Woodturning | Craft Guide

Woods can be turned to make lots of different, practical and beautiful objects.

Bowl turning for example, start life as a solid lump of wood which is larger both in diameter and depth than the finished article. Which is why bowls can be rather expensive.

It is therefore relatively difficult to make a good living out of turning wood. Partly because of the waste as mentioned above but also the wood is expensive and hard to acquire. Also, the wood will arrive unseasoned and will therefore need to be left for up to two years before turning.

If the wood is not seasoned sufficiently it will crack and warp.

Seasoning

Fell your tree then saw it along the grain into planks. Store the planks held apart to allow air to circulate around them. You should store them for a couple of years in a shed.

You are able to purchase pre-seasoned, ready cut round blanks but you will have to pay the price of not doing the work yourself.

Tools of the trade

Lathe, Pole Lathe or Treadle Lathe
Inside and Outside Hooking Knives
Scrapers
Chisels
Parting tools
Gouges

These tools come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and materials.

Treadle Lathe

The Treadle Lathe is foot powered the same as the Pole Lathe but is a newer design that allows the wood being worked to spin in the same direction for cutting even when the treadle is released.

Popular things to turn would include, bowls, candlesticks, spindles, vases, egg cups, dishes and works of art with no practical use.