How to turn a wooden letter opener
A 7-inch letter opener from a 3/4-inch blank — three ways to flatten the blade, the dense species that resist snapping, and the skew angle that works.
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75 articles about woodturning, tools, techniques, and projects.
Inside-out turning - the flip technique
Four blanks, paper joints, two turning sessions, one flip — inside-out turning creates ornaments with figures suspended inside open shells. Full dimensions.
Read moreHow to spalt wood for turning
Spalting needs 30%+ moisture, 70-80°F, and 2-6 months of patience. I cover the bag method, soil burial, and fungal inoculation - plus when to stop and dry.
Read moreTurn a wooden foot roller on the lathe
Exact dimensions for a lathe-turned wooden foot roller — bead spacing that works the arch, plus the hard species that survive years under foot pressure.
Read moreTurn a wood Christmas tree ornament
Three turned ornament designs — classic icicle, hollow globe with finial, and inside-outside — with exact dimensions, RPM ranges, and hook hole specs.
Read moreTurn wooden buttons on the lathe
Turn a matched set of 6-8 wooden buttons from scrap hardwood: production jig, blank sizes, drilling fixture, and finishing for buttons that survive laundry.
Read moreHow to turn a round wood picture frame
Turn a round wooden picture frame on the lathe - blank sizing, faceplate mounting, the rabbet cut for glass and backing, working RPMs, and a gift-ready finish.
Read moreHow to turn wooden fishing lures
Turn wooden fishing lures on a mini lathe — wood species by density, RPM ranges, through-wire construction, and an epoxy finish that survives a season.
Read moreTurn wooden bookends on the lathe
Turned bookends must sit flat and hold 18 pounds of books. Split turning, faceplate, and solid cylinder approaches, plus weighting and finishing steps.
Read moreHow to turn a wood clock on the lathe
Turn a wood clock with a press-fit insert that stays put — exact bore diameters, Forstner speeds, species picks, and nailing the 0.005-inch press fit.
Read morePen turning - from slimline to kitless
Pen turning covers every spindle skill on a $10 blank. Kit types, drilling speeds, mandrels, CA finishing, and assembly steps with exact RPM and bit sizes.
Read moreTurn a wooden nutcracker on the lathe
Turn a working wooden nutcracker with a lever-actuated jaw — exact dimensions, boring speeds, wood species, and assembly for a piece that cracks walnuts.
Read moreHow to turn a wood honey dipper
A 7-inch honey dipper from a 1-inch square blank — the groove geometry that actually holds honey, food-safe finishing, and a full step-by-step sequence.
Read moreTurn stair balusters on a lathe
Turn code-compliant stair balusters between centers — the 4-inch sphere rule, pin sizing, blank dimensions, and a story-stick method for duplicating sets.
Read moreHow to turn a lazy susan on the lathe
A turned lazy susan is a face-plate project shaped with a bowl gouge — wood selection, bearing sizing, mounting, and food-safe finishing in one session.
Read moreHollow form woodturning - tools
Bent tools, captured-bar rigs, or laser-guided systems — which hollowing approach fits your shop? Wall thickness gauging, grain orientation, and safety.
Read moreBuild a lathe drum sander for $50
Turn your lathe into a thickness sander with plywood, a piano hinge, and a shop-made drum. The full build plan, feed technique, and the dust hood that matters.
Read moreWoodturning classes - schools directory
A verified directory of woodturning classes and schools: 33 venues across 8 countries, every link checked live in July 2026, plus how to pick a first course.
Read moreUS woodturning clubs directory (2026)
A state-by-state directory of 74 active US woodturning clubs, every website link checked and verified live in July 2026, plus how to pick your first club.
Read moreHow to turn garden tool handles
Turn replacement garden tool handles in ash or hickory between centers. Tang hole sizes for trowels, forks, and cultivators, plus ferrule fitting steps.
Read moreTurn a garden dibber on the lathe
A 10-inch dibber from a 1.5-inch blank — the handle profile that fits a closed fist, point tapers for clay vs loam, and rot-resistant hardwoods that last.
Read moreHow to build a DIY wood lathe
Building a wood lathe from scratch needs pillow block bearings, a rigid bed, and headstock-tailstock alignment within 0.005 inch. Spec and bill of materials.
Read moreBowl gouge vs spindle gouge (2026)
A bowl gouge has a deep flute for cutting end grain on bowls. A spindle gouge has a shallow flute for spindle work. Mixing them causes violent catches.
