Wood turning lathe tips, techniques and projects
to add to your joy
in turning.

Woodturners are inveterate tool junkies and the assortment of woodturning tools available from woodworking catalogues both paper and online is bewildering. However, the basics have not changed for centuries. Some help can be found here in the Milton and Wohlers Woodturning Course from 1919. Do not neglect the pleasure of making some of your own tools. Not only can you save a lot of money, you can have a lot of satisfaction. Some ideas for making woodturning tools in the basic home woodworking shop can be found here. In particular bowl turners should consider making an Oland tool in the style of Knud Oland. His wood turning legacy continues in the work of his wife, Lissi. At the same time do not forget all the great accessories also to be made.

In particular I find that wood turning beginners have two huge problems in learning to turn. First is the need for sharp tools. Most wood turning tools are supplied with the wrong shape grind and also need sharpening. In addition, wood turning tools are sharpened more frequently than most woodworking tools. Unfortunately sharpening free hand is difficult to learn and turning with dull tools is frustrating and dangerous. Take a look at the jig over at the sharpening woodturning tools page and either make the jig or get a commercial one. Either is well worth the time or money and the great savings in frustration.

Second is the question of what to turn. Of course this hits both beginner and intermediate turners while advanced woodturners tend to have a different problem in that they turn the sane thing over and over with slight variations. A look at the woodturning projects pages for beginners, intermediates and advanced may give some help in this. Consider a project on the wood lathe to be a learning experience. Experience with certain turning tools is refreshed or investigated and new techniques learned while old ones are perfected.

You may also have questions about where to get woodturning blanks. There is no need for most people to buy what can easily be found and made. The pages on wood turning bowls will give advice on getting wood and turning green wood from the log to the finished product. Spindle turners may also get some insight from these pages as I detail the use of chainsaw and bandsaw to develop spindle material. There is a bit more at the beginning of the wooden spoon project as well.

Woodturners like to share what they know or even what they would like to learn. You might like to join a great bunch over on the woodturners newsgroup, rec.crafts.woodturning, or the great and very busy forum, Wood Central. The link will take you to the woodturning message board but just about every aspect of woodworking is covered there too. Take the time to share some tips with us, ask questions, or show us your new turnings. Everyone is welcome from maybe turners to beginners to "WOW" woodturners.

Above all, enjoy yourself and stay safe. This hobby slash addiction in great fun. Take a look at the pictures, videos and words here and take what you want. There is nothing to sell but, I hope, a lot to enjoy. More is being worked on and added all the time. there are more articles and woodturning videos to come. Comments and crtitiques are always welcome if not followed. Again, have fun turning wood.