Books

If in fact, you were a novice, my book "The Woodturner's FAQ Book" was recommended as "required reading for all new turners" by one fellow, a Phd, who purchased the book and then e-mailed me to let me know how useful he had found the book. The book was published by Linden Publishing in California and is available from my web site. To order a signed copy go to may web site. The book was inspired by this newsgroup and my several thousand posts to it. The book is done in a Question-Answer format and was designed for beginning woodturners.

I have also written two books published by GMC Publications in England: "Making Screw Threads in Wood," and A Guide to WorkHolding on the Lathe." I have written another book for beginning turners that is only available on a CD-ROm or a download from the internet. It is called "The Turning Process," and is sold on CD-ROM as "Two Books In One," which includes The Turning Process and my other book, "Making the Chinese Ball or Five Concentric Spheres." These latter two are only available from my web site.

Fred Holder

Ed - watch out on that "art" business. It is a dark side of turning that can actually lead to not having much fun with it anymore.

It seems a while back that many have forgotten the beautiful simplicity of nice clean lines of a turned piece, or the functionality of good wooden bowl.

I like a little decoration, but the pieces I see now that are airbrushed, stippled, woodburned, painted, toned, carved, and on and on.... well, they leave me a little cold. There have two or three times the amount of time decorating the wood than they did turning it. In many cases, the wood no longer even looks like wood.

That's fine, and certainly if someone wants to pursue woodturning in that fashion, more power to them!

I liked a lot of that stuff initially, but at this point I really don't care for the "art" aspects of turning unless it is making the most out of a fine piece of wood.

There are several books out there that do a good job on describing different turning procedures and ideas. I don't think any of them is "the" book. If I were you, I would buy a couple of standards (Fred's book is a great place to start) and go to the library and the half priced book store in your area and look to see what particular styles you are interested in developing.

This can give you a leg up on the shapes and designs you are interested in turning, as well as stretching your $$$. Hey... turning books are expensive!!

Not all "art" is "art". And while I have no doubt that many of the turnings that I see that are acclaimed as artful masterpieces are beyond my turning abilities, I wouldn't want to learn to make them myself.

As always, just my 0.02.

Robert

Robert,

I read the whole thing but I'll throw my reply in here... by "art" I mean, "non-utility". It's one thing to turn a baluster to replace a broken or rotted one and a whole 'nother thing to turn a piece for the sake of making it. Hopefully that makes sense. Bowls, mortar and pestle, mallets, mallets for carving chisels, etc. Stuff that isn't part of a paid job. I guess "play" could be sub'ed for "art".

I learned to turn by doing it. Well, I had the normal woodshop courses back in highschool but most of what I know has been from just doing it over the years. I've probably developed some bad habits and I'd like to see if there are better ways to do what I do.

I appreciate the advice.

Ed

Hi Ed I have found that "Turning Green wood" by Michael O'Donnell is one of those books that every turner should have, IMO It gives the basic of a tree and how the planning and taking of a blank can/will the outcome of your turning, even before you are starting to turn. Turning, drying and sanding of green wood, is al clear and well illustrated. I do have turning books by the usual, Raffan, Darlow,Child,Nish,Spielman,Connover,Hunnex and more,but find the O'Donnell book has the things most new turners need to know and it gives a good basis to start turning more than just pens ;-)))

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Reputed to be the best book ever written for newbies is "A Fundamental Course in Woodturning " By Kieth Rowley.

I have a copy of this myself and I can vouch for the fact that it covers just about everything a rookie turner needs to get going.

I knew Kieth myself ( he is the founder of the woodturning club I got to) Sadly he died over about 2 years ago. By the way his Myford Mystro lathe is up for sale if anyone is interested.

Tom