Hey big Lew, or anyone for that matters, I am looking for a great book that spells out the basics of turning bowls and vases, like a Woodturning For Dummies, do you have any suggestions?

I have this book and it is pretty good- http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Bowl-Ernie-Conover-Getting/dp/156158293X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412135559&sr=1-4&keywords=ernie+conover

 

Mr. Conover's books are well written and filled with pictures and drawings to help explain the subject matter.

Speaking of Conover, I love his lathes, hard to find one anymore. And thanks Lew for the referral.

John, you might check the American Association for Woodturners.site. They have regional meetings and have demo's at the meetings. I learned a lot watching someone else turn. I have a couple of books and I will have to get the titles for you tonight when I get home. When I went to the Nashville Woodturners symposium and watched those guys

John, you might check the American Association for Woodturners.site. They have regional meetings and have demo's at the meetings. I learned a lot watching someone else turn. I have a couple of books and I will have to get the titles for you tonight when I get home. When I went to the Nashville Woodturners symposium and watched those guys

I agree with John about watching someone else and learning. Unfortunately, where I live, that opportunity doesn't often present itself. I do watch videos on You Tube and have learned a lot from them. One of my favorite "instructors" is Eddie Castelin- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=eddie+castelin and the other is Tim Yoder- http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodturning

Guys, thanks so much for the help, I'll look up our local turners group John, I know they meet once a month at a hard wood lumber outfit where I purchase my lumber from, I'll give them a call and ask them when their meetings are, it's something like every third Saturday if I recall correctly.

I have found that there are more extraordinarily well done  YouTube videos than I have time to digest.

Just type what you want into  GOOGLE and select Videos

 

like this  this "Skew lathe"  without the quotes in google

https://www.google.com/search?q=skew+lathe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#q=skew+lathe&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=vid

 

 or "using a bowl gouge"

 and I get this

https://www.google.com/search?q=skew+lathe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=vid&q=using+a+bowl+gouge

 

I really like the  video format.   the printed word can be so clumsy when trying to describe technique

I have found that there are more extraordinarily well done  YouTube videos than I have time to digest.

Just type what you want into  GOOGLE and select Videos

 

like this  this "Skew lathe"  without the quotes in google

https://www.google.com/search?q=skew+lathe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#q=skew+lathe&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=vid

 

 or "using a bowl gouge"

 and I get this

https://www.google.com/search?q=skew+lathe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=vid&q=using+a+bowl+gouge

 

I really like the  video format.   the printed word can be so clumsy when trying to describe technique

Appreciate it much Cliff, you are absolutely right about the videos that abound, sheesh on virtually any topic man can think of. Bottom line is there are a ton of resources for us newbies to woodturning, books, videos, clubs, so I guess I have not excuse to not be turning like a pro in just a few weeks!