7 Secrets from My Woodturning Mentor – Danny Hoffman
Do you have a woodturning mentor? Most new endeavors can benefit from a mentor, someone to oversee and guide the way, but this might not be obvious at first. New participants to woodturning particularly, unlike most other hobbies or sports for that matter, gain valuable knowledge from a mentor’s vision, a woodturning mentor. Starting Down […]
9 Mistakes Signing Wood Bowls
Signing wood bowls is pretty simple, right? Well, hold on there are many things to consider. Overlooking the steps of signing wood bowls properly could cause a problem down the road if you don’t consider the details. What’s the best way for signing wood bowls? Your first instinct might be to think about grabbing a […]
Bowl Gouge Basics – Beginner Guide (parts, use, sizes, grinds)
Bowl gouge basics are the foundation of wood bowl turning. The bowl gouge is probably the number one most recognized wood turning tool and for a good reason. What is a bowl gouge? A bowl gouge is a hand tool used to cut and shape wood bowls on a lathe. The bowl gouge consists of […]
Safe Wood Lathe Speed (Calculate, Determine, Adjust RPM)
Have you ever thought the wood lathe speed of a bowl blank is turning too fast or too slow? If the lathe is too fast, things can get dangerous. If the lathe is too slow, turning can become tedious. Wood lathe speed while making wooden bowls is important for two reasons – safety and efficiency. […]
7 Wood Bowl Woodturning Books – Favorites
Knowledge is the key to almost every success in life. And it’s especially true for learning how to make a wooden bowl. While the steps for making a wood bowl can be quickly explained, the incredible amount of details each step contains can take a lifetime to master. One of the best ways to gain […]
Jam Chuck – Wood Lathe Magic Trick
The jam chuck is our “unseen” partner in the wood bowl making process that helps us, bowl woodturners, look like magicians. When someone picks up a bowl looking for an obvious lathe connection point and says something like, “how was this made?” We have the jam chuck to thank for this wonderful trick. The jam […]
10 Bowl Turning Basics – Important FAQs Answered
Bowl turning basics are important steps in developing and honing bowl turning skills. Sometimes it feels awkward asking questions, but that’s why we’re here. Many bowl turning basics need to be addressed, learned and understood. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to learn everything all at once, instead, build up your knowledge bank of bowl turning […]
Wood Lathe Vibration Solutions – Bowl Turning Smoothly
Wood lathe vibration can be a very frustrating and potentially dangerous experience. Not only is vibration unsafe, it usually causes tool marks and interferes with a quality turned wood bowl. The potential sources for wood lathe vibration are numerous, and in this article, we will systematically move through and eliminate each possibility. After all, what […]
2019 Woodturning Symposium Guide
See the 2020 Symposium Schedule HERE. The 2019 Woodturning Symposium Guide is a catalog of all this year’s woodturning gatherings throughout the United States and some international events as well, complete with links. Besides knowing where to go, in this article, I will help you get ready and make the most of the symposium(s) you […]
Wood Lathe Maintenance Checklist – 7 Areas to Maintain
Wood lathe maintenance needs to be a routine habit almost like the frequency of sharpening a bowl gouge. Yes, it may seem mundane, but this essential practice can be quick and will keep your wood lathe up and running for years to come. If you aren’t sure of all the parts of a wood lathe, […]
