Best book for newbies

[Ron Solfest]

I have a friend that lives a couple states away that is thinking about getting a lathe. I’d like to send him a book to help with his early turning process. One of those I appreciated when I started was Keith Rowley’s ‘Foundation Course’, but that was 30yrs ago. Are there better books available? Thanks in advance

 

[Richard Coers]

My favorite was Richard Raffan Turning Wood. But it has age too.

 

[Kevin Jenness]

Raffan's Turning Wood is a good intro though dated, and worth reading for a novice, but you can only get so much on technique from a book. I've found Brian Havens' Youtube series very good on tool use and there are other good video presenters but there's really no substitute for in-person instruction when starting out.

I haven't read it but Mike Darlow's Fundamentals of Woodturning looks promising.

 

[Adrian Wilson]

I would recommend two....... Taunton's Illustrated Guide to Turning, by Raffan, but updated to now, and Alan Lacer's Woodturning Projects and Techniques. Together I think they would cover all the newby basics like machines, tools, types of work, holding work etc.

 

[Paul May]

Raffan's Turning Wood is a good intro though dated, and worth reading for a novice, but you can only get so much on technique from a book. I've found Brian Havens' Youtube series very good on tool use and there are other good video presenters but there's really no substitute for in-person instruction when starting out.

I haven't read it but Mike Darlow's Fundamentals of Woodturning looks promising.

What happened to Brian Havens? .. He just suddenly stopped putting up videos years ago.

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

I learned to turn from Rowley's book thirty years ago. It may be old like me but it still has value.

 

[Dean Center]

I have most of Raffan's books, and IMHO Turning Wood is superior to the larger, newer Taunton Illustrated Guide. I was surprised, but that's my take.

 

[Doug Freeman]

Nothing wrong with old books for learning turning fundamentals - they haven’t changed. Pre-90’s books wont cover modern wood chucks, nor all of the tool steels.

For bowls and hollow forms, Ellsworth’s “Ellsworth on Woodturning”. The Raffan books recommended as well. Stuart Batty’s video series is very good.

One thing a newbie needs is a good start on understanding finishing. For turners and flat WW’s, Bob Flexner’s “ Understanding Wood Finishing” is a must have. Though dated, it covers water based finishes well enough to understand how they work. That is the point of the book - understand how finishes work vs step 1-2-3 of how to finish (though there is some of that). Do you want to be a fry cook or chef?

 

[Michael Anderson]

Great recommendations here. I second Ellsworth’s book that Doug mentioned (as well as his reference of Stuart Batty’s videos). Raffan’s Art of Turned Bowls had a significant impact on my early journey, though it’s more of a design consideration book rather than fundamental how-to.

 

[Don Stephan]

The above books, as well as Raffan and Havens Youtube videos. Caution, it is necessary to watch each Raffan video several times, once watching how the blank changes, once how the cutting edge moves, once how the tool moves, and once how the bodhy moves. Took me years to realize this, what a tremendous benefit.