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Thread: Any Ring Master users here?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Burlington, NC
    Posts
    821

    Any Ring Master users here?

    I just bought a used Ring Master in an on line auction to play with. Anybody have one that can give me a few pointers to accelerate my learning curve?

    Perry

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Posts
    282
    Perry - I have the ring master a love it. The lathe scares me to death - just can't get the hang of it. But with the ring master I can make bowls and more to my hearts content. Some folks would scoff at the ring master and say its not true woodworking - but it is really - in my humble opinion. A great website is woodenpost.com - Gary Neely is a good resouce and there is a link on the site for a forum for ring master users.

    I've had mine for several years now and have sold many of my creations. Good luck with yours.

    Betsy

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,760
    I'm glad someone finally commented on the Ringmaster. I have considered purchasing one but just haven't had the time for any new tools lately. Betsy, I understand your comment in that the Ringmaster bowls aren't like those made with a lathe but on the other hand it would be almost impossible for a lathe to make bowls like a Ringmaster can. Honestly I had been thinking about making Corian bowls with a Ringmaster.

    I hope to hear more from your experience with your Ringmaster Perry when you get the chance.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    15,332
    http://www.woodenpost.com/products/ring_master.htm was the best I could find. Are there any large pictures or better descriptions elsewhere?? I can't even tell exactly what it is or how it works....
    Wood: a fickle medium....

    Did you know SMC is user supported? Please help.

  5. #5
    I saw one at a woodworking show a few years ago. As I rememeber, you take a flat piece of wood and the "ringmaster" cuts progressivly smaller rings out of it. The sides of the rings are tapered so when you are all done, you stack the rings up to form a bowl. This description is probably of little help. It really is one of those things that you have to see to understand how simple the idea is.
    Dan

    There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, employ someone, or forbid your children to do it.
    -Monta Crane

  6. #6
    try RingMaster website Free Video and some other interesting things
    Dan McLaughlin

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Posts
    282
    The bowls, vases, pitchers, etc. that you can make on the ring master are nothing short of spectacular. You can go from the very simple cereal bowl to an elaborate elegant vase. One attraction for me is that It's not a lathe and my hands are always behind a guard. Another attraction is I can allow my friends' kids use it (with me watching, of course ) and they end up with a very nice project that was simple - yet still takes some skill.

    Other good points is that it uses considerably less wood than a lathe bowl.

    The machine itself is simply a grinder motor set up with a arbor with a 1/2 bolt on it. You drill and 1/2" hole in the exact center of a board (up to 12"), mount it on the arbor and set the cutter blades at the right angle and start cutting. That's a simple explanation - but I'm no author!

    To be very good with this machine you do have to commit yourself to pinpoint accuracy on the angle settings. But you can do it with some effort.

    Go to woodenpost.com for all kinds of information.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Burlington, NC
    Posts
    821
    Thanks for the input. For the $100 I got it for, I thought it would be interesting to play with. Actually, I have an idea for a product to add to my line that would use the Ring Master to make. I also like the idea of some sort of a segmented piece that uses Corian. I'll keep you posted.

    Perry
    Last edited by Ken Fitzgerald; 08-03-2011 at 8:30 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Springdale Ar,
    Posts
    17
    Got one I have had for years is a atchment for my lathe have made a lot of stuf with it . It is fun to work with. Have lot of fun.
    Tom

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Betsy Yocum
    Perry - I have the ring master a love it. The lathe scares me to death - just can't get the hang of it. But with the ring master I can make bowls and more to my hearts content. Some folks would scoff at the ring master and say its not true woodworking - but it is really - in my humble opinion. A great website is woodenpost.com - Gary Neely is a good resouce and there is a link on the site for a forum for ring master users.

    I've had mine for several years now and have sold many of my creations. Good luck with yours.

    Betsy
    Betsy,

    Some people would say a lathe isn't true woodworking, either, because it uses a machine, also. (Bowls can be carved by hand, you know.) The ring master probably makes it easier to make some forms, but so does segmented turing. It's not the tool, but the creating that makes "woodworking". (IMHO)

    Bob
    Spinning is good on a lathe, not good in a Miata.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Posts
    282
    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Hovde
    Betsy,

    Some people would say a lathe isn't true woodworking, either, because it uses a machine, also. (Bowls can be carved by hand, you know.) The ring master probably makes it easier to make some forms, but so does segmented turing. It's not the tool, but the creating that makes "woodworking". (IMHO)

    Bob
    Bob - you are so right - it is the creating - that's a good way to put it. I really enjoy my ringmaster and it makes such nice bowls, and vases - and for me that translates into unique gifts. Which is important to me.

    Betsy

  12. Smile Ring Master

    Perry,

    I am a distributor for Ring Master and it is an outstanding machine.

    I certainly classify it as woodworking, certainly as much as a lathe.

    It is certainly less dangerous, and the result is a function of how much care you take, and your imagination. Your imagination relative to shape, what woods to use, how to prepare blanks, how you orient the segments, and etc.

    I sell blanks and have many variations from single boards, to what I refer to as EZ-Sand style, which are fabricated so the sanding is essentially parallel to the grain, not alternating between parallel and cross grain, which is the norm.

    If you have any questions, please advise.

    George Hubbard
    Last edited by Ken Fitzgerald; 08-03-2011 at 8:29 AM.

  13. #13
    I found a video which does a pretty good job of showing how it works here: http://www.ringmastertool.com/PAGES/MOVIEGATEWAY.HTM

    I think there's a bit of puffery in comparing it to a lathe, but it looks like a very legitimate tool which does a nice job on hollow forms of a certain kind.

    One question remaining. What do you do about the 1/2" hole which will remain at the bottom of each piece?
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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Sheboygan, Wisconsin
    Posts
    71

    Ringmaster

    I purchased a used Ringmaster a year ago off of Craig's List, Paid only $15. Have been using to make many different kinds and sizes of bowls. Just started entering Artisan shows on the week-end and have done very well selling the product. I also own a regular late that I only use for turning green wood. Ringmaster had a web site put it no longer opens, I plan on checking into that. To get started just get a piece of wood cut to a 12" or less diameter and any thickness up to 1". Drill 1/2" hole in center and mount on spindle. Set angle according to thickness of wood and start cutting rings. Sand edges of rings and start gluing and clamp rings to dry. I prefer to glue first ring to base and let glue set up for short time and then unclamp and scrap glue off from base ( lot easier than sanding later ). Continue gluing rings, I prefer to do one at a time. Mount back on spindle to do finish sanding. Finishing can be done on ringmaster using a friction finish or just apply finish of your choice. Use a 1/2" plug cutter to cut two plugs to fill hole. Wish I had discovered this woodworking machine a long time ago. Hope this gets you started using your Ringmaster.
    IMG_1024.jpg
    Last edited by Robert Newton; 08-01-2011 at 10:25 PM.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lubbock Texas
    Posts
    931
    I once considered buying one but had a friend that loaned me one. I found it to anything but precision. I made a few bowls with it but did not like the fact that I spent much much more time sanding the bowls than I did forming them.. I did not buy the ringmaster after trying it out.
    No PHD, but I have a DD 214

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