The art of woodturning originated centuries ago, in European countries where spindle and bowl lathes were controlled by hand, using special pedal-like mechanisms. They were greater in size, far more complex to operate than the compact machines of today, and were used to turn vessels of all sizes. However, these ancient devices usually operated at low RPM compared to today’s technology and demanded persistence over a long period of time to complete any project of significance. The power tools of today’s generation, by contrast, allow you to completely finish small projects such as pen turning in the space of just a few hours! Still, regardless of the era, craftsmen take great joy in the work of creating these “object d’arte”, time-consuming though it may be; if art can be quickly and thoughtlessly created, it loses its appeal and meaning.
When working with a lathe, you should be prepared with a variety of tools that you’ll use to shape the wood as it turns. Beginners’ woodturning sets are available with a typical array of cutting tools, which will cover a range of sizes from small to large, depending on their purpose. These include gouges, chisels, scrapers, and skews.
Turning blanks come in all varieties, from natural substances like wood and leather to acrylic and other artificial materials. Objects built from wood turning blanks display a classic texture that will never appear outdated, compared to patterned acrylics that reflect contemporary trends. Wood turning blanks are available in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. The best kind of turning blanks are “figured” wood blocks that show undulating grain patterns, possessing more natural contrast, interest, and visual appeal. Quilted Maple wood presents an especially dynamic appearance, and can be used to create very eye-catching objects!
You can place woodturning blanks on a lathe using one of two methods. Spindle turning, especially appropriate for smaller equipment, requires that you mount the wood to be turned between the headstock and the tailstock, and does not require hollowing to be done. This works well for smaller hobby projects – pens, pencils, etc. Faceplate turning, the other option, requires mounting the wood piece on the headstock spindle itself. This is commonly chosen for larger projects such as bowls, vases, urns, etc. and does put a particular demand on your lathe’s capacity for speed.
With all this information in hand, you should be well prepared to select the perfect wood blank for your project, and start designing your own piece of unique art!