woodturning
15 posts tagged "woodturning".
- Guides
Wood Stabilizing: Resin, Vacuum, and When to Skip It
Wood stabilizing explained: what vacuum-impregnating punky and spalted wood with resin does, how the process works, and when dense hardwood needs none of it.
- Roundups
Best Full-Size Wood Lathes 2026: Ranked and Compared
The best full-size wood lathes for 2026, ranked: the Jet JWL-1840EVS pick, the 110-volt Laguna Revo 18|36, the Grizzly G0766, and the Powermatic 3520C.
- Roundups
Best Lathes for Beginners 2026: By Budget and Goal
The best beginner lathes for 2026 by budget: the WEN 3424T, a used Rikon, the Jet JWL-1221VS pick, and the Laguna Revo 1216, plus what to budget for tooling.
- Roundups
Best Midi Lathes 2026: Ranked and Compared
The best midi lathes for 2026, ranked: the Jet JWL-1221VS pick, the budget WEN 3424T, the Laguna Revo 1216 for outboard work, and the used Rikon 70-220VSR.
- 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.
- Lathe Reviews
Powermatic 3520C Review: The Full-Size Benchmark
Powermatic 3520C reviewed: verified specs, what changed from the 3520B, cost against full-size rivals, and the used-market case for serious bowl turners.
- Finishing
Food Safe Wood Finish: What Actually Works (and the Myth)
The food-safe wood finish myth, killed with primary sources: cure vs dry, the finish families honestly compared, and a decision table for boards and bowls.
- Lathe Reviews
Jet JWL-1221VS Review: The Midi Lathe Owners Recommend
The Jet JWL-1221VS midi lathe reviewed: verified specs, the variable-speed experience, what a 12-inch swing really turns, and who should buy a Rikon.