Wood Turning Book recommendations

I'm toying with a spot of wood turning and if model engineering in metal has taught me anything, there's more to it than superficially meets the eye. Any books that can be recommended to the beginner?

Edited By Chris Trice on 20/03/2013 20:20:48

Go to the Get Woodworking web site, you will be conversant with it, it is the same format as this. Join, and ask basically the same question, However. coincidentally, you will find that the Practical Woodworking magazine. December/February issue, is headed as a "Complete guide to Turning" Click on the magazine cover and you will get some idea of its content.

The web site is at **LINK**

Harold

Chris, I've got half a dozen woodturning books I'm disposing of, But! they're all in France ...... Bugger! there's Always a 'But'

One Excellent beginners book is 'Woodturning, a foundation course' by Keith Rowley, available on amazon from around £6.00, I did a short course on deep hollow turning at Craft supplies, Millers Dale in the early 1990's when Keith was a tutor there, a Great bloke and can well recommend it!

**LINK**

If you like small lidded boxes and want to crack those (dead easy when you get a routine going), look for books by Chris Stott, another Great bloke, especially at demo's where he'd knock the things out in minutes, he too was a tutor at Craft supplies,

Also for technique and inspiration, look for book by Richard Raffan, Ray Key, Bert Marsh, Peter Child, Bruce Boutler and Reg Slack, many of them have 'U' Tube woodturning video's if you google their names!

These are the main names that come to mind for me as they were well known personalities back then, and those still around still are, sadly Bert Marsh died last year!

Whatever you do with whatever you turn though, Do make a cracking good job of the base, and get rid of any evidence of chucking, because so much turning looks like complete shit because of big thick bottoms with the chuck bevel, recess or screw holes still in place, oh and keep the rims as thin as you dare, nothing ruins a piece more than a crap base than a thick dumpy body!

BTW, I've several turning chisels I'm disposing of too, and if you get into turning big hardwood bowls and platters that don't take prisoners when experiencing a 'dig in' , I've got a few very nice TCT Robert Sorby scrapers ready to go!

John.

Thanks guys. I'm not bowl turning so much as pattern making but the principles should be the same.

You might find some useful information here:

**LINK**

Edited By Chris Trice on 21/03/2013 10:14:15

Well, my book turned up and very good it is too, and yes there is far more to it than you think. While I might have eventually clawed my way to good results by trial and error, this will save a shed load of time and a useful educational resource. The single biggest eureka moment was understanding the bevel and approach angles. Suddenly my grandfathers wood turning chisels that have laid dormant on the shelf for forty years are about to enjoy a new lease of life. I think he'd smile about that.

I have just inherited a Picador wood lathe, not a pup, but the full size one approx 4 ft in length.

Does anyone have any idea where I can find any info on this lathe?

I would like to change the current 3 jaw self centering chuck for a dovetail type.....but which one, if any, will fit?

I would welcome any input!

I am going to buy the book bye the way.......

Be aware that the more books you read about woodturning, the more they disagree with each other. My answer was to try the different approaches and find the one that made most sense and suited me best.

George

I'm a newbie to working metal but have been wood turning for many years. Those book recommendations are as good today as they were when originally posted. I'm not familiar with the Picador lathe I'm afraid so can't help. What I would strongly recommend however is that you search out your local branch of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain and go along to a meeting. https://www.awgb.co.uk/ Hands on help is a thousand times more valuable than reading books or watching Youtube. I wish I could find a similar local group to help me improve my metal turning!

Chris,

Personally I have found books ok to browse But by far and away the best tuition I have come across for between centre or spindle turning is:

**LINK** The skew chisel with Alan Batty.

A master of his craft and a good teacher as well. Worth playing and replaying.

Hope this helps,

John

You can get hundreds of woodturning pdfs on DVD from a certain auction site for a few quid