Getting Started in Woodturning
This guide gives the new woodturner an introduction to the basic tools needed to embark on successful journey into woodturning.
Author: Record Power
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Getting Started in Woodturning
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| Record Power, with its long established history and experience in woodturning, offer a range of products to cater for everyone from the new woodturner right up to the most demanding, professional. However, it is the new woodturner we will concentrate on in this guide, focussing on the essential tools needed to make a successful start in a truly rewarding pastime. | |
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The Lathe Perhaps unsurprisingly, most new woodturners are unsure of the direction their new hobby will take them, not knowing if they will end up turning mainly bowls, spindles, goblets, pens etc. Without this foresight it is very difficult to make a decision on which lathe is right for your needs, as they all offer different features, specification and capacities. For example, a DML305 lathe is a great lathe for the woodturner who has little space and favours bowl, vase or goblet turning, as this machine is extremely compact and therefore has limited capacity between centres, although plenty enough for turning such items. For the woodturner who enjoys creating very large or heavy work and perhaps longer spindles, a more heavy duty machine such as the CL4 or MAXI-1 is far more suitable. We believe the ideal lathe for those new to woodturning is the Record Power DML250. It is the least expensive lathe in the range yet offers excellent capacities and capabilities to embark on a wide range of work. Bowls up to 10" in diameter can be turned and the long bed allows 18" between centres, meaning spindles up to 18" in length can be produced. Ideally a lathe should have no fewer than four speeds and the five speeds of the DML250 provide enough range to cater for slower operations such as the roughing out of large bowl blanks, yet can also operate fast enough for sanding and polishing tasks. Importantly, the headstock and tailstock both accept number 2 Morse taper accessories, meaning as your skills grow and perhaps one day move up to a lathe more suitable for your requirements, all accessories are transferable to your next Record Power machine, making this lathe a very sensible and economical choice. |
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Turning Tools There are a vast array of turning tools available today, however all the majority of woodturners ever need is a small set of standard tools, most woodturners use the same six tools for almost all their work. The bare minimum to get started however is just three. We recommend a CH100 3/4" Roughing Gouge, CH210 3/8" Spindle Gouge and CH900 3/4" Oval Skew Chisel. This is all you need for turning between centres. If you want to turn bowls, goblets etc then you will however need a bowl gouge. CH602 3/8" Bowl Gouge is an ideal all-rounder. All these tools are available either singly or as part of a set of six, the RPCHS6-SS Starter collection, which also contains the CH520 3/8" Parting Tool and CH700 1/2" Domed scraper and offers excellent value for money. |
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The Chuck At some point, usually very early on in their woodturning, woodturners tend to invest in a chuck. Although more expensive than faceplates and woodscrew chucks, a geared scroll chuck is still very affordable and offers much better gripping power and accuracy. All Record Power chucks are compatible with the same large range of jaws which allow for virtually any woodturning task to be carried out. When choosing a chuck it important to make sure it is of high enough quality to allow for accurate turning whilst also offering a good range of jaws. The best-selling Record Power SC3 chuck is ideally suited to the capacities of the DML250 and, like all other accessories, is transferable to other lathes in the Record Power range. |
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The Future The tools described above give an excellent introduction to woodturning and, depending on your preferences, may well be all you ever need. As your confidence and skills grow, the Record Power range of woodturning products has everything you need to take you to the next step should you so desire. When you invest in Record Power woodturning tools you are investing in over 100 years of knowledge and expertise, giving you the best start possible to this fascinating craft. |
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