Woodturning Education Articles Library

As a professional studio woodturner, teacher and writer, I have written numerous woodturning education articles for international magazines, which have been published in more than 75 countries around the world. This collection of in-depth articles is intended to assist woodturners in advancing their skill level in various aspects related to woodturning. For additional articles on woodturning, please visit our Tips Library. We will be adding new woodturning education articles to our main library frequently, so check back often!

Steve Russell demonstrates bowl turning at The Woodworking Shows.

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A basic article that covers general instructions for new woodturners on how to turn dry and green wood bowl roughouts. Also includes instructions on remounting and finishing the completed bowl.

Learn how to properly set-up and use the Kel McNaughton Center Saver System to produce multiple bowls (nested bowls) from a single bowl blank. Includes procedures for ensuring uniformly thick bowl walls on saved bowls, and using the center saver system on low horsepower lathes.

Interested in taking your woodturnings to the next level with carved surfaces? Learn how to use the Arbortech mini-grinder power carver for Fluid Texturing the surface of your woodturnings. The texture is applied whilst the piece is rotating on the lathe. Includes detailed instructions for several types of surface textures.

Learn how burning wood with handheld torches can be an easy way to embellish your woodturning projects.

Learn to master the pull cut with a Irish ground bowl gouge.

Holding one of your own hand turned writing pens is a uniquely satisfying experience. The heft, balance and allure of these writing pens can vary from simple and functional, to rich and opulent. This article will teach you how to turn, sand, finish and assemble an elegant European style writing pen.

One of the most popular areas of interest in pen turning is working with alternative, i.e. non-wooden, pen materials. This article covers basic procedures for working with various plastic pen blanks, including celluloids and composites. Advanced sanding protocols for high gloss finishes are also included.

Enhance your turned bottle stoppers with cabochon stone inlays. Add an extra touch of elegance to your bottle stoppers with this step by step guide. Also includes detailed information on installing genuine and created gemstone pre-sets into your turned bottle stoppers.

Learn how to turn an elegant inlaid letter opener or magnifier on a standard pen mandrel. This article includes step by step instructions for turning traditional and inlaid letter opener and magnifier handles.

Key rings are simple projects to turn and are a good introduction to the basics of spindle turning on a mandrel for beginning woodturners. This article will give you complete step by step instructions for these popular turning projects.

A comprehensive discussion of waxes for wood and different types of wax finishes. Includes application protocols specifically for woodturning, including how to use and apply waxes to your woodturnings.

An in-depth look at oils and oil finishes for wood that are important to woodturners. Includes application protocols specifically designed for woodturning, including how to use and apply oil finishes to your woodturings.

Learn how power sanding with interface pads can help you improve the surface of your woodturnings.

Learn how to use an airbrush to create tone spray effects on your woodturnings. Includes tips for a wide range of materials.

This article details my internationally popular boiling protocol for green wood that reduces checking and speeds the overall drying process. If you're a woodturner working with green wood and drying it yourself, you could benefit from using this protocol to reduce your drying degrade. This protocol has been well received by woodturners and woodworkers around the world.

Additional thoughts on my updated boiling protocol for green wood and ways to prevent errors in the boiling and drying process. This protocol is in use by woodturners around the world, including some commercial milling operations that boil their wood prior to exporting.

In my woodturning demonstrations around the United States, I am frequently asked how to easily dry green wood bowl and platter roughouts with a minimum of effort. Although a plethora of ways exist to dry green (fresh cut or wet) wood, few of these protocols are as easy as drying in paper bags. This article will show you how you can use an ordinary paper bag to dry your green wood bowl and platter roughouts.

As woodturners, we prize high figure and colour in wood and thus many of us prefer air drying our green wood to retain the highest amount of natural colour possible. This article will concentrate on some effective ways for air drying solid wood blanks, turning squares and bowl and platter roughouts, with a focus on the particular needs of woodturners.

You no longer have to throw out your dull bandsaw blades. This protocol will show you how you can easily resharpen those dull blades while still on the bandsaw. Only simple tools are required and the protocol is easily learned. This protocol can save you a significant amount of money by allowing you to extend the life of your used bandsaw blades that are used for cutting green wood. (Includes 72 second video clip of the resharpening protocol).

An in-depth, highly technical examination of super glues (cyanoacrylates), their properties, uses, and safety concerns in a woodturner's studio. Learn how to properly use and store these highly popular adhesives.

Learn how to properly use and apply cold wax emulsions (end grain sealers) to the surface of green wood to reduce checking. Includes application protocols and storage considerations specific to woodturners and woodworkers.

Learn how to create ultra high gloss finishes on hand turned writing pens. Includes tips and tricks for creating durable, high gloss pen finishes with step-by-step instructions to ensure success.

The hottest area of interest in woodturning today is decorative embellishments. This article takes you through three easy, yet elegant surface embellishments (coloring and staining, wood burning the surface using woodburning tools and metal leafing or guilding the surface) that all woodturners can easily create on the surfaces of their woodturning projects.

Learn about the various hollowing tools available to woodturners, including hand-held, arm brace, captured and laser-guided systems.

One of the most common challenges for new woodturners is sharpening their woodturning tools. This articles provides general guidance on woodturning tool selection and how to set up a dry grinder sharpening station.

Finding low cost or free wood, and lots of it, is high on the priority list for most woodturners. If you ask them if woodturning is addictive, you will no doubt hear a resounding yes! The more you turn, the more you want to turn. This article will give you some ideas for locating low cost or free wood in your local area.

Learn the most common bevel angles used on woodturning tools. Includes recommendations for specific tools and example photos.

Learn how to use power carving tools for embellishments on woodturnings. Includes examples of multiple tools and their uses.

Learn how honing tools and jigs can reduce your trips to the grinder and improve the finished surface on your woodturning project.