Wood Turners Latest Topics

OFF the lathe and just finished

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 18:25:20 +0000

Just does not feel right to post finished work in the on the lathe post so I am creating this to post finished works. Please feel free to add yours. Walnut a friend gave me with Watco danish oil.
vase from my shelf with three carved feet. Aldo Watco danish oil. Spalted pecan.

Ruth Niles Can Tab Pull with I think Indian Rosewood and buff with Renaissance wax.

new design for phone amplifier in Crepe Myrtle. Lacquer finish

Wednesday's Wisdom For Woodturners May 13, 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 20:36:49 +0000

Our Patriot Turners-

@Rusty S Turned a gorgeous vase!

In his post, Rusty explains where he obtained the wood and a little bit about this adventure!

@Fred W. Hargis Jr posted a question concerning how a particular shadow box could be turned. Fred referenced a picture from the AAW.

Please check out Fred's post and see if you can help him out with your ideas.

@RustyFN finished up his fancy tool handles. These are some real beauties!!

@Rusty S experimented with some plywood, glued up blanks. It is amazing to see the designs and patterns that are created when turning plywood!

Head on over to Rusty's post to see more images and a sample glue up

@Gerald was featured by the AAW's "Beyond the Bevel" email. Way to go, Gerald!!

https://www.aawforum.org/community/media/winged-ne.22412/

What's Coming Up-

Valley Woodturners

Turnfest

Valley Woodturners will be hosting Ottawa TurnFest 2026 here in the nation's capital on 23 and 24 May 2026. See below for further details. PROGRAM We have a lineup of three exceptional...

For The Newbies-

Tommy Tomislav discusses the importance of having sharp tools

From Tim Yoder about paper towels. Remember to work safely around the lathe and never use cloth towels.

An article from the Woodturning Tool Store on the use of scrapers and small hollow vessels

Woodturning Tool Store

Mastering the Art of Small Vessel Hollowing: Tips on Scra...

The five most important takeaways to help you refine your hollowing process, mastering the use of scrapers for hollowing

Having to change chucks (or chuck jaws) can be a pain. Richard Raffan makes a chuck mounted screw chuck!

Expand Your Horizons-

Cool project from Jeff Hornung

Last week we shared a video from Carl Jacobson where he used the microwave to dry a blank. Richard Raffan tried his hand at it this week. Check out the end of the video as he clamps the bowl on his lathe. Pretty neat idea.

Tommy Tomislav turns a lidded box. Really unusual design.

Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools-

The folks at Easy Wood Tools are wondering if you are working on that list of projects!

Lots of Easy Wood Tools users all over the Internet!

I'll bet the baker in your family would love one of these!!!

JP Woodwork turned and burned a bowl @MrRick

New Turning Items-

Package deal from Robert Sorby tools-

https://woodturnerscatalog.com/

One more video demonstrating the new Stuart Batty grinder platforms-

Woodturners Wonders sale items-

https://woodturnerswonders.com/

Everything Else-

Getting close to finishing up a tiny bowl from an article in the latest AAW magazine. Measurements were off just a bit and kept it from being perfectly centered. The bottom needs finished off, yet.

Safe turning

Bowl from a board

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:09:45 +0000

Getting ready to make my first bowl from a board. Here is my glue up for it. Going for a dizzy bowl. Wish me luck. Almost forgot the glue up is 12” square and 3/4” thick.

Easy Wood Tools Demonstrations For May 15, 16 2026

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:03:21 +0000

Just added to the schedule-

Woodcraft

Woodcraft Tulsa, Tools & Lumber

Find quality lumber Tulsa makers rely on, along with tools and trusted brands. Supporting woodworking Tulsa at every level, our store delivers expert guidance backed by experience since 1928.

Woodcraft

Woodcraft of Birmingham, Tools & Supplies

Check Woodcraft store hours before you visit and connect with the nearest Woodcraft store for your next project. Find premium tools, hardwood lumber, and trusted advice.

https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/fl-brandon-store

https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/ca-rocklin-store

https://wvww.net/

@Jordan Martindale

Playing with plywood

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:39:35 +0000

First got this idea from YouTube, specifically Jack Mac woodturnig, so thanks for that. Ŵas given all the cabinet doors from grandsons remodel of a 60s house and then got the idea that he needed a reminder of what happened so after a little searching settled on this. Not as complicated as it looks but bad enough 😄Biggest challenge was 60 years old plywood wanted to chip terrible but didn't turn out too bad. After first was done ordering from rest of family mounted up, had to make 8 more talk about opening a can of worms

Cart mod

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:01:29 +0000

My new tool handles wouldn’t fit in the old holders. I had to replace them with 2” pipe. The pipe holders are 12” long so that will give you an idea how big some of the tools are.

