Lathe Turnings

Follow along at the link and make this beautiful rolling pin using your lathe of course. This project includes a stand on which to display your beautiful new rolling pin.

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.

Cute right? If you own a lathe and enjoy turning then perhaps this project is for you. You can now turn a set of bears using the free woodworking instructions at the link. The contrasting wood used in these bears makes them awesome.

This is a project gone wild due to a lathe in the shop. What happens when you try to build what could have been a simple kitty condo in a shop with a new lathe? 18 columns, a total of 158 beads and 19 balls, among other spindle fanciness, highlight the excesses resulting from a near total lack of design control. Let is hope the cats are impressed.

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

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing for a turned darning egg. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

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

Piggy Bank...makes a neat turning project. The wood stock is maple. Feet are painted black; ears and nostrils are touched with pink. The two front legs fit holes drilled in the body; back legs are cut to conform to curve and are nailed and glued in place, as shown.

Australian Woodsmith is a practical magazine for all woodworkers. From Issue 43. Pattern only. (Australia)

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

Ever thought of turning your own wooden spoons? At the bottom of the page at the link, be sure to click on the NEXT button to continue the process.

FIRST, turn a prototype leg. Place your prototype leg directly behind the blank for each final leg. By sighting along the upper horizons of both pieces, you will simplify the process of repeating specific shapes.

I am not really sure what to call these figures. They are not really winged or natural edged bowls because there is not enough bowl inches in the center.

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.

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.

Here is a really nice old-fashion set of lathe turned dolls that are quite easy to make.

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

This platter was turned from walnut and measures about 14 inches in diameter. You only need 4 turning tools for this project. The blank was about 1 1/2 inches thick. Follow along at the link to see how it was turned.

First we will mount a waste block on the screw chuck. You could also use a small face plate, but I find this less time consuming, and this Glaser screw chuck works real well.

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

In the old days the column was turned into the round on a lathe, then the rope design cut with wood rasps and sanded smooth a very time-consuming chore. The Revo makes the chore quick and easy, taking about an hour to complete the column. Search the page for the project.

I love how a custom handle feels and works in MY hands: fit to my grip, my turning style, and a length that gives me proper leverage.

Here is a different way to turn a platter. By Johnny Tolly.

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

Follow along at the link to see how to make a captive ring baby rattle on the lathe.

This is a link to a Google 3D SketchUp drawing of a finial to be used on a headboard or footboard. You will need the SketchUp software to download this drawing and its freely available online. We do not provide support for this software. Not all drawings have the measurements displayed but you can use the measurement tool in SketchUp to easily and accurately determine the dimensions of each lumber part. Most drawings do not have instructions, its assumed you can build it based on the completed drawing provided.

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.

This wooden handle was turned for a measuring spoon. Follow along and see how it was done.

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

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.