What is Woodturning Tools and How to Use Them

 

Woodturning has been around for centuries and it is still widely practiced today in rural communities. There are many different types of woodturning equipment that a woodturner will need, but the most basic starting tool is a wood lathe. The woodturner will also need a variety of woodturning tools such as chisels, saws, grinders, and drill presses. Here is a brief overview of the tools you will need to become a professional woodturner.

First of all, it is essential to own your wood lathe. When you choose a woodturning machine, it is very important to have a lathe that fits your needs and that you are comfortable operating. The cost of a woodturning machine can vary considerably so before purchasing one, take the time to consider how often you are likely to use it and what features it comes with.

The type of woodturning you plan to do is another factor that you need to take into consideration when buying a woodturning machine. There are three common types of woodturning: cabinet turning, bowl turning and the spit or wheel turn. Each requires a different type of turner and you need to decide which one you are more likely to use regularly. There are many models of woodturning machines on the market from which you can choose and which one you should purchase will depend on your skills as a woodturner.

You may be wondering how the woodturning professionals of old found themselves in such an industry and the answer lies in knowing the woodturning tools you need to use. If you are new to turning wood then it is advisable to start with a simple wood lathe and after gaining experience you can move onto more advanced models. With experience, you will soon learn which lathes are best for the job you want to do and this will allow you to progress to more complex lathes and if you are a professional you may wish to invest in a combination of the three to make up your unique woodturning toolset.

A basic woodturning toolset should consist of all the essential woodturning supplies. This includes a wood lathe, a wood sealer, a woodturning tool block, wood shims, and some wood, and of course, woodturning bowls. You also need bowls made of maple, spruce, birch, oak, or mahogany with veneers or inlays.

The wood sealant is there to prevent the wood from rotting, thus allowing the woodturner to have a continuous turn without the risk of warping or shrinking. It is extremely important, as no one wants their turn wood to shrink or warp. Once these two issues happen, it can be very difficult and possibly impossible to get right again. Another woodturning tool that is a must is a woodturning tool block. This is used to hold the woodturning tools together and prevents them from sliding when turning. The woodturning bowls will normally come with a block but you may wish to invest in a matching woodturning tool block so that your bowls look much more uniform.

Spindle and stand tools are very useful woodturning tools and are vital when turning large pieces of wood as they enable you to change the size of your bowls. These two pieces of wood are essential equipment when woodturning as without them the woodturning process cannot take place. The spindle is a horizontal woodturning tool that enables the turner to turn wood round on the horizontal spindle. Stand on the other hand is a vertical tool that enables the turner to turn wood round on the vertical spindle.

It is important to know how to use all of the woodturning tools and equipment before you start woodturning so that you do not become frustrated and end up not completing any woodturning projects. If you know how to use your woodturning tools then you can save time, money, and effort. Once you have spent some time learning how to use your tools then you can progress to using higher quality tools that will enable you to make more and larger pieces of woodturning wood. Woodturning is a fun hobby that has many rewards.