Guides
8 posts in Guides.
- Guides
Lathe Chuck Guide: Jaws, Faceplates, and Compatibility Decoded
Woodturning chuck guide: four-jaw scroll chucks, jaw sets, faceplates, and worm screws explained by turning use case, with a spindle-thread compatibility table.
- Guides
Dust Collection for Woodturning: Collectors and Respirators
Dust collection for woodturning: shavings versus fine dust, when a shop vac is enough, what air filtration does, and which respirator turners actually use.
- Guides
First Bowl Guide: From Blank to Finished Bowl
A step-by-step framework for turning your first bowl, from mounting the blank to finishing the foot: tool sequence, chuck setup, and what the first cut is like.
- Guides
Lathe Size Guide: What Swing and Between-Centers Actually Mean
Lathe swing, between-centers distance, and headstock type explained by project size, so you choose the right machine without overbuying or underbuying.
- Guides
Wood Lathe Speed Guide: Safe RPM by Blank Size
Safe RPM ranges for woodturning by blank diameter, with the standard AAW formula, an original speed chart, and what actually happens when you run too fast.
- Guides
Lathe Stand and Shop Setup Guide: Height, Ballast, and Power
Lathe stand height, ballast, 110V vs 220V power, and shop footprint planning for midi and full-size lathes, with real numbers for the common machines.
- Guides
Midi Lathe vs Full-Size Lathe: Which Should You Buy?
Midi lathe versus full-size floor lathe, compared by project size, price, electrical needs, and upgrade path: a direct answer to the common beginner fork.
- Guides
Wood for Turning: Green vs Dry, Blanks, and Spalting
Woodturning blanks explained: green wood versus kiln-dried, where turners actually source their blanks, spalted wood explained, and which species turn best.