Am interested in getting into woodturning. Have been doing general woodworking for years, but need to explore woodturning..(A fatal mistake?) Need advice as to how to get started, equipment etc. I know it is a general quesrtion, but have to start somewhere. Thanks for any input.
-
April 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn an Egg! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Kelly Shaw winner of the March 2025 Turning Challenge (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Ellen Starr for "Lotus Temple" being selected as Turning of the Week for 21 April, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
new woodturner
- Thread starter weelis
- Start date
weelis - there are a lot of things to consider. Probably the biggest factor is budgeting money and budgeting time. For the money aspect there are some inexpensive starter lathes out there, and you can get some tools to go with them. You can consider what type of item you would like to turn and find a lathe which can suitably turn it.
While turning is not rocket science, the more time you dedicate to turning the better you'll get. You can get a lot of info and ideas from books and websites.
One good place to get started is by joining a club or going to a class. There is no substitute for seeing how someone else turns a piece, whether it's a pen or a bowl. There are a lot of clubs in the U.S., and all the AAW associated clubs are listed under Community and chapters menus
You might try some searches on this forum for specific topics. A lot of items have been discussed at length.
While turning is not rocket science, the more time you dedicate to turning the better you'll get. You can get a lot of info and ideas from books and websites.
One good place to get started is by joining a club or going to a class. There is no substitute for seeing how someone else turns a piece, whether it's a pen or a bowl. There are a lot of clubs in the U.S., and all the AAW associated clubs are listed under Community and chapters menus
You might try some searches on this forum for specific topics. A lot of items have been discussed at length.
Jeff didn't mention that turning is addictive.....
One important bit if advice. Do not rush! Take your time, visit clubs. Most have mentoring programs where you can visit with members see what they are doing, and what type of equipment they use, and sometimes even turn on various different machines. Take beginner classes at WoodCraft (or other stores) and make sure that turning is what you want to do.
Another is to look at your budget. The lathe is a big item, but not the only thing you need. An inexpensive set of tools will run $100+, calipers and other measuring devices $50+, face shield and dust protection $50+++, grinder for sharpening tools $75+. Sandpaper & finishing supplies. That's for starters. You will probably want to add a chuck $100+. Oh yeah, almost forget about dust control, a shop vac or a dust collection system is a must unless you are turning outside under an old elm tree. Don't buy "cheap" equipment, there are many inexpensive but quality products out there, or even used. Likewise don't over buy. You don't know if turning really is for you. If you are thinking of a used lathe, ask an experienced turner to go with you to see if is worth what is being asked.
If you buy a mini or midi lathe, you will need to build a bench with a fairly heavy top to help absorb vibration, unless you are only turning pens.
You will probably want to add grinding jigs like the Wolverine set from OneWay until you learn to grind your tools freehand. I didn't know how bad my freehand grinding was until I got a set and used freshly sharpened tools off the jigs.
I could go on, but I am sure others will jump in with other suggestions and even contradict each other.
JimQ
One important bit if advice. Do not rush! Take your time, visit clubs. Most have mentoring programs where you can visit with members see what they are doing, and what type of equipment they use, and sometimes even turn on various different machines. Take beginner classes at WoodCraft (or other stores) and make sure that turning is what you want to do.
Another is to look at your budget. The lathe is a big item, but not the only thing you need. An inexpensive set of tools will run $100+, calipers and other measuring devices $50+, face shield and dust protection $50+++, grinder for sharpening tools $75+. Sandpaper & finishing supplies. That's for starters. You will probably want to add a chuck $100+. Oh yeah, almost forget about dust control, a shop vac or a dust collection system is a must unless you are turning outside under an old elm tree. Don't buy "cheap" equipment, there are many inexpensive but quality products out there, or even used. Likewise don't over buy. You don't know if turning really is for you. If you are thinking of a used lathe, ask an experienced turner to go with you to see if is worth what is being asked.
If you buy a mini or midi lathe, you will need to build a bench with a fairly heavy top to help absorb vibration, unless you are only turning pens.
You will probably want to add grinding jigs like the Wolverine set from OneWay until you learn to grind your tools freehand. I didn't know how bad my freehand grinding was until I got a set and used freshly sharpened tools off the jigs.
I could go on, but I am sure others will jump in with other suggestions and even contradict each other.
JimQ
Great advice above, I'll only repeat the recommendation to get hooked up with your local turning club- it will be an endless source of knowledge and inspiration. While it may seem like self-promotion given this forum's locale, you'd get the same advice from most other boards around the net.
Woodturning can be an exceptionally rewarding (albeit expensive and addictive) hobby, but I would agree that a class or two before jumping into purchasing your own lathe/tools, etc makes good sense- because the only way this bcomes a "fatal mistake" is if your wife finds out how much it cost you...
Woodturning can be an exceptionally rewarding (albeit expensive and addictive) hobby, but I would agree that a class or two before jumping into purchasing your own lathe/tools, etc makes good sense- because the only way this bcomes a "fatal mistake" is if your wife finds out how much it cost you...
Ditto
By all means take some lessons BEFORE you start buying stuff. This will (usually) do two things for you.
First, getting some basic instruction on how-to and what-to will let you get a feel for the sport without investing in more hardware. Who knows, you might be part of the 1% who don't like it.
Second, learning the "right" way will accelerate your later learning curve because you will avoid forming bad habits and unproductive methods that will take more time and money to break or unlearn later.
