Learn to Turn by Barry Gross – 3rd Edition Revised & Expanded

Introduction by the Author

So much has been written about woodturning in the past that it creates a challenge to approach the topic with an innovative agenda. My method is to look at woodturning from the perspective of the student and not the teacher. Looking at woodturning from this viewpoint brings to light some of the frustrating aspects of the hobby as a beginner—such as feeling nervous when you first try to turn a piece of wood on a lathe; struggling to grind an edge on a tool; attempting to get a good finish on a bowl; or turning the final bead on a spindle, getting a “catch,” and demolishing your project. I can identify with these and other apprehensions because I did them. Any experienced turner will tell you that we all make mistakes and that practice working at a particular skill is all it takes for the mistakes to correct themselves. However, by identifying some common problems and offering tips to overcome these issues, the hobby will become more enjoyable and some of the trepidation will be relieved.

So, what are you going to learn from this book? Many topics will be covered, and safety is an important issue that will be discussed. Controlling dust in your shop is especially important to your safety—it’s a necessity and not a luxury! For those who have not selected a lathe, you can see what features are important to you and choose the correct lathe for your individual needs. You’ll also discover what other power tools are necessary for your shop and which ones are “nice to have.”

You’ll learn where and how to obtain wood—from the raw log or by purchasing a prepared blank—how to select turning tools, and how to use the ABC’s of tool control. Certain projects will be made with specific turning tools to enrich your tool control.

Once your project is turned, you will have to sand and finish it. Here we will discuss many different types of finishes. Once you have completed your work, how do you market the finished product? A gallery of finished work by a coalition of distinguished turners is available for admiration and for inspiration.

Finally, to me, the most important subject is troubleshooting and how to fix some of the problems you will encounter.

That’s it—a big task, but one I am sure you will enjoy. Now, with all that said, we have a lot of work ahead of us, so let’s have some fun and “make some dust!”

—Barry Gross