Discover Woodturning Main

What Is Woodturning?

Woodturning is the craft of using the wood lathe with hand-held tools to cut a shape that is symmetrical around an axis of rotation. Like the potter’s wheel, the wood lathe is a simple mechanism which can generate a variety of forms limited only by the imagination of the artist or craftsperson.

What, Me a Woodturner?

When someone unfamiliar with woodturning picks up a beautiful turned bowl or examines a cute wooden baby rattle, the frequent comment is “I could never make something like that.”

Getting Started

Part of the joy of woodturning is being able to discover and develop your own style, and create something which is uniquely yours. In the article below, woodturning professional and artist Betty Scarpino reveals the allure of the woodturning and it’s evolution as an art and craft.

Common Terminology

When you begin to learn woodturning, you may be intimidated or confused by the terminology. What does it mean to ride the bevel, for example? What is an SRG? Here is a glossary of woodturning terms you may hear when you watch a woodturning demonstration, attend a chapter meeting, or read an article. You are now on your way to talking like a woodturner.

Wood Essentials

Of course you know that wood grows on trees. But what else do you need to know about wood and the trees it comes from? For starters, you need to understand something about wood grain and how those patterns of light and dark streaks and swirls affect the shape you want to turn and even the choice of tools to use at the lathe, and so much more.

Safety

While common sense should prevail, these standards will help you gain awareness of the many facets of woodturning safety and what to be on the lookout for as you gain experience. In addition, safety guidelines from an experienced instructor, video, or book are also good sources in important safety procedures.

Shop Tips

AAW members have shared their favorite shop tips with us since 1986. To help members work faster and smarter in their own shops, AAW has an expanding collection of popular and useful tips. View our complete Tips collection (members only).

Gallery

Discover a gallery of AAW members work. Every week we select a few artists to be listed on our "AAW Forum Turning of the Week" blog page. Sign up and become a member today to have a chance of getting your artwork showcased on our site!

Woodturning History

Woodturning is an ancient craft known to many cultures worldwide. For many hundreds of years leading up to the Industrial Revolution, the foot-powered woodturning lathe was the only woodworking machine in common use.

Our Member Community

AAW has grown into a muli-national organization with nearly 16,000 members. The supportive activities of our members to mentor, guide, and teach woodturners are the heart and soul of AAW's success.

Chapters and Events

AAW and its chapters are here to enrich your overall woodturning know-how, whatever your skill level or area of interest. You’ll be able to discover woodturning, learn new techniques more quickly and more safely with both chapter and AAW memberships.

Charitable Projects

For more than 15 years, AAW members have been active with the ReTurn to the Community program. Woodturners make a difference through action to support charities and innovative projects. They go beyond monetary donations to realize the full potential of projects to enhance and support the mission of AAW.

Become a Member!

With the largest portfolio of woodturning-related material in the world, AAW is the go-to source for woodturners of all skill levels. A membership with the AAW can help you learn and thrive in your woodturning experience, as well as connect with others who share your passion.

Join us!

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Discover Woodturning!

What Is Woodturning?

What, Me a Woodturner?

Getting Started

Common Terminology

Wood Essentials

Safety

Shop Tips

Gallery

Woodturning History

Our Member Community

Chapters and Events

Charitable Projects

Become a Member!