Things You'll Need:
- Wood lathe Cutting tools Wood
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Step 1
Select the proper size and species of wood for your project. Softer woods like pine are best for simple dowels and ship parts like masts that need to be lighter than they are strong. Woods like ash and oak are better for furniture legs and fancy pen shafts.
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Step 2
Set up your lathe. Lay out all the tools you will need for the wood turning project and be sure they are very sharp. Lay out extra tools or have them nearby so you don't have to interrupt your work to find them. The basics you will need include a sharp gouge, parting tools, skews and the right size chuck.
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Step 3
Set the wood block into the chuck and tighten the jaws so the wood is secure inside the chuck. Test the rotation of the wood to get it centered perfectly inside the chuck. Do this by hand turning the lathe and watching the wood block as it turns. When it rises too much on one side, unlock the chuck and lower and recenter the wood block.
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Step 4
Turn on the lathe and set it to the lowest speed. Grasp your roughing gouge and brace it against the machine or on some type of brace that you have set up. Slowly but surely point the blade toward the spinning wood block and move it toward the block until it begins to cut and "shape" the wood block.
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Step 5
Continue to cut the wood block by moving your gouge along one edge of the spinning block. As the blade makes contact with the wood, it will cut and shape it on all sides.
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Step 6
Measure the project using a special wood turning measure that looks like a scribe, called a caliper, and continue to cut and shape until the project is complete.
