Woodturning with Ray Allen: A Master's Designs & Techniques for Segmented Bowls and Vessels (Fox Chapel Publishing) 11 Plans and a Gallery of Work from One of the Nation's Best Segmented Wood Turners

If you are interested in segmented woodturning it is pretty hard to go past this book. It was written on behalf Ray Allen by long time friend Dale Nish, and it's a sad fact to learn that Ray didn't live to see his book published. Ray should feel very proud wherever he is for this work, a full colour book all the way through with clear diagrams and pictures to assist you with that segmented woodturning challenge.The first and second chapters are brief and consist of showing you Ray's commonly used tools and some explanations on segmented blueprints.The third chapter gets into the meat of the subject with 29 pages showing a step by step, blow by blow process for cutting, sanding, gluing, shaping, turning and finally finishing a segmented bowl. Loads of pictures on every page will give a great idea of how to approach each step.Chapter four has a beautiful gallery of over 50 full colour pages often with multiple bowls on each page that showcases Ray's art.The fifth chapter has 11 projects of segmented bowls for you to try along with complete cutting lists of every ring.And lastly the sixth chapter treats you to some of the more complex segmenting to achieve different patterns, such as bricks, spirals, flags and moreIf you are looking to try segmented woodturning and need a place to start for instruction AND inspiration then you can't go wrong with this book. Good on you, Ray, and I hope you are enjoying yourself on the big lathe up in the sky.

This one book covers a full path of the author's methods from concept, planning, cutting, and assembly of segmented vessels using simple techniques and tools. There is excellent photography of superb segmented wood turnings made by a true master artist! A wide variety of design ideas are pictured. This provides a great source of ideas. The "how-to" illustrations and photos of creating the segments and rings use multiple techniques to plan, cut, assemble, and turn the piece to the desired shape. Nice illustrations show the details of creating the overall shape of the piece and the components that make up the patterned accent rings. Emphasis is on the need for precision. Many jigs are shown to facilitate the particular needs of segmented turning. But, drawings and details of the jigs are not shown. Also, there is little discussion of shape or proportion to make an aesthetically pleasing artistic design. Open segmenting is not discussed in this book. Neither is the use of veneers. And, it does not much go into the techniques of turning and hollowing. Nor does this book make an effort to show the many alternate jigs, tools, finishes, sanding methods, and techniques available. But, the book does an excellent job in the materials it covers and makes a great single source of knowledge and inspiration.

If your new to segmented turning. you may need to combine this book with "Segmented Turning...A Good Start" by Bill Kandler, and you will have a pretty good book combo for segmented turning. The fifty plus pages of Gallery color photos give you a a wide range of ideas of what to make. Thirty plus pages of bowl plans with pictures of the bowls. A great book if you already have beginner knowledge.

I don't own the book, but I checked one out from my local library, and plan to buy one very soon. Dale Nish (an icon in the wood turning world) did a great job of documenting another icon in the turning world, Ray Allen. Mr. Allen, who passed away in 2000, invented a lot of the techniques and designs that are standard for segmented turners today. I also have Malcolm Tibbetts book, The Art of Segmented Wood Turning: A Step-by-Step Guide. Between the two, there is little about segmented turning that isn't presented. Mr. Allen's book is also one of the best books around for describing how lots of different feature rings are designed and assembled. If you are into segmented turning, this is a book you must have in your library.

This book is very inspirational. Although Mr. Allen was very focused on Native American motifs, the help he gives transcends that and seems applicable to any segmented work. There are some helpful jig ideas, too. The gallery is stunning and the step-by-step help is thorough. If I have one disappointment it would be that there are few design ideas outside of the Native American motifs. But that does not diminish the book in any way. I'm glad I bought this book, though I would not consider it a stand-alone volume. It needs some help to more fully equip the novice turner (like me!). The perfect companion for that would be "The Art of Segmented Wood Turning" by Malcolm Tibbetts. I think both books are needed to get the fullest understanding.

Beautiful book. Gives you all you need to make exceptional bowls. Great pictures and details.

The photos truly captured the amazing details of Ray Allen's incredible turnings.

I like the book but it was a little over my head as far as understanding how to turn out this vases otherwise would be great for the more advanced wood turner

The author did his final fitting with the power sander, whereas I like to get my wedgy sled set up accurately to eliminate all the sanding.

the whole thing in the book

Notevole ed illuminante, fotografie eccezionali e progetti ben illustrati. per chi vuole imparare la tornitura segmentata, da non perdere, prezzo popolare, considerato il contenuto e la qualità!

This book is good with a ot of details, drawings and pictures.There are a lot of geometric samples, more dedicated to vases and bowls.

This is an A-ha! book for those seeking actual layout help and ideas on building up turning laminates. Are you a turner, are you trying to decide if this book is going to be the right one? The answer is yes. Yes it is the one you are looking for.