Read moreHow to Install Bandsaw Tires
Bad tires are the number one cause of poor bandsaw performance. I'm often asked to repair or adjust bandsaws as part of my machine-restoration business....
Read moreHow to Set Jointer Knives
A jointer can perform only as well as the condition of its knives. This means, of course, that the knives must be sharp.
Read moreHow to Spray Lacquer: Illustrated Guide
How to spray lacquer on wood: thin 10-20%, spray at 20-25 PSI from 10-12 inches, recoat every 15 minutes. Full setup, mixing, and technique guide.
Read moreWood lathe chuck types, jaws, and sizing
Every wood lathe chuck type explained — scroll, screw, collet, vacuum — with jaw grip ranges, spindle thread compatibility, and tenon sizing tables.
Read moreCan You Turn Wood on a Metal Lathe?
Yes, you can turn wood on a metal lathe — with the right technique and cleanup. What works, what to avoid, and how to protect the ways from wood dust.
Read moreWhen to Use a Nose Scraper
The round nose scraper is great for removing high spots or tool marks quickly. The scraper can finely grade and create smooth flowing curves in a region...
Read moreHow to Sharpen a Chainsaw in 7 Steps
Like any other piece of equipment, a chainsaw needs regular care and maintenance for optimal performance. While it's possible to pay a professional to...
Read moreWood lathe vs metal lathe: the differences
Wood lathe vs metal lathe: hand-guided versus machine-fed cutting, weight, speed ranges, price, and which materials each machine can safely handle.
Read moreCan You Use Pine For Cutting Boards
Many of you are wondering, can you use pine for cutting boards? Pine wood can also make cutting boards, although it isn't deemed \"excellent\" for a few...
Read moreHomemade Woodturning Finishes
Turning a beautiful object out of wood in a short amount of time is one of the activities that...
Read moreSafety Equipment for Woodturning
Essential safety equipment for woodturning: face shields, respirators, hearing protection, and the hierarchy of lathe safety that keeps you turning for decades.
Read moreAdding Decoration to a Bowl
How to add decoration to a turned bowl using contrasting-wood plug inlays, indexing, and the Oneway Drill Wizard — plus pyrography, texturing, and other techniques to try.
Read moreProject: Turning a Ring Bowl
Ok, first I started with a blank about 6-1/2\" diameter by 2\" thick. This will give me enough to dress up the edge anyway I want. It's screwed to a...
Read moreHow to Build a Pen Assembly Press
There are many ways to assemble a turned pen. I wanted a way to assemble my pens that was easy and portable. You can buy assembly presses in the stores...
Read moreTurning Wooden Spoons With Hand Carved Bowl
At a recent craft fair while displaying my wood-turned items a lady asked if I could make a \"sturdy\" wooden spoon. It would seem that her store-bought...
Read moreHow to Center Segmented Bowl Rings
Many times I’ve glued up rings only to discover that when mounted on the lathe, they are off-center. In some cases, there is enough material to turn away...
Read moreMaking Your Own Hollowing Rig
If you would like to experiment with hollowing or deep boring but are reluctant to make a large investment beforehand, this hollowing rig may be the...
Read moreVideo: Grain Direction
Stuart Batty demonstrates how to assess spindle blanks for grain direction, knots, ring shakes, and drying cracks — and which defects make wood unsafe to turn.
Read moreProject: Snap Lid Box
Some call them boxes, some call them lidded bowls, others call them vessels or containers but whatever you call them they are both enjoyable and a...
Read moreProject: Erosion Vase
Turn and carve an erosion vase using Neil Scobie's technique — hollow turning, freehand carving, and piercing to create organic forms that reveal the vessel's interior.
Read moreProject: Kitchen Spatula
I like to use a spatula in the kitchen. Wooden spoons are great for lifting things, but for general cooking, they are poorly designed. Most spoon handles...
Read moreVideo: The Importance of Sharpening, part 2
Stuart Batty continues his sharpening demonstration — end-grain cutting, why bevel contact is essential (the tripod principle), and cutting pressure with sharp vs dull tools.
Read moreWhat Are Wood Turning Blanks and How They’re Used
Woodturning blanks explained: spindle vs bowl blanks, how sizes like 6x2 work, green versus kiln-dried wood, and which species beginners should buy.
Read moreWhat is Woodturning?
