Hi everyone. Thanks for accepting me into the forum. I live in Queensland, Australia and am relatively new to woodturning. I'm very much enjoying the hobby but as with many who work full time, find it challenging to find the time to get out into the shed and make some shavings. At the moment I have mainly turned bowls but am keen to expand my skills, with hollow forms being high on the list. Hopefully I will make some new friends and be inspired to challenge myself.
-
February 2026 Turning Challenge: Cookie Jar! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Dean Center for "After Life" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 16, 2026 (click here for details) -
AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
-
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
Adam Lucas
- Thread starter Adam Lucas
- Start date
Welcome Adam. I see a number of turners from Australia (it's tiny place and everyone knows each other, right? 
)
I've been retired for about 20 years and STILL have a hard time turning when I want to. In my case it's the farm, animals, maintenance, family! Since I've taken down some trees for a new building, my shop time lately has been cutting up fresh log sections into turning blanks for drying. (I turn very little green wood.)
Lots of people start with bowls and such. If you can stand it, plenty of experts recommend learning spindle turning also, or even first. It can teach the fine tool control that will let you turn anything. (I can provide references.)
I start all students on spindle turning and the first tool in their hands is the dreaded skew. We learn planing cuts, v-grooves, peeling, then switch to the spindle gouge for coves, back to skew, onward. I've developed a method of teaching the skew that so far as always worked, no one catch!)
Is there a woodturning club near you? If so, it could be a tremendous aid in learning and asking questions. Many clubs have experts willing to mentor. Of course you can ask any questions here, long distance!
JKJ
)I've been retired for about 20 years and STILL have a hard time turning when I want to. In my case it's the farm, animals, maintenance, family! Since I've taken down some trees for a new building, my shop time lately has been cutting up fresh log sections into turning blanks for drying. (I turn very little green wood.)
Lots of people start with bowls and such. If you can stand it, plenty of experts recommend learning spindle turning also, or even first. It can teach the fine tool control that will let you turn anything. (I can provide references.)
I start all students on spindle turning and the first tool in their hands is the dreaded skew. We learn planing cuts, v-grooves, peeling, then switch to the spindle gouge for coves, back to skew, onward. I've developed a method of teaching the skew that so far as always worked, no one catch!)
Is there a woodturning club near you? If so, it could be a tremendous aid in learning and asking questions. Many clubs have experts willing to mentor. Of course you can ask any questions here, long distance!
JKJ
Thanks John. I actually saw that advice in getting started section. I have done some spindle turning but not nearly enough to be confident in it. There are a few clubs locally that I have checked out and seem to worth joining so I plan to do that soon.