Wood turning projects become a directive for the beginning turner. Often, a wood worker has an idea in mind for the use of a lathe before acquiring it, usually a table leg of chair rung or two. Once that is done a few simple skills have been gained and the lathe generally has exerted its quite addictive nature. The question is often what to do next.
Wood turning projects are found on web sites, in books and on videos. They will usually have a picture of a finished product, details of steps to produce the product and sometimes videos to aid in learning new skills. Some will recommend a skill level for a turner to have before attempting the project. The better project sets will allow for a sequential gathering of skills as the projects are attempted in order.
The wood lathe is a unique tool in the workshop. First of all it is one of the safest power tools to use. In other tools, such as a table saw, the cutting edge moves and the wood is moved into it or as in the case of a drill press the wood is stationary and the moving cutting edge approaches the wood.
In the case of the wood lathe the reverse is true. The wood rotates and the tools are hand held to remove bits of wood. It is significantly more difficult to hurt oneself seriously if reasonable precautions are taken which are common to the workshop such as not wearing long sleeves or jewellery that may be caught in the turning machine.
However, this calls for a new set of skills that incorporate the fine touch of hand operations with the speed of power tools. Projects allow one to learn the new skills in the relative safety of progressively more difficult operations while producing various useful or decorative objects. The skills of making a tool handle move over to making a candlestick and so on. Every project generates new abilities to make the next one and the next one and so on. A good set of projects will allow the mastery of the lathe and later to design projects of ones own.
Darrell Feltmate is a juried wood turner whose web site, Around the Woods, contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner as well as a collection of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You too can learn to turn wood, here is the place to start. Wondering what it looks like? Follow the page links for a free video.
There are several wood turning projects fully explained on the web site. In particular, a selection of beginner's projects may be found on the Beginner's Projects page complete with explanation and step by step photos.
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