If you have a Woodcraft near you, they often have lesson schedules where you can hook up with a local pro in a group class, try a number of different tools and lathes, and get a feel for which tools to by and how to care for them. As mentioned, local truning clubs are also a good portal to network for some instruction.
You'll find that such an approach is warmly received by SWSTC.
Mark
By all means take some lessons BEFORE you start buying stuff. This will (usually) do two things for you.
First, getting some basic instruction on how-to and what-to will let you get a feel for the sport without investing in more hardware. Who knows, you might be part of the 1% who don't like it.
Second, learning the "right" way will accelerate your later learning curve because you will avoid forming bad habits and unproductive methods that will take more time and money to break or unlearn later.
If you have a Woodcraft near you, they often have lesson schedules where you can hook up with a local pro in a group class, try a number of different tools and lathes, and get a feel for which tools to by and how to care for them. As mentioned, local truning clubs are also a good portal to network for some instruction.
You'll find that such an approach is warmly received by SWSTC.
Mark
Weelis,
You didn't put a location in your profile, or someone would have been more specific about clubs in your area. What city or town do you live in?
JimQ
You didn't put a location in your profile, or someone would have been more specific about clubs in your area. What city or town do you live in?
JimQ
What everyone said.
Hooking up with the nearest club is the single best thing you can do as a first step. Most clubs will happily mentor you if you ask, which means no initial equipment cost beyond safety gear (faceshield, not goggles. wood hurts).
I'd strongly recommend, if you decide to jump in, getting a Jet Mini (non-VS, saves money and works just fine) as your first lathe. It's a bomb-proof little bugger that will turn an amazing amount of stuff. A large minority of turners in my club own one, most clubs have them as their demo lathes, and I don't know of anyone who's sold theirs when upgrading. It's just such a good little lathe, I'm not sure you can damage it without purposefull effort (short of dropping it in a lake, and I'm not sure that would work) and you're always going to be turning small stuff in addition to any big stuff (9" swing).
The other suggestion would be that, if you have any trepidation regarding waving goodbye to your general woodworking hobby, run, don't walk, away from woodturning. So many folks, including myself, now use our table saws as storage space and our bandsaws for resawing green wood. It's just kinda sad, all that good equipment now gone to waste.
Good luck,
dietrich
Hooking up with the nearest club is the single best thing you can do as a first step. Most clubs will happily mentor you if you ask, which means no initial equipment cost beyond safety gear (faceshield, not goggles. wood hurts).
I'd strongly recommend, if you decide to jump in, getting a Jet Mini (non-VS, saves money and works just fine) as your first lathe. It's a bomb-proof little bugger that will turn an amazing amount of stuff. A large minority of turners in my club own one, most clubs have them as their demo lathes, and I don't know of anyone who's sold theirs when upgrading. It's just such a good little lathe, I'm not sure you can damage it without purposefull effort (short of dropping it in a lake, and I'm not sure that would work) and you're always going to be turning small stuff in addition to any big stuff (9" swing).
The other suggestion would be that, if you have any trepidation regarding waving goodbye to your general woodworking hobby, run, don't walk, away from woodturning. So many folks, including myself, now use our table saws as storage space and our bandsaws for resawing green wood. It's just kinda sad, all that good equipment now gone to waste.
Good luck,
dietrich
Start easy.
My first lathe about 30 years ago, was the Craftsman with the tubular bed. It was only used for incidental turning needs. Since then, I've had two more 12" lathes, before finally settling on the Powermatic 20".
In retrospect, starting with a Midi is the most cost effective path. By doing that, you have enough lathe to determine if you're addicted, but at a reasonable investment. If you get the bug - start saving early to go straight to a lathe with 2d level benefits of:
1. Mass
2. Size (15"-20" swing)
3. Infinately variable speed
4. Reversing
I reviewed the $2000+ scope for about 6 months, but couldn't find enough "value added" for anything but the Powermatic. And you might consider retaining the Midi for it's benefits as well:
1. Portability
2. Flexibility to do more than one project at a time
3. Cost
4. #2 MT common accessories on the Powermatic
A 12" lathe is nice, but you're paying double for only slightly more capacity. The speeds, usually beginning at 500-550 rpm, are dangerous for full size blocks.
ChetB
My first lathe about 30 years ago, was the Craftsman with the tubular bed. It was only used for incidental turning needs. Since then, I've had two more 12" lathes, before finally settling on the Powermatic 20".
In retrospect, starting with a Midi is the most cost effective path. By doing that, you have enough lathe to determine if you're addicted, but at a reasonable investment. If you get the bug - start saving early to go straight to a lathe with 2d level benefits of:
1. Mass
2. Size (15"-20" swing)
3. Infinately variable speed
4. Reversing
I reviewed the $2000+ scope for about 6 months, but couldn't find enough "value added" for anything but the Powermatic. And you might consider retaining the Midi for it's benefits as well:
1. Portability
2. Flexibility to do more than one project at a time
3. Cost
4. #2 MT common accessories on the Powermatic
A 12" lathe is nice, but you're paying double for only slightly more capacity. The speeds, usually beginning at 500-550 rpm, are dangerous for full size blocks.
ChetB
I definitely agree with Chet. That is the way I went 3 months ago. Love my Midi, and I think it will be a long time before I need to turn anything over 10". I am just having too much fun with small bowls.
JimQ
JimQ