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Throughout ancient history until our modern era, every civilization has used wood to create functional and beautiful decorative objects.

In this article, you will learn more about woodworking from

Dive into the article to see examples of woodworking from the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. Many ancient cultures worldwide also practiced woodworking, employing many different styles and techniques.

Primitive weapons used for defense and hunting and simple tools used for building shelters have been used throughout the ages. Archaeologists discovered a wooden club and digging sticks at the Kalambo Falls on the Kalambo River border between Zambia and Tanzania.

As man developed his woodworking skills, he became better able to kill animals for food, clear land with his axe to grow crops, and build boats, buildings, and furniture. Woodworking thus became a necessary process that led to the advancement of civilizations.

Because of the vast amount of material to cover related to the history of woodworking, this article will focus on woodworking from ancient times to the Middle Ages, focusing on some of the more prominent civilizations. Woodworking conducted in other civilizations will be omitted - not because they are less critical but, again, due to the sheer volume of material. We will, however, briefly review some of the more prominent tools woodworkers used throughout history.

Ancient Egyptian Woodworkers

Ancient Egyptian drawings from 2000 B.C. depict wood furnishings such as beds, chairs, stools, tables, beds, and chests. There's also physical evidence of these wooden objects, as many were found well-preserved in tombs due to the country's dry climate. Even some sarcophagi (coffins) found in the tombs were crafted from wood.

Ancient Egyptian woodworkers were noted for regularly practicing their craft and for developing techniques that advanced the craft for future generations. For instance, they invented the art of veneering, gluing thin slices of wood together.

The earliest examples of veneering are over 5,000 years old and found in the tomb of Semerkhet. Many of the pharaohs were buried with objects that had African ebony veneer and ivory inlays.

According to some scholars, Egyptians were the first to varnish or "finish" their woodwork, though no one knows the composition of these "finishes". Finishing is the art of placing some protective sealant on wood materials to preserve them.

Ancient Egyptian woodworkers used various tools, including axes, adzes, chisels, pull saws, and bow drills. During the earliest pre-dynastic period (circa 3100 B.C., about the time of the first pharaoh), they also used mortise and tenon joints to join pieces of wood. Pegs, dowels, and leather or cord lashings strengthened these joints. Animal glue was used during the New Kingdom period (1570 - 1069 B.C.).

Egyptologists found the world's oldest piece of plywood in a third-dynasty coffin. It was made of six layers of wood four millimeters thick, held together by wooden pegs.

The Egyptians used a variety of wood to build their furniture and other objects. The wood came from native acacias, local sycamore, and tamarisk trees. However, when deforestation occurred in the Nile Valley starting from the Second Dynasty, they began importing cedar, Aleppo pine, boxwood, and oak from various parts of the Middle East. They also imported ebony from Egyptian colonies to construct items that went into tombs, such as inlaid wooden chests.

Bible's First Woodworkers

In the Book of Genesis, we encounter one of the Bible's first woodworkers - Noah. After God revealed his plan to destroy corrupt humanity by flooding the earth, He gave Noah a 120-year project - build an ark of cypress wood coated with pitch inside and out.

God furnished him and his three sons with precise instructions and dimensions. The ark was to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. If we convert cubits into feet based on the common cubit of 17.5 inches used by the Hebrews, we get an Ark at least 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall (about the size of a 4-story building).

The sheer size of the Ark staggers the imagination and seems an impossible task for Noah and his sons. The Scriptures, however, do not suggest that Noah had to build the ark without the help of hired men. After all, the size of the timbers for such a vast vessel would likely have been beyond the powers of four men to handle.

After the flood, the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat. The mountains of Ararat are in present-day Turkey.

Old Testament Woodworkers

While Noah and his woodworking crew displayed exceptional skills in building the ark, the Hebrew Bible paints a different picture of the Israelite woodworkers during the time of Solomon. As written in Chapter 5 of 1 Kings, Solomon had to import Phoenician artisans from the coastal city of Tyre to build his temple.

The Phoenicians were skilled in intricate woodworking, such as making furniture and inlaying them with ivory carvings, but as the years passed, the Israelite's woodworking skills improved. In Isaiah 44:13, the prophet describes the carpenter and his tools, suggesting that during the era of the kings, the Israelites were becoming more adept and involved in carpentry. Carpenters were among those Israelites exiled to Babylon after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 597 B.C. (Jeremiah 24:1; 29:2).

