I always enjoy your videos.  Thanks for sharing this set with us.

As a beginner, I would love to have a commentary running with this to explain what is being used and why things are done.  For example, I'm curious as how you decide which part of the log to make into a bowl blank.  And, yes, I know that is a very long topic to cover all the possibilities.  I'd just like to know why the cuts were made the way they were made on these pieces.  Maybe I'll figure it out by the time I watch all three segments (which I can guarantee you I will be doing!)
<edit>  Actually, my questions are about cutting the blanks initially.  Once he starts turning, I'm learning a lot!

Great video Bob soo much good info for all skill ranges.

Hi, Michael:
Since I had to replace the main board in my lathe a couple of years ago I have noticed that it does not seem to have as much power as it used to.  The replacement board was an XP board and the lathe is a DVR 3000, so I have been wondering if the two are not quite 100% compatible.  I have heard of another turner who had the same issue.  I don't recall being easily able to stall my lathe before the change and I can stall it now without much trouble.  Everything else is just fine but there does not seem to be as much power as there used to be.

That wasn't as off topic as it seems, since I was leading up to saying that I core at 1000 rpm., mainly because I need the momentum from the extra speed to make up for the lack of power.  I have tried coring at slower speeds but it really hasn't worked out. 

Finish turning depends on the size of the bowl.  I expect that when I bring this one back I will start out at 500 again to bring it back to round, then speed it up to 800 or so for the final shaping and finish turning. 

But, as I mentioned in another thread, I have often been told I turn things too fast.     Don't spin anything any faster than you are comfortable with.

Take care
Bob

Hi, Michael:
I spoke to Tim Geist, who was the Teknatool service rep. at the time, about it and the only suggestion he had was to re-wire to 220V from 110V.  I did that but did not notice any improvement.

The other fellow I was in contact with that had the same problem had tried different settings but was still not happy with the power.  He was in England where the utility power is 220V @ 50 hz. so I am not sure whether a solution that worked for him would be applicable here or not, even if he had found one.

As I said, the lathe works perfectly in all other respects, and has adequate power as long as I don't get too demanding.

Take care
Bob

Hi, Anthony:
The saw is a Stihl model MSE 220.  It was quite expensive but has been working very well so far.  It makes the Poulan and Remington electric saws I have feel like toys. 

Bob

Hi, Anthony:
I originally bought a Poulan with a 16" bar (~$80-$100) and it works fine for crosscutting and trimming the corners, but any time I try to make ripping type cuts where the shavings are coming out as long ribbons they tend to clog up in the drive sprocket and throw the chain off the sprocket.  It is also a manual chain oiler which is just a plastic bottle which you must press on the cap with your thumb to feed the oil.

My next saw was a Remington with a 16" bar.  It was the top of the line saw that Home Depot carried (~$110-$120) and has an automatic chain oiler.  It also works well for crosscutting and trimming, and at first seemed to be working well for ripping with no issues of the chain being thrown off the drive sprocket.  Unfortunately, after only a couple of hours of cutting blanks the brushes burned off inside the motor.  It was pretty cheap to repair the motor but I realized that these consumer level saws just can't handle the workload of ripping. 

I bought the Stihl about two years ago and it has worked very well.  The motor does have thermal protection and I have tripped it a few times when doing heavy ripping in large logs, but that just requires giving it a few minutes to cool down and pressing the re-set button. 

These are the only electric saws I have any experience with.  I have heard that Makita makes a good one but have no direct experience.

Good Luck!
Bob