Turning a shadow box

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:26:19 +0000

This picture was posted over at the AAW forum by one of their members. I'd love to make such a box, but that appears to be a single piece of wood. My (limitied) experience with such things is that the frame will split/crack at some point as the wood dries further. Is that correct? The bottom almost has to be a separate piece , maybe it supports the frame portion once assembled? BTW, sorry for the cutoff picture, the image at AAW was bigger than my screen, so i could only get this much of the picture.

clipart of a woodturner

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:19:13 +0000

I am making a woodart pattern for a Turner that I know. I'm looking for a simple clipart style drawing of a turner that I can incorporate into the design. The final size will be around an inch in diameter, so it needs to be fairly simple.

What Cha got for me? :)

Congrats To Gerald Lawrence !!

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:03:05 +0000

Congratulations to @Gerald!!

His turning was featured in the AAW email newsletter "Beyond The Bevel" on May 7, 2026!

Wednesday's Wisdom For Woodturners May 6, 2026

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:12:35 +0000

Our Patriot Turners-

@calabrese55 showed us a couple of his fantastic segmented, multiple media turnings. Mike recently moved into a smaller area but it hasn't diminished the quality of his work!

Check out the kudo's from our gage-

Although not a turner, @MrRick is a fan of the Japanese technique called "Shou Sugi Ban". He recently found a video of it being done on a wooden bowl.

@Gerald mentioned he had done this process during a class.

@RustyFN was gifted some special wood and turned another ornament.

With out a doubt, Rusty has perfected his finials. In his post, he mentions where he got the wood-

And, like most of us, Rusty hangs on to his scraps and cutoffs. He decided to make his own tool handles.

I believe they might also make some cool rolling pins!

@Fred W. Hargis Jr posted a question about the correct approach to using a parting tool. We shared our preferred techniques. Please hop on over to Fred's post and give him your thoughts!

What's Coming Up-

What have you been making lately?
Share it with all of us at this Friday's free Zoom Sharing Session!
May 8th, 2:00 pm Eastern, 18:00 UTC

Registration can be done through-

https://www.cindydrozda.com/html/Signup.html

For The Newbies-

Fred asked about using the parting tool. Here's a video from Mike Waldt demonstrating several types of parting tools and how to sharpen them.

Craft Supplies USA posted a video on bowl gouge grinds- specifically the 40/40 grind. The video delves into why this grind is so popular among many woodturners.

Expand Your Horizons-

Another new month and another 4 Ways collaboration. You may be aware the Sam Angelo's YouTube channel was hijacked a little over a month ago. Sam is unable to currently post videos to YouTube. Stepping up to help out this month is Alan Stratton!

And Alan Stratton- check out the burning technique referenced by @MrRick

Now if you prefer your turning without feet, Tim Yoder has you covered!

Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools-

The amazing Easy Wood Tools demonstrators are back in action! Next weeks demonstrations-

Woodcraft

Woodcraft Tulsa, Tools & Lumber

Find quality lumber Tulsa makers rely on, along with tools and trusted brands. Supporting woodworking Tulsa at every level, our store delivers expert guidance backed by experience since 1928.

https://www.rockler.com/retail/stores/fl-brandon-store

https://wvww.net/

Easy Wood Tools at work!!

Tim Yoder

Some outboard turning with JP Woodwork

@Jordan Martindale

New Turning Items-

Last week we mentioned Stuart Batty has a new universal grinder platform. Since that time, he has released additional videos showing its use/operation.

Woodturners Wonders has a sale on lights-

Wood Turners Wonders

LED Machine & Lathe Lamps | Lighting Solutions for Worksp...

Shop energy-efficient LED machine and lathe lamps with magnetic bases for flexible, bright lighting. Perfect for close-up work and industrial use. Shop today!

Highland Woodworking has a sale on Woodturners bandsaw blades, including their Woodslicer resaw blades-

Highland Woodworking

Woodturner's Bandsaw Blades

Creating bowl blanks from green wood on the bandsaw can be taxing for standard blades. Many of our customers, happy with our Wood Slicer® Resawing Blade for cutting kiln-dried lumber, have asked us fo

Turning Wood will no longer be using PayPal as method of Payment as per this email notice-

TurningWood - Website for learning and sharing knowledge of woodturning. And maybe sell you tools and shoot

Home - TurningWood

Everything Else-

Ever feel like your turning is in a rut? here are some thoughts from Ron Brown's latest newsletter

Are You In A Rut?