Woodturning is a unique and extremely interesting technique of woodworking, which can turn a plain block of wood into beautiful handcrafted pieces. While...
Read moreWhat Are Some Kinds of Exotic Lumber?
Exotic lumber is one of the most exciting types to use for making furniture or laying down beautiful flooring, precisely because it is exotic. This is not...
Read moreHow to Use a Wood Lathe: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to use a wood lathe with this beginner's guide covering lathe parts, basic operations, safety, and your first turning project.
Read moreVideo: The Importance of Sharpening
Stuart Batty demonstrates the dramatic difference between sharp and dull tools — why torn grain can't be sanded out, and how the push cut technique eliminates it.
Read moreCan You Make Money from Woodturning?
If you have been turning for a while, even as a hobby, you may have wondered whether there is a way to make this hobby profitable. After all, it is not...
Read moreProject: Cremation Urn
This is a project by master turner Bill Grumbine. We are proud to host it.
Read moreBest Steady Rests for Wood Lathes
Find the best lathe steady rest for hollow forms and long spindles. We cover top picks you can buy or build, plus why every serious turner needs one.
Read moreProject: Caddy Spoon
In this project, George Awburn describes how to get started making the handle for the spoon. Then he shows a drawing of a wooden chuck designed to hold...
Read moreBest Wood for Woodturning
Discover the best wood for woodturning, from easy-to-turn softwoods for beginners to exotic hardwoods that produce stunning bowls and spindles.
Read moreWhere to Buy Wood for Woodturning?
Woodturning is an incredible skill that requires a lot of practice, perseverance, and, of course, the right raw materials. You would not want to...
Read moreHow to Make Woodturning Blanks from a Log
If buying woodturning blanks is not proving to be easy or if you want to make use of spare wood from your backyard, there is a way to turn raw wood into...
Read moreProject: Epoxy Resin River Table
Epoxy resin river tables can be a magical addition to any room if you have the right kind of decor. These are eye-popping pieces of furniture that can...
Read moreProject: Turning a Toy Soldier Ornament
This is a project by Bob [email protected] that we are proud to host. We hope you enjoy it!
Read moreTips for Turning Baseball Bats
A complete guide to turning baseball bats on a wood lathe — wood selection (ash vs maple), lathe setup, steady rest technique, and step-by-step turning process.
Read moreSharpening Woodturning Tools
One of the most frequently asked questions from new turners is, \"How often will I have to sharpen?\
Read moreProject: Turning a Wood Ring with Veneer Inlay
This is a project on turning a wood ring with veneer inlay by Francois Audeon.
Read moreList of Wood Lathes and Their Specifications
This is a list of wood lathes that our friend Neil Addy used to maintain. It might be somewhat outdated now but serves as a good reference, especially for...
Read moreBest Woodturning Tools: A Complete Guide
A guide to the best woodturning tools for beginners and experienced turners, covering gouges, scrapers, parting tools, and complete starter sets.
Read moreBest Wood Lathes for Woodworking
Find the best wood lathe for your workshop. We compare top picks from JET, Rikon, Nova, and more with a buyer's guide for every budget.
Read moreProject: Burmese Blackwood Bowl
This is a step-by-step photoshoot of a Burmese blackwood bowl turned by Steve Miller.
Read moreHow to Build and Use a Wood Drying Kiln Out of a Refrigerator
Are you tired of waiting months for dry turning stock? Did you know that you can easily make a DIY wood-drying kiln out of an old refrigerator and have a...
Read moreHow Dry Should Wood Be When Turning
In this article, we go over the whole dry vs. green wood deal and explain how this applies to woodturning. You need to keep this in mind when you choose...
Read moreHow to Buy Lumber at a Local Sawmill and Save Money
If you've been a woodworker for a while, you may have thought about cutting your costs by sourcing your lumber somewhere else than Home Depot. We've put...
Read moreIs Woodturning Dangerous?
In this article, we try to make sure that everyone who reads this site can turn wood as safely as possible. If you don't know what you're doing, with all...
Read moreProject: Captive Rings on a Baby Rattle
In this photo tutorial, Dennis Daudelin will show us how to make captive rings. The final object happens to be a baby rattle.
Read moreCarbide vs HSS Woodturning Tools: Choosing the Right Lathe Tools
Carbide vs HSS lathe tools — which woodturning tools should you choose? We compare sharpening, cost, learning curve, and performance to help you decide.
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