basic woodturning projects

when I started turning I needed some projects that were cheap in materials but which taught technique.

A simple wood rolling pin is a nice project. Turn between centers, rough ot from square stock and some detail work on the handles.

For faceplate work cheeseboards or any shallow bowl is good.

Some of the first items I made were simple candle sticks and though I sold at craft fairs, five years later i still had these original sticks. Lo, this past spring I had an individual looking for something "special" and I invited them to my house to select from a greater variety than available at a show. Of cousre, you can guess, they picked these candle sticks (now nice and dry after 5 years) and thought these were so special.

So have a go, it matters not what you make. Its your eye and as you can see above, it only takes one person to think what you did is specal "to them"

I'm still at it 5 years latter and still learing and trying to become better

Hello James,

When I first started turning, I was also doing blacksmithing. I first made a set of tools or what I thought a set of tools should look like. I turned the first handle, using the tang of a woodworkers rasp that had a bevel ground on it and the edge sort of skewed. I put my newely forged and heat treated skew chisel into the new handle, and used it to make the other five handles. The handles were made out of wood salvaged from my firewood pile. I think they were Alder, but they could have been maple. I had some of both.

Now, with a full set of tools, I converted a lot of firewood into piles of shavings. I turned them round, turned beads, turned coves, made "V" grooves, etc. Then I made my wife the set of table lamps that she wanted. I turned a lot of spinner tops, they help give one tool control. I turned a lot of weed pots, these are little vases with a hole drilled down their center in which dried flowers could be displayed.

I don't really recommend turning any particular thing to start with, just learn how the tools cut, how to sharpen them, and make a lot of shavings out of cheap or free wood. When you can sharpen your tools where they will cut nice clean shavings and you've learned how to make the tool do what you want it to do, then and only then, find some simple project to make and make it several times to prove that you have your tool control the way you need it. I think someone recommended a rolling pin. That is a nice project to begin your project turning with. But remember, learn to sharpen and use the tools first!

At that point, you'll be ready for a project book. I recommend you subscribe to Woodturning magazine, published in the UK and buy Keith Rowley's book. Richard Raffan also has several good books, his Turning Wood with Richard Raffan is very good.

Welcome to the world of woodturning.

Fred Holder

Hi James,

You don't say where in the UK that you live. There are lots of woodturning clubs around where you can talk to turners for freely given advice. At my club, The Oxford Woodturners, we have frequent demonstrations by professional turners and 'hands on' evenings where you can have a go. The best way forward is to WATCH, MIMIC and PRACTICE. See how the demonstrator gets a particular shape, go home and mimic how he achieved it and then practice what you have learned. There are always members willing to help 'newbys'. Just make shapes to start with, coves, beads etc,. The rest will follow. I usually go to my lathe and just have five minutes making shavings before I start a project. This then gets me set up mentally for the job in hand. When you start turning, keep your first pieces of work so that as you progress in proficiency you can look back and reassure yourself that all the practice has been worth it. Turning is a very therapeutic and rewarding hobby so persevere,don't worry if things don't always end up as you had hoped and welcome to the world of woodturning.

Charlie

My suggestion comes from teaching begining turning to two of my granddaughters. Turn a vase! There is no shape that is really ugly and there is lots of room to experiment. After they get the piece in the round I encourage them to make a drawing of what is possible within the dimensions of that round and then go for it! Afterwards I drill an appropriately sized center hole, line it with water resistant varnish, and we thus have a work of art.

Bob Moody

Sounds like you'll not be needing plans for a while so here are some ideas for simple to semi-simple spindle type turning

tops christmas tree ornaments finials MAGIC WANDS!

Kids love magic wands, what with Harry Potter being all the rage. You can turn the handles on even a pen making lathe, the wand can be rough rounded with a block plane or a pen knife for that matter then chucked up in a hand drill or drill press and sanded round. Two holes, one dowel and some glue gets the two parts together. You'll get a lot of practice turning beads, coves, ogees etc. AND probably develop some bad habits you'll later need to unlearn.

Find a book or two on the type of turning you think you want to do, or better yet a tape or DVD. Find someone who can show and tell, maybe join a turners club.

This is a slippery slope so be prepared to drop a chunk of change on what may become an addictive obsession.

This may give you some ideas.