Look, I get it. You love the smell of fresh wood shavings in the morning and the way a sharp gouge curls a ribbon of cherry right off the spindle. You’ve mastered the pen, you’ve conquered the bowl, and you’ve probably spun enough tops to keep every kid in the county dizzy for a week. Heck, you’ve likely worked your way through Chris Stott’s "Turned Lidded Boxes" until the spine of the book is as worn as your favorite chisel.

But lately, you’re looking at that lathe and wondering if the thrill has gone out of the relationship. You’re wondering if you’ve run out of things to make. Well, I’m here to tell you that the humble wood lathe is a lot like a good American worker: it’s capable of a whole lot more than most people give it credit for. Beyond the usual suspects, that machine can churn out an incredible array of functional, decorative, and even architectural pieces that’ll put some calluses back on your soul and some pride back in your pocket.

If you’re looking to get back to work and expand your repertoire, here are 50 project ideas to get those shavings flying again:

Kitchen & Dining

1. French Rolling Pins (tapered ends)

2. Honey Dippers

3. Salt and Pepper Mills (using internal grinder kits)

4. Bottle Stoppers

5. Mortar and Pestle

6. Nutcrackers (screw-type or bowl-style)

7. Spatula and Spoon Handles

8. Coffee Scoops

9. Pizza Cutter Handles

10. Napkin Rings

11. Egg Cups

12. Platters and Chargers

13. Ice Cream Scoop Handles

14. Cake Stands (multi-piece assembly)

Home Decor & Utility

15. Bud Vases (with glass or plastic inserts)

16. Lidded Boxes (canister style)

17. Candlestick Holders

18. Ring Holders (conical)

19. Christmas Ornaments (hollowed or solid) with fancy finials

20. Door Knobs and Drawer Pulls

21. Lamp Bases

22. Clock Faces (faceplate turning)

23. Wood Curtain Rod Finials

24. Gavel and Sound Block

25. Potpourri Bowls (with pewter lids)

26. Wand/Staff Toppers

Tools & Workshop

27. File and Chisel Handles

28. Mallets (carver’s or joiner’s style)

29. Tool Handles (for custom scrapers or gouges)

30. Marking Gauges

31. Plumb Bobs

32. Bench Dogs

33. Sanding Mandrels

Games & Leisure

34. Chess Pieces

35. Yo-Yos

36. Kaleidoscopes

37. Birdhouses (hollow-turned)

38. Duck Calls or Game Calls

39. Baby Rattle (with captured rings)

40. Telescope Eyepiece Holders

Musical & Artistic

41. Drum Sticks

42. Tin Whistle or Flute Bodies

43. Conducting Batons

44. Sphere or Ball Turning (for decor or physics toys)

45. Staircase Balusters (spindle turning)

46. Furniture Legs (Queen Anne or Shaker style)

Small Accessories

47. Keychains

48. Letter Opener Handles

49. Shaving Brush Handles

50. Seam Rippers (for sewing enthusiasts)

A Little Piece of Advice:

If you really want to see what you’re made of, try your hand at Captured Rings. These are rings turned from the same piece of wood that stay permanently attached but spin freely. It’s a masterclass in spindle-turning precision and a great way to remind yourself that there’s always a new way to get it right.

So, how many of these have you actually tackled? Take a long, honest look at that list and see where you stand. I personally only clocked in at 30 out of 50. It’s a respectable start, sure, but it’s also a reminder that the shop is full of opportunities we haven't even met yet.

Safe turning

Tool handles

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:15:57 +0000

I have been buying shovel handle blanks and cutting them down to make handles. Finally going to get rid of them and make new ones. Here are three glue ups that are waiting for the adapters to finish. I have two more in clamps drying.

Parting tool use

Wed, 06 May 2026 19:57:04 +0000

I may have been doing this wrong, and I know you guys can straighten me out. I watched an episode of Scott Phillips show where he was turning boxes. When he used the parting tool it was a straight in cut, at the centerline. It looked to me like it was more of a scraping action than a cutting action. The way I've been using one is at a slight upward angle, slightly above centerline, and actually cutting with it. Now, Scott isn't always praised for his turning acumen so I'm wondering if he got this one right. My approach has been working well for me, but if it's wrong there's probably some reason it's wrong.

Special Event From Cindy Drozda, Todd Raines, Emma Cook and Alan Zenreich

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:09:32 +0000

Greetings, Lewis!

And now for something completely different!
Watch me (Cindy Drozda), Tod Raines, Emma Cook, and Alan Zenreich,
live on Office Hours Tuesday Focus!
May 5th, 8pm Eastern (00:00 UTC on May 6th)
We look forward to answering your tech questions!

