Most designers will likely agree that while woodturning technically qualifies as woodwork, it is often considered a completely different task. “Woodturners” tend to be devoted to their specific craft, as there are endless projects to complete on a lathe.
Understanding the difference between the two crafts is a matter of tools and technique. Woodturning is the process of carving a block of wood into a symmetrical object – such as a spindle, bowl, or furniture leg – using a motor-driven lathe to spin the wood at high speed. While the piece is spinning, a variety of tools, such as chisels and knives, are used to gradually carve the piece into the desired shape.
So, what exactly is a lathe? A lathe is a machine that holds and rotates a workpiece upon an axis of rotation. When the piece starts to spin, the craftsperson employs a variety of tools to perform various functions such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning. These operations are performed symmetrically while holding the piece at a precise axis.
The basics of this technique were first used by the Greeks as far back as the 13th century BCE, making this a truly ancient form of woodworking. Woodturning lathes are the oldest and the progenitor of all subsequent types of lathes in use today. An adjustable, horizontal metal rail – known as the “tool rest” –is placed between the workpiece and the lathe operator. It accommodates the positioning of shaping tools, which are most often hand-held.
Sanding follows the shaping process. Sandpaper is applied against the still spinning object to smooth the surface into its desired texture. High rates of speed are utilized during the sanding, typically from about 500 RPMs up to a maximum speed of 4,000 RPMs, making this a perilous maneuver for the operator, which is why the tool rest is often removed during this function.
The roughing gouge, a very versatile but challenging to use tool, is one of the most common tools used in conjunction with the woodturning lathe. To the untrained hand, results could be disastrous, which is why mastering this skill is one of the earliest goals of developing woodturners. This U-shaped gouge is used to quickly dispose of bulky matter to obtain the basic shape of the piece.
After roughing, a wide variety of other shaping tools come into play. A skew chisel can cut square grooves, as well as plane, or create different profiles. Then, the parting tool, as its name suggests, is commonly used to separate a finished turning from the unwanted portion of the stock and cut square grooves into a spindle.
The most common lathe cuts – such as squares, V-grooves, fillets, and coves – can be achieved with the abovementioned tools. An accomplished woodturner will also have the experience when making several visually identical pieces, such as table legs, to use their first turn as a model for the rest. They will place this model directly behind the lathe to line up behind the piece being worked upon, helping the woodturner ensure the measurements, start and finish points, and contours are symmetrical.
Everything you need to turn wood into spindles, bowls, or furniture legs is readily available to anyone interested. But, like all woodworking, the challenge is taking the time to develop the craft safely, skillfully, and consistently. This is precisely why woodturning is not just a technique of woodworking; it is an art in and of itself. Turn, baby, turn!
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ERIC BRAND
Founded in 1996 and based in San Francisco, Eric Brand offers custom-styled furniture and worldwide sourcing along with exquisite materials and finishes, specifically for the high-end residential design market and hospitality industry.
