Wood Turning - After the Basic Tools, What Then?

Wood turning is an old craft. In fact, Egyptian pictures on the sides of pyramid tombs indicate a history of at least three thousand years. Most of the basic tools such as cutting tools and the wood lathe itself have not really changed since then. At the same time the tool catalogues are full of a bewildering array of accessories, add-ons and gadgets. Here are some thoughts on what may make turning more enjoyable.

First of all there are the myriad numbers now of project parts. In days gone by, people either made some of these such as potpourri covers or had them made by other craftsmen. Now they are readily available from various suppliers. Obviously, if you wish to make a pen, you will need pen parts. Simply buy project parts from reputable dealers and you will be fine.

Less obvious are some of the accessories, including safety items. One of the first things to buy is a face shield. Most woodworkers will already own and use safety glasses but there is a fundamental difference between a wood lathe and most other shop power tools. Most of our tools have rotating or otherwise moving blades that cut through a piece of wood that is advanced to them. Wood lathes hold wood and move it toward us while we use sharp tools on it. If the wood is released for some reason it can fly out and hit a turner in the face. While this is rare, it does happen. What is more frequent as a turner advances in knowledge and begins to use more decorative wood with bark inclusions and other bits, is that shavings, bark and wood chips are thrown at the turner. A face mask is almost a requirement.

To go along with the face mask is the sanding equipment and dust mask that is needed. A simple piece of sandpaper will work for a long while, but sanding pads powered by electric drill or some other means speed up work. They also kick up a lot of dust and lungs should be protected with a dust mask. Look for one with an N95 safety rating to protect your lungs.

While chucks are a topic in themselves, many wood turners like to use four jaw chucks to hold wood on the lathe. While these are not necessary, they are very convenient for a lot of uses. Get a good one. They tend to hold large and heavy blocks of wood that should not be allowed to fly out from the lathe. Remember that these are very young in the history of the craft and may cost more that some beginner lathes.

One of the great additions to the turner's arsenal in recent years has been the use of cyanoacrylate glues, sometimes called super glues after one of the first marketed to the general public. They come in various viscosities or thicknesses. Many turners will find plenty of uses for both the thin and medium types. They are handy for holding some work, attaching pen or other project parts, filling cracks that would otherwise spoil a piece of work and the list goes on. These are available from most woodturning and woodworking suppliers.

While there are other always other things to consider purchasing in the never ending game of tool buying, once the basics are on hand, this age old craft is a great provider of all kinds of enjoyment. Even though many new tools and accessories may be bought or dreamt of, woodturning only needs the basics for good craft.