I am just now becoming familiar with it.

Does anyone care to educate us further on what it is, how it works, and why you do it?

 

Thanks!

Here's a video you can relate to, John-

 

 

Why would you use it? It does provide a way to create bowl type objects with little waste and from flat stock.

I belonged to a forum "Woodworking Friends" which recently closed down.  There was a group there that made some beautiful bowls with that machine.  The attraction is the fact that a bowl can be made from a board thus less materials.  Many designs can be made by gluing up boards of different colored wood species.  He is a "Dizzy" bowl that is popular with them.  There is a lot of video on YouTube.

 

 

Edited June 12, 20196 yr by HandyDan

I just got a ringmaster, still haven’t assembled it. Hoping to get an attempt at a bowl this summer.

4 hours ago, lew said:

Here's a video you can relate to, John-

Wow that is awesome! Thanks for the video Lew, that just looks too danged fun!

3 hours ago, HandyDan said:

Many designs can be made by gluing up boards of different colored wood species.

Dan, thanks for the pics, those are really neat. Really neat!

1 hour ago, Artie said:

I just got a ringmaster, still haven’t assembled it. Hoping to get an attempt at a bowl this summer.

That is great news Artie!

I had a ringmaster and they work as advertised. A person can make a bowl from a board pretty quickly. Two things I didn't like about it. Without a lot of finagling, the bowls all look like a funnel IMO, and they have corners. I don't like corners in a bowl. That, and there is always a plug in the bottom to fill the hole left by the mounting bolt. Overall, the bowls from a ringmaster just don't appeal to me.

RM bowls have a large learning curve. You cannot use lathe tools so start with 50 or 60 grit and work up. You can make a bowl to look like a segmented piece or many other patterns. I have not done one but curved pieces can be done but takes more than one board. There is a measuring process to determine the angle needed to cut the rings and there are different thickness you can cut for rings. The traditional way to cut rings is to leave a hole in the bottom but they can have a solid bottom. Dizzy bowls are a very involved process and work best with a jig to cut thin layers with a bandsaw.

 

The lathe itself is made in either a lathe mounted or freestanding with motor. Mine is lathe mount. There are accessories to set the blades (yes there are two) . One blade cuts the front and one cuts the back. The cutting mechanism is moved forward after each cut .

Rings are stacked and clamped for gluing.

 

Blank glued up and planed.

This is the top view. You can see the original board in the bottom.

 

 

YUP! That’s what I want to be able to do. 

I learned about the ringmaster 30 years ago when working for Shopsmith and sold the Smitty model units.  I agree with Steve about their limitations but it is a great way to convert flat stock into a turning. 

So the side job for my friends that I’ve been working on since October 2017, is OVER! I have some time time for myself, SHHHHHHH don’t tell anyone! As a reward to myself, I bought me a Ringmaster. I read up on it, watched some videos, and maybe I’m giving myself too much credit, but there didn’t appear to be too much talent needed, that I couldn’t learn how to use it (understanding that some firewood may be produced in the beginning LOL). I have too many projects started and not finished (maybe I’m not the only one with this problem? LOL), so I’m gonna finish some stuff first. I’m thinking September for a first attempt. Some of the segmented turnings are awesome looking. So because we like pictures, here are some of it outta the box, and then assembled and on the Shopsmith.

Looks like you're in for some fun, Artie.

Way to go Artie.

I see in your in your first picture you have a "PAG" (precision angle guide).  Here is a video on how it is used.  This guy knows the Ringmaster inside and out.  Check out the rest of his videos too.

 

 

Artie, you got to spread some sawdust around THEN take the picture.  Wives look at this stuff, and they see, clean shops.  You are not helping some people here....

Well Artie that is the first step. Not just take a look at the chart I sent you .

1.  cut the blank into a circle,

2.  Drill a 1/2 inch hole in the center ,

3.  Measure thickness in several places and average,

4.  Get out that chart I sent you and use the PAG to set angle,

5.  Mount blank and cut rings.

 

Why wait for what you can do now?

Looking forward to your experiments, learning and final products.  Those are amazing.  Glad you have one.  

Yay Artie!  I agree with Gerald, let's get started.  I am here for moral support

I can provide a little moral support myself Artie. Have at it. What I know about turning you could write on a postage stamp.