Wood Turning – What’s the Attraction?
If you’re a woodworker yet to turn timber, or just a non-woodworker intrigued to give it a go, my advice would be that you should… give it a go, that is.
It is a seemingly simple process in which you apply a variety of different shaped chisels to piece of timber, timber that is secured between spindles and then, with a spray of shavings, you create a round / turned product… sounds simple enough, right?
It’s the simplicity that’ll lure you in and it’s the complexity and subsequent challenges that will require plenty (maybe years and years) of practice to perfect that’ll have you hooked.
I am aware that not all furniture makers look fondly on the lathe, but it is my strong opinion that having a fundamental ability to turn, is as important as being able to apply a chisel to paring a shoulder and or cutting an accurate kerf on a knife line with a tenon saw.
A life of practice is what is required to master it, but to have good grasp on the basics, means that you can quickly and effectively make that one off drawer knob, that little bit of timber specific dowel, those custom cabinet feet etc. Each time it saves you from popping down to the hardware store for a lesser quality solution, your product and your ability should thankyou… and there is a good chance you will enjoy it.
Among the many encouraging and enjoyable attributes that come with woodturning, the most important and relevant to its popularity is that it is accessible to almost anybody with a little space, a set of turning chisels, a bit of lumber, a power supply and a lathe. It is a stand-alone skill that can be used to create finished products quickly and affordably with little setup, unlike furniture making, in which the workshop norm is to have a bandsaw, thicknesser, surface planer, table saw, drill press etc.
There is little wonder why it’s a woodworking genre of its own and that this genre attracts a dedicated religious following… so give it a go, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
WANT TO LEARN TO TURN TIMBER?
Check out our Short Courses Page to book into one of our Wood Turning Courses and or maybe visit Brendan Stemp’s Website and his Youtube Channel.
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