Woodturning for Beginners: Here Are the Turning Tools You Need

If you’re looking for a creative and challenging way to express your love for woodworking, you may be interested in woodturning. Woodturning is the art of using a lathe to shape and carve wood. It’s an incredibly satisfying form of woodworking, as you can take a piece of wood and turn it into something creative and beautiful.

Before you begin, you’ll need to ensure you have the right tools. In this post, we’ll cover all the turning tools you need to start your woodturning journey. We’ll discuss the variety of tools, their uses, and a few safety considerations to keep in mind.

What Is Woodturning?

Woodturning is the process of shaping a piece of wood with a lathe. A lathe spins the wood while it is being worked on so you can form it into a desired shape. The most common items made in woodturning are spindles, chair legs, sculptures/figurines, and bowls. Although these are the most common, the opportunities are endless and there is no shortage of creativity in woodturning.

Essential Woodturning Tools

When you first start woodturning, there are several tools that you will need.

1. A lathe is a machine that can turn wood and shape it properly. Make sure you get one that is specifically for woodturning. It should have adjustable speeds and safety features such as guard rails for protection.
2. Gouges can create curves and hollows in your workpiece and are available in various shapes and sizes. They contain high-speed or carbide steel, which makes them very sturdy tools that will stand up to repeated use. Purchase good quality gouges so they stay sharp and last longer.
3. Chisels can remove small amounts of material from your workpiece, such as when smoothing down surfaces or creating joints between two pieces. You will need a wide variety of chisel shapes, so make sure you buy a set that has multiple sizes and shapes available.
4. Scrapers can smooth rough surfaces and add decorative accents like beads or coves. They come in round or square shapes depending on what type of projects you plan to do with them.
5. Laser levels ensure the wooden piece you are working on is level inside the lathe (this helps to avoid uneven gouges, scrapes, and chiseling).  Depending on what you are creating, you’ll need to leverage a laser level to gauge whether your pieces are evenly matched and can be used. For example, if you are making legs for furniture or piece for an ornately carved picture frame, a laser level will dictate if the pieces are even enough to attach/hang.

Parting tools can separate pieces from the main workpiece by cutting a narrow groove in between them so you can separate them without damaging either half. As with all other woodturning tools, make sure you buy high-quality parting tools so they stay sharp over time and deliver reliable results even after lots of use.

Other Woodturning Tools

In addition to the essential tools mentioned above, there are several additional options available for purchase depending on the type of project you are working on.

• Calipers
• Sandpaper
• Files
• Bench chisels
• Drill bits
• Finishing supplies
• Safety and Maintenance

Woodturning can be dangerous if you do not follow the safety protocols correctly, so make sure you understand all safety guidelines before starting any project on the lathe. When using power tools, always wear protective gloves and eye protection to avoid accidents from flying debris or metal chips flying around at high speeds due to the rotation of the lathe spindle. Double-check your blade alignment with a laser level before powering on the machine. This step should become part of your regular maintenance procedure before use to ensure accuracy.

Woodturning Techniques

Once you have all these tools, it’s time to start learning some basic turning techniques that will help you create beautiful pieces with your lathe. Here are some basic ideas to get started.

• Faceting involves carving geometric shapes into the wooden surface by taking multiple passes over each cut.
• Spindle turning is spinning one long piece on the lathe’s spindle while carving grooves along its entire length.
• Bowl turning involves mounting a block of wood onto the lathe’s spindle and then using wood gouges and other turning tools to shape it into a bowl.

Conclusion

Woodturning is an incredibly satisfying and creative form of woodworking that allows you to express your love for woodworking in a new and exciting way. By mastering some basic techniques and investing in the right tools, you can create beautiful pieces to be proud of. From bowls to spindles and everything in between, the possibilities are endless when you are woodturning. So go ahead, give it a go, and start bringing your ideas to life.