Hemlock

Sun, 03 May 2026 19:08:03 +0000

A guy at church had a hemlock tree fall on his house during a big storm. He gave me a small chunk. I made him an ornament. I couldn’t believe how light weight it is.

Wednesday's Wisdom For Woodturners April 29, 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:43:35 +0000

Our Patriot Turners-

Is @RustyFN creating a new late night TV test pattern!?! Check out his post to see his fabulous new piece!!!

What's Coming Up-

Cindy Drozda had her live Tool Talk last Friday. If you missed it, she posted the replay on line.

From Popular Woodworking Magazine

For The Newbies-

This video, from Tomislav Tomasic, is from a live demonstration. The closeup shots and explanations are quite informative on the techniques Tommy uses. It is rather long but everyone will probably find something of interest.

Expand Your Horizons-

Carl Jacobson turns a lovely pear bowl from green (wet) wood. To speed up the drying process, Carl uses the microwave technique.

Mike Peace demonstrates the use of the Sorby Threading & Sizing Gauge. He compares/contrasts the gauge to the traditional sizing techniques.

Robert Sorby Ltd

Thread & Sizing Gauge (973) - Robert Sorby Ltd

Ideal for box-makers, this gauge takes all the guess-work out of fitting the major and minor diameters of pieces. With the gauge set at the unmarked anvil this creates a 1:1 correlation between the me

Last week, the Woodturning Tool Store shared a Axeminster jaw comparison. This week they shared an article on choosing the right jaws for work efficiency.

Woodturning Tool Store

Maximize Woodturning Efficiency: Choosing the Right Chuck...

The selection of specialized lathe chuck jaws is crucial for maximizing a woodturner's capabilities and efficiency while at the lathe.

Turning Time With Easy Wood Tools-

The hardworking Easy Wood Tools demonstrators are taking next week off. That's not stopping their devoted carbide turners from creating all sorts of awesome items.

Still some time to save some $$ on Easy Wood Tools at Acme Tools!

https://www.acmetools.com/easy-wood-tools/all/

@Jordan Martindale

New Turning Items-

Several newer turning products popped up this week and a couple of sales on current products.

Last week we highlighted the Stuart Batty Modular Handle System. Stuart now has a more detailed look at those handles-

Craft Supplies highlight their new favorite sanding tool

From Niles Bottle Stoppers, the Joyner Offset Jig Kit on sale

Niles Bottle Stoppers

Joyner Off Center Jig Kit - Niles Bottle Stoppers

Jig to create off-set turnings; pendants, box lids, bottle stoppers, goblets. Great for woodturners, decorate box lids.

And a couple of items from Woodturners Wonders

Grit Grabber Magnets

Wood Turners Wonders

Grit Grabber Magnet with Sleeve

Introducing one of our latest innovations, the Grit Grabber. This magnet has been designed specifically for use with the Kodiak and other CBN wheel/grinder applications. The Grit Grabber magnet is enc

Everything Else-

Started a little Crabapple bowl as a thankyou for the sawyer you gifted be the log. It's some pretty wood and had some brilliant pink and blue but unfortunately they faded during the drying process. Almost ready for the finish- the part I'll probably mess up!!

Safe turning

first products from my worlds smallest woodshop

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:37:16 +0000

Moving from a @1000 square foot shop to my new empire at 140 square feet , here are the first two products from the closet 🤪

calabrese55

More new ornaments

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:04:12 +0000

If I start to bore you all to death don’t be afraid to tell me. I made these five last couple of days. Playing around with different woods for finials. The green has Paducah, the yellow has wenge, the red has Buckeye, the blue has Purple Heart and the orange has Jatoba.

Art show

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:43:56 +0000

Well I am working on my entry for this years show at our local art center. Close to being done but I don’t think I will enter this piece. To me it just isn’t art show quality. Going to have to start another piece. This one is around 13” in diameter and 3” tall. Around 6,500 burn lines and 6,500 squares. The bowl is maple.

A first for me.

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:19:44 +0000

I had a class yesterday at Woodcraft. I only had two students. A man and a woman. She said she was so nervous she would like to take the class again now that she has a little experience and asked if it would be ok. I told her she can take as many as she likes. After we were done and finished cleaning up she tried to give me a $20 tip. Of course I refused and thanked her very much. I told her to use it towards her next class. Never had anyone offer me a tip before.

Twig vases

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:57:57 +0000

A few weeks ago @lew posted a video about making twig vases and different types on Wednesday’s Wisdom. The ice storms we had last month has left me with plenty of branches to work with. Here’s a couple vases with a little birch crotch bowl from one of the branches. The larger vase has a glass tube glued in the center. They were quick and fun, finished with some satin spray lacquer.