Woodturning

Have you ever watched someone turn a block of wood into a beautifully shaped piece and thought, That looks like fun. The good news is getting started is easier than you think and we'll show you how

What tools do you need to get started in the fun and creative world of woodturning? Learn which lathe to choose and which turning tools you need.

Learn to turn a pen from start to finish. This is a fun and fast project for beginning and experienced woodturners. 

In this post we share some easily misunderstood concepts about woodturning with the hope of decreasing confusion and adding to your enjoyment and safety.

Wood and acrylic are the most common materials used when turning a ring. But that doesn't mean you are limited to those materials. Sometimes it's fun to experiment with other materials in your turning projects. Peter Brown is known for pushing the limits of turning materials. In this case, he used crayons and real snakeskin to make two unique rings. First, he used our Stainless Steel 2-Part Ring Core and a set of crayons to create a colorful ring. Next, he mixed pieces of snakeskin and epoxy to create a micarta, or layered material, turning blank. Learn how he created these rings in his video below.

There are several good reasons to seal raw wood that will be used for food-contact items, such salt shakers and pepper mills.

What is a lathe chuck used for in woodturning? A lathe chuck, also referred to as a scroll chuck, is a wood lathe accessory that is used to secure turning blanks. Rather than mount your bowl turning blank on a lathe faceplate, it's easier to turn a bowl using a four-jaw lathe chuck. As the name suggests, this type of chuck has four jaws, and these jaws can be adjusted in and out to hold a workpiece, either by contracting around a turned tenon or expanding into a recess you turn in the workpiece.

In this video, Peter Brown creates resin blanks which he turns into unique honey dipper handles.

Through turning you can create unique stretchers and a nice footrest for your shop stool.

Woodworker's Journal'a Rob Johnstone is a big proponent of mounting a drill chuck to your lathe to give you a head start hole when turning.

This project shows how to turn a relatively simple screwdriver handle with a hidden storage compartment for several different sized bits.