I'm going to take a wood turning class to learn how to make wooden bowls, pens and various things. I don't have any friends that are into that kind of stuff and was wondering if it's easy to learn?
Thanks for sharing your experiences about wood lathes with me. I'm excited to get in there and do it now!
4 comments
I took a couple of semesters of woodworking as an adult education course for similar reasons. It was quite easy. The only thing with the wood turning is it takes some hand strength to hold the tools against the wood. All-in-all, though, I found it enjoyable, and still have the butcher block box I made! Have fun!
by HappyDog on July 18, 2010 at 7:03 am. #
My Dad has a lathe and I quite enjoy playing with it. It’s not difficult to learn, take the tool, place it on the wood and watch the wood shavings fly everywhere. I’ve never been able to make two turnings the same, so that table in the sun-porch has four different legs, and that set of salad bowls is a little funky, but I had fun making them. Wood turning isn’t difficult and it can be fun. It’s easier to use than a router and far less scary than a band saw. My kids picked up on it right away and they had no trouble making bowls and spindles and other projects.
by Linda S has spring fever on July 18, 2010 at 8:03 am. #
I’ve used a machine lathe (for metal). I would expect a wood lathe to be easier/safer. Less precision required, and fewer hot curly bits of metal down your cleavage.
by spunk113 on July 18, 2010 at 8:19 am. #
My daughters (15 & 19) have been “playing” in my workshop for years now.
The youngest asked to be taught on the lathe 3 years ago after she’d seen the candlesticks her Uncle had turned when he was in Jr. High. After a few months of practice (thank goodness for acres of oak & pine)… she turned out a set of four IDENTICAL candlesticks (she’d been smart and made a template.
She gave two to her Mom and the other set to her Aunt with a teasing-card… “Now you have a set that MATCHES Auntie !!”
Don’t forget your safety equipment… SAFETY GLASSES !!
by mariner31 on July 18, 2010 at 8:31 am. #