videos where people drew on bowls logs with crayons but have never seen any source besides the book where templates were mentioned.

Has anyone else seen any mention of templates?

Reply to
TWW
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I have never used them. If i tried to, then the piece of wood that I had selected would not want to be turned that way, due to defects, bark inclusions, or just plain orneryness. Look at the shapes in the book, then try to duplicate it in wood, and modify as needed. If it isn't perfect, don't worry about it. If I have ever turned two bowls that were the same, it was an accident. robo hippy

Reply to
robo hippy

TWW

See my earlier post re a CAD program. Trying to match to the template instead of going with the flow is excellent training. But I've found you can't reduce turning to exact numbers on curves. You have to develop a feel for the curve and the tool's contact otherwise you end up with a bunch of hiccups along the curve and a whole new design when finishing time comes.

Print the image, cut it out, place it over black construction paper, then set it behind your work for reference.

See CharlieB's "Got in the zone again" post and the link.

TomNie

Reply to
Tom Nie

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