Lebanese cedar, imported from Lebanon, was one of the most popular building materials used in the Biblical world by ancient woodworkers because of its high quality, pleasant scent, and resistance to rot and insects. Many temples, palaces, and seagoing vessels were made from this wood, including Solomon's famed Temple.

This cedar was also used to construct the so-called "Jesus Boat" of the first century A.D. In 1986, two brothers discovered the boat on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee after a tremendous drought had lowered the water level. It was similar to the boats Jesus and his disciples would have used to cross and fish the Sea of Galilee.

Almost 27 feet long and over 7 feet wide, the boat's types of nails and hull construction placed the boat's origin between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D. It was the first near-complete boat ever found in the Sea of Galilee.

Early Chinese Woodworking

Early Chinese civilizations also promoted the art of woodworking. It's believed that woodworking mushroomed in that country starting around 720 B.C. When that happened, the Chinese developed many sophisticated applications of woodworking, including precise measurements used for making pots, tables, and other pieces of furniture.

During this time, a well-known carpenter, Lu Ban, was credited as one of the originators of woodworking in China. It's believed he brought the plane, chalk line, and other tools to China. Some 1500 years after his death, his teachings were compiled in the book Lu Ban Jing ("Manuscript of Lu Ban").

This book documented his work as a carpenter and contained descriptions of dimensions for building various objects - such as flower pots, tables, and altars. It also provided specific instructions concerning Feng Shui (wind and water).

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of geomancy, that is, the positioning of physical objects in strategic locations in the home and in work environments to stimulate optimal wellness, health, and happiness. Ironically, the book says almost nothing of the intricate glue-less and nail-less joinery for which Chinese furniture was so famous.

Japanese Woodworking

Woodworkers today who practice the ancient oriental woodworking techniques take pride in their mastery of the fitted joint and their skill of not using electric equipment, nails or glue to hold their pieces together. Japan is where this style of woodworking primarily originated.

One reason Japan succeeded in such excellent woodworking was that they developed high-carbon steel tools early in their history. Their use of high-quality blades and the engineering of the lathe made ancient Japanese woodworkers leaders in crafting round and curved objects. Cooperage (the making of barrels and casks) and bentwood works (wood that is artificially shaped for use in making furniture) were popular in Japan for everyday household objects.

Japanese woodworkers also made exquisitely-sculpted scenery. Their popularity and the techniques used in the process spread across Southeast Asia.

Another highly skilled form of woodworking was blocked prints - made from inked wood blocks. Lacquering also was developed in the Orient. It is a technique dominant in Japan, China, and Korea.

New Testament

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we find that Jesus' adopted father Joseph was a carpenter. In the Jewish culture (1st century), the father was required to teach the son his trade at age 12. Being a good Jew, Joseph would have followed this practice and began teaching Jesus at 12 his carpentry trade.

Carpenters of the time of Jesus were often called upon to construct or repair plows or threshing sleds, cut a roofing beam or shape a yoke for a new team of oxen. They also met the demands for new doors and door frames or a storage chest and made various other repairs.

Sometimes they helped construct larger projects, such as building a wood balcony or making doors or stairs for a new synagogue. And, on occasion, a master carpenter would be asked to create a holy object such as a Torah cabinet to store Scripture scrolls.

Hebrew carpenters used a variety of wood species depending on what the job required. They included cypress, oak, ash, sycamore, and olive. If it were a special project, they might have to import expensive cedar from Lebanon or use the vines stock for small projects.

Free Download - 6 Reasons Your Wood Project Failed

When a carpenter needed wood, he sawed trees into boards using a large bronze saw with the aid of other workers. He cut thin boards from tree trunks. Trees in that region, however, were not large or straight.

The carpenter's tools mentioned in ancient sources were the saw, mallet, adze, plummet and line, chisel, rule stick, plane, and squares. They also used the bow drill, held in one hand by the handle, which they rapidly set in motion by drawing the attached bow back and forth.

The bow-lathe was a crude primitive tool, yet a skilled woodworker could produce decorative spindles and bowls like today's woodturners. He turned the wood by pulling a leather strap back and forth like a bow. This motion moved the lathe and enabled the cut to be made in the turning wood.

With these tools at hand, carpenters from Biblical times possessed the skill to create intricately dovetailed, mitered, and dowelled joints. Combining considerable skill and patience, they often created splendid wood products.

Middle East

Woodworking in the Middle East goes back for many centuries, even to Biblical times, as evidenced in the descriptions of some items. For instance, the Book of Exodus chronicles the construction of wooden holy items for the Tabernacle of the ancient Hebrews.

The ancient woodworkers of the Near East built great wooden boats out of timber that grew in the Anatolian plateau (the Asian part of Turkey) along the Levantine coast (the Mediterranean coastal lands of modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon). This wood was so coveted that invading armies often demanded it as a tribute.

Archaeologists found furniture crafted from wood inlaid with bone, ivory, or metal dated as far back as 800 B.C. at Gordion, the alleged home of the mythical King Midas. Near East woodworkers used lathes and wedges, mallets, chisels, hammers, drills, plumb bobs, compasses, and other essential tools.

The wooden windows of the early mosques and private houses still seen today in the Arabic culture were crafted at the height of ancient Near East woodcarving. The Muslim woodcarvers of Persia, Syria, Egypt, and Spain designed and created exquisite paneling and other decorations for wall linings, ceilings, pulpits, and various fittings and furniture. Their woodwork was elaborate and minutely delicate.

The Roman Empire

The Roman Empire also had its share of skilled woodworkers. Wielding adzes, lathes, files, planes, saws, and drills, including the bow drill, they constructed aqueducts and waterworks using wooden scaffolding, built impressive warships and barges and erected strong and lethal battering rams and catapults for attacking enemy cities.

They also crafted furniture, including tables and chairs, that stylistically represented animals' arms or were carved to represent mythological creatures.

Archaeologists were delighted to find a furniture shop intact in Pompeii, an ancient resort city destroyed in 79 A.D. when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. They also discovered wooden furniture and decorations and methods of building.

Roman woodworkers used a variety of wood for their wooden creations. Wood species included ilex, beech, maple, elm, olive, and ash. The most prized wood in the Roman Empire was the African wood Tthyine, believed to have mystical powers. It was used by both the Romans and Greeks to make furniture.

Thyine, from the Cedar family, is a fragrant and beautiful wood the Romans called citrus or citron wood. It comes from a North African tree and was alluded to in Revelation 18:12 as being among the items which would no longer be purchased when Babylon fell.

Woodworking in the Medieval Period

The medieval period, also known as the Middle Ages, occurred during the one thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance, from about 400 A.D. to the 15th century. Since wood was the most common building material in the Middle Ages, carpenters prospered. They also were considered to be among the most skilled craftsmen.

Carpenters, however, had to belong to guilds - groups designed to protect the interests of people in certain occupations. They also were required to do apprenticeships with established carpenters. Their tools were much more straightforward than what we use today, but they had to know how to use them and know math and woodworking. This knowledge was necessary to create furniture, wagons, and homes for people of that era - even kings and lords.

All buildings used wood in some way. Buildings were sometimes constructed almost entirely out of wood, from the framing for their walls and roofs to their siding and shingles. Even stone buildings required considerable wooden construction. For instance, while being built, wood was needed for scaffolding, ramps and frames to support arches until the mortar hardened. Later, wood was used for doors, window frames, floors, roof beams, and some interior walls.

Although most of the wooden buildings of the Middle Ages have long since vanished, we still have contemporary illustrations of buildings and other wooden structures either completed or under construction.

Woodworkers of the Middle Ages also were skilled in creating wooden figurines and statues, some of which still stand today. These Byzantine or Gothic art pieces showed that woodworkers exhibited extreme patience in their woodworking and their love of this skill.

Ancient Tools of the Trade

Tools are like windows to the past. They allow us to view the civilizations that created them. The more wooden objects a society produces, the more tools it needs and uses.

In some instances, societies advanced slowly or even regressed regarding the development and use of woodworking tools. For instance, the Roman joiner had a larger tool chest than his medieval counterpart.

Axes and adzes were among the first tools created. Woodworkers used the axe to fell trees, and the adze, whose blade was turned 90 degrees, to dress timber.

The Minoan civilization of Crete used a combination axe-adze and invented the double-headed axe. The ax-adze was popular with Roman carpenters.

The handsaw was used in Egypt as far back as 1500 B.C. It had a broad blade, some as long as 20 inches, curved wooden handles, and irregular metal teeth. Since the blades were copper, a soft metal, they had to be pulled, not pushed. Because the carpenter could not bear down on the cutting stroke, sawing wood must have been a slow, tedious process.

The Romans improved the handsaw in two ways. They used iron for the blades, making them stiffer, and they set the teeth of the saw to project alternately right and left. This made the saw cut slightly wider than the blade and allowed a smoother movement.

Free Download - 6 Reasons Your Wood Project Failed

The Romans also invented the frame saw and the stiffened back saw, with s blade reinforced at the top to afford straight-through cuts. The frame saw uses a narrow blade held in a wooden frame and is kept taut by tightening a cord. The principle of the frame saw lives on in the modern hacksaw.

Roman builders used the try square (also known as the carpenter's square), the plumb line, and the chalk line, tools developed by the ancient Egyptians. Egyptian woodworkers also used wooden pegs instead of nails and made the holes with a bow drill, which they moved back and forth.

Since the bow drill is ineffective for heavy drilling and wastes energy, the Romans developed a better tool: the auger. The auger has a short wooden cross-handle attached to a steel shaft whose tip is a spoon-shaped bit. It enabled the woodworker to apply great rotational force and heavy downward pressure.

Woodworkers in the Middle Ages created a breast auger for drilling deep holes in ships' timbers. It is topped by a broad pad on which the carpenter rested his entire body weight.

The Romans improved upon the Egyptian's wooden pegs by inventing forged iron nails. They also created another dual-purpose tool: the claw hammer.

In addition, the Romans invented the rule, the smooth plane, and several other types of planes. One historian has called the wood plane "the most important advance in the history of woodworking tools."

Chisels are more ancient tools. Bronze Age carpenters used them with both integral handles and socketed wooden handles for house and furniture construction.

The first mallets, shaped like bowling pins, were pounded across the grain and didn't last long. Eventually, a handle was fitted to a separate head. These made a more durable hammering surface.

Discovering preserved ancient wooden artifacts thrills modern archaeologists. It gives them - and us - a unique glimpse into the past and provides a tangible link between us and the people of past societies. Unfortunately, countless objects made of wood did not last as long as ones made from clay or metal.

Wood is naturally durable and can last thousands of years without significant change if kept in moderate, sheltered environments. When the wood is exposed to fungi (molds and mildews), insects, termites, light, excessive heat, and excessive moisture, however, it is doomed to suffer biological deterioration. This is what happened to many of the wooden objects created centuries ago.

Moisture can be one of the most challenging conditions to control. Wood takes on moisture in high relative humidity conditions and releases it when it is lower.

Excessively high moisture conditions can cause wood to swell. This can result in crushed components along with finish and glue failure. Excessively low moisture conditions can damage the wood, too, resulting in splitting, gaps in joints, and lifting veneers and inlays.

Because the dimensions of wood can change when exposed to moisture and heat, the skilled woodworker must be able to anticipate these variations so as to maintain the integrity of the finished piece. Failing to take moisture content into account is a recipe for disaster.

One tool that ancient man never had the good fortune to possess is the moisture meter. Wagner Meters engineered the first practical and portable electromagnetic wave moisture meters in the 1990s. Since that time, other companies have started manufacturing pinless moisture meters.

The Wagner moisture meters were designed to cancel out surface moisture. IntelliSense™ technology allows its wood moisture meters to measure the percent of moisture in the wood instead of on the wood, solving the major drawback of most pinless moisture meters.

Wagner meters also are designed to enable woodworkers and flooring installers to "scan" many board feet of wood easily and quickly. This is handy when having to check a large volume of wood samples or for simply doing a quick check of current conditions.

Because Wagner meters have no pins, they do not damage wood surfaces, as do pin meters. They also read moisture content ranging from 5% to 30%. The Orion meter, Wagner's most popular model, is ideal for measuring moisture in all wood species - hardwoods, softwoods, and even exotic tropical woods. It offers moisture measurement to the tenth-of-a-percent precision.

The Wagner Meters Orion moisture meter, ideal for hobbyists, is useful for wood flooring and woodworking applications that specify common softwood and hardwood species that do not require moisture measurement to the tenth-of-a-percent precision.

While many ancient tools lacked durability, Wagner meters are built to last. It's why they come with an industry-leading 7-year warranty and complete customer satisfaction guarantee.

In Closing...

Throughout the history of mankind, great forests blanketed many parts of the world. They provided civilization with a valuable and plentiful resource: wood.

Wood was a material easy to work with and shape, so artisans used it in many diverse ways. They created weapons and siege devices from wood. They built houses, temples, boats, furniture, plows, and even coffins using local woods, or for special needs, imported fine, aromatic woods from distant lands. They also sculpted statues and other decorative pieces from wood. When stone structures were erected, woodworkers used wood scaffolding to aid in their construction.

As civilizations advanced, they invented new tools to cut and shape wood or improve existing ones. Most hand tools woodworkers use today have changed little since ancient times.

The inability to monitor the moisture content of a piece of wood and allow it to acclimate to the surrounding environment before using it has led, regrettably, to the ruin of many finished objects. It is one reason why countless wooden objects from centuries past have vanished forever.

We'd like to do our part to make sure that doesn't happen to your project.

Free Download - 6 Reasons Your Wood Project Failed

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1 Here are three websites that contend Noah's ark was discovered in the mountains of Ararat in present-day Turkey:
http://www.arkdiscovery.com/noah's_ark.htm http://www.viewzone.com/noahx.html http://pinkoski.com/noahs-ark/
It should be noted that there are a number of experts who hotly dispute the finding of the ark. However, Archaeologist Robert Ballard, who found the Titanic, says he has compelling evidence that suggests a monstrous ancient flood did indeed occur. While Ballard cannot say the ark existed, the Biblical flood story is similar in some respects to the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh, reports National Geographic. Also, the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans all have their own take on a legendary flood.

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A History of Woodworking and Its Influence in Civilization

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Discover how woodworking has played a pivotal role in shaping civilization with our comprehensive guide to the history of this ancient craft.

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History of Woodworking - Blog | Timberbits

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Introduction to Woodworking Techniques. Part of the Workshop Companion, a collection of information on wood, woodwork, woodworking skills, woodworking materials, and woodworking plans that together form the core knowledge needed by woodworkers, furniture makers, cabinetmakers, turners, and other practioners of the wood arts to become competent craftsmen.

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Woodworking…Is the process of building, making, or carving something using wood.Along with stone, mud, and even animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood. The development of civilization was closely tied to the development of increasingly greater degrees of skill in working these materials.Among early finds of wooden tools are the worked sticks from Kalambo Falls, Clacton-on-Sea, and Lehringen. The spears from Schöningen (Germany) provide some of the first examples of wooden hunting gear. Flint tools were used for carving. Since Neolithic times, carved wooden vessels are known, for example, from the Linear Pottery culture wells at Kückhofen and Eythra. Examples of Bronze Age woodcarving include tree trunks worked into coffins from Northern Germany and Denmark, and wooden folding chairs. The site of Fellbach-Schmieden in Germany has provided fine examples of wooden animal statues from the Iron Age, while wooden idols from the La Tène period are known from a sanctuary at the source of the Seine in France.Two ancient civilizations that used woodworking were the Egyptians and the Chinese. Woodworking is depicted in many ancient Egyptian drawings, and a considerable amount of ancient Egyptian furniture (such as stools, chairs, tables, beds, chests) has been preserved in tombs. As well, the inner coffins found in the tombs were also made of wood. The metal used by the Egyptians for woodworking tools was originally copper, and eventually, after 2000 BC, bronze (ironworking was unknown until much later). Commonly used woodworking tools included axes, adzes, chisels, pull saws, and bow drills.Mortise and tenon joints are attested from the earliest Predynastic period. These joints were strengthened using pegs, dowels and leather or cord lashings. Animal glue came to be used only in the New Kingdom period. Ancient Egyptians invented the art of veneering and used varnishes for finishing, though the composition of these varnishes is unknown. Although different native acacias were used, as was the wood from the local sycamore and tamarisk trees, deforestation in the Nile valley resulted in the need for the importation of wood, notably cedar, but also Aleppo pine, boxwood and oak, starting from the Second Dynasty.The progenitors of Chinese woodworking are considered to be Lu Ban and his wife Lