Lathe Turnings

Courtesy of Hands On, Nov/Dec 1980 - For most of us, it was our first woodworking project - turning a bowl on a lathe. But afterwards we went on to bigger and better things, and forgot about that simple bowl that once had us basking in the glory of our own accomplishment.

Despite also owning a few high-tech yo-yos, this homemade yo-yo is the one I use most often. The size and shape are all custom fit to my hand. Most importantly, the fact that I made it incorporates a level of satisfaction to yo-yoing that a manufactured yo-yo cannot match. This is a simple and classic project that also makes a great gift, and you will not believe the functionality that you can create.

A great project for the woodturners.

The Concord Table, also known as the candle stand table, is a traditional American Favorite. Our version lends itself to being a gift project because, by using a lathe duplicator, you can easily produce multiple spindles.

This makes a neat holder for a ball of crochet cotton. The diagram at is one-half full size, making it simple to pick off all essential dimensions.

Brush up on your segmented turnings skills and create this beautiful party platter, time to serve up something special!

How fun is this!! If you are a woodturner, here are the free instructions to turn a few spin tops on the lathe. For this project a fine-grained wood such as birch, maple or cherry is the best option.

Here is a step-by-step photo guide to turning a walnut box and lid.

People like mushrooms. I am not sure why, but they are a steady seller for me at craft fairs. One of the reasons is that I turn a lot of small ones to sell at about $3.00 each.

This plan can be used to construct a simple cup that uses a Segment Design to form a dramatic ring around the cup. Of course, it is not that simple when you consider the total number of pieces involved. The total is 384 pieces if the Segment Design is built from all of its individual parts. It is only 204 pieces if you take advantage of the design to use fewer parts.

Follow along and make a lazy susan on the lathe. Here is now to do it...

Diagram only with dimensional information. This, a recent topic of the Whats Up section, is my first plan made entirely with the Segmented Project Planner.

Make your own barrel shaped coin bank on the lathe using these free step-by-step instructions.

Follow along with the free instructions including lots of pictures and turn your own wooden scoops.

At the link you are taken through the step-by-step process of turning a wooden key chain.

Here I will show you how to design a leg profile and then turn a prototype you can use as a template for a set of four legs.

With its tapered inner walls and expansion slots, this shop-made compression chuck will hold round pieces for finish-turning or drilling.

Get your lathe out and follow along to turn this fun drink koozie with a bottle opener in the bottom.

These spinning tops are great fun for children and adults. Follow along at the link and make your own spinning tops.

Here is a great way to practice making bowls on the lathe but creating a tea light holder. Follow along at the link.

Turn your own custom cabinet knobs using this free tutorial as a guide.

Here are several tools made from allen wrenches, nails and screwdrivers. They are easy to make and quite effective.

Australian Woodsmith is a practical magazine for all woodworkers. From Issue 21. (Australia)

You will need a lathe and router for this project. At the link you can follow along to see how it was done.

Here is a project for the woodturner, a tea light holder turned on the lathe. Follow along at the link.

Create handles fit for a craftsmans tools by gluing blocks of scrap wood and turning them on the lathe.

Follow along at the link and make wooden lids for your mason jars using your lathe.

These snowman stoppers can often be turned from pieces of scrap wood that might otherwise go unused. Here is the step-by-step process.

Follow along at the link (there is a video as well) and make your own turned plywood coffee tamper. Everyone could use one of these, right?

The captive rings can present a puzzle to those who do not know how they are created. These rings are loose yet remain captured by the work piece.