Wood Turning

Watching an experienced wood turner develop and form an exquisite bowl, spindle or other turning from a block of raw wood can be an inspiring, and in some cases, intimidating sight. But learning the basics of wood turning isn't difficult. After you know how to use your lathe safely, and techniques for using each tool, it becomes a matter of...

Woodturning can be a very enjoyable hobby (one that is often considered separately from fine woodworking), and if the novice focuses on developing the fundamental basics of woodturning, it can be a very safe hobby too. The same woodturning techniques used to turn spindles such as table legs, bed posts or finials can be applied to turning bowls,...

When wood turning on a lathe, as with other woodworking tools, safety should be the woodworker's first concern. Learn the special precautions one should keep in mind when wood turning, to make wood turning fun and safe.

In woodturning spindles, there are a handful of basic profiles that can be combined to create some pretty artistic spindle designs. Nearly all spindles are created using a combination of square or v-grooves, fillets and coves. Here are the profiles most commonly used in woodturning spindles.

In creating nearly every spindle or bowl that is turned on a lathe, the first tool used is probably a roughing gouge. This curved chisel is often used to round a square blank before more intricate work can begin. If proper technique is applied, the roughing gouge is a safe and fun tool to use. Learn how to use a roughing gouge in this...

The most common use for a parting tool in woodturning is to separate a finished turning from the rest of the un-turned stock, cutting off the part, if you will. It's not a one-trick pony, though, as parting tools can be used for other turning tasks, such as cutting square-grooves in spindles. Learn how to properly and safely use a parting tool...

A skew chisel is a woodturning tool that is commonly used for making square-shaped grooves in a spindle (although it has plenty of other uses as well, such as creating rolling beads, v-grooves and can even be used for smoothing or planing a profile). It is also one of the more dangerous turning tools, so proper technique must be applied to use...

Woodturning can be a lot more than just spindles and bowls. Did you know that you can turn oblong hammer handles on a lathe? Instead of buying a new hammer handle the next time one breaks, cut one of your own on your lathe using these simple tips.

Are you new to wood turning? Brian Clifford shows you the basics of wood turning with this very extensive and informative online book. Even if you've been turning for years, you may learn some tips from this terrific resource.

When Larry Hancock was asked to create some gavel samples for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, he didn't know what size to build. In this article, he shows you how to turn the gavels that he made for the State House.

Bowl turning is among the most popular of woodworking activities. Learn the basics of this enjoyable aspect of woodworking by turning a simple bowl.