Woodturning Basics

Our editors have collected their favorite woodturning articles from the pages of Fine Woodworking, including those that feature the very best in the craft - Richard Raffan, Ernie Conover, and Alan Lacer. It's like your own private woodturning lesson with the finest hands-on experts anywhere.

You'll learn faceplate and spindle techniques from basic to advanced, to help you create stunning bowls, boxes, and vessels, as well as beautiful table and chair legs, stretchers and spindles. Page after page, you'll discover new ways to do split turnings, how to duplicate spindles, create attractive boxes, make functional drawer pulls to fit any style, and more

You'll also find project plans, including a complete Shaker rocker project so you can put your new skills to use. Plus, you'll read about actor William H. Macy, an accomplished amateur, on how he got started and what he loves about the craft.

Woodturning Basics brings you our best woodturning advice and instruction to help take your turning to new heights - order today!

Get Inspired

Interview: William H. Macy
On location at the lathe with the actor and woodturner.
By DAVID HEIM

Readers Gallery
Bowls, vessels, and vases from the shops and studios of Fine Woodworking readers.

Build Your Skills

Gouges
How to choose and sharpen tools for spindles and bowls.
By ERNIE CONOVER

Skews
Practice helps you master a tricky tool.
By RICHARD RAFFAN

Scrapers
The best tool for refining turned surfaces.
By RICHARD RAFFAN

Spindle-Turning
Learn to make cylinders, tapers, beads, and coves with only four tools.
By ERNIE CONOVER

Duplicating Spindles
How to get good results for legs, balusters, and other multiples.
By KIM CARLETON GRAVES

Reeding
A simple jig lets you add style to tapered legs.
By JOHN VAN BUREN

Split turnings
An easy way to make half- or quarter-columns.
By PHILIP C. LOWE

Bowl Basics
A master shows how to make a useful, handsome bowl.
By RICHARD RAFFAN

Turning Green Wood
The material's a joy to work, with outstanding results.
By HOWARD LEWIN

Hollow Vessels
Modern tools make it easy to hollow a vase.
By HOWARD LEWIN

Natural-edge bowls
The secret is knowing how to hollow end grain.
By ALAN LACER

Fixing Mistakes
When bad things happen to good turnings.
By ERNIE CONOVER

Finishes
Four great looks for turned wood
By TERI MASASCHI

Project Center

Wooden boxes
Small vessels with a close-fitting lid.
By RICHARD RAFFAN

Turned lids
Contrasting woods make a strong design statement
By RON LAYPORT

Sheraton-style leg
A period piece.
By DAVID J. LUNIN

Shaker Rocker
Most of the parts for this classic chair are turned.
By ERNIE CONOVER

Floor Lamp
Manageable sections and concealed joints combine to make a one-of-a-kind lamp.
By ERNIE CONOVER

Drawer Pulls
A fast way to add custom details to your furniture projects.
By PHILIP C. LOWE

Sandpaper Holders
These turned sticks work like curved detail sanders without a power cord.
By KING HEIPLE

Departments

Editor's Letter

Tools and Materials
Lathe guide
New mini-lathes
Hollowing tool
Walnut-oil finish

Work Smarter
Sharpening jigs
Steady rests
Shopmade chucks
Spindle duplicators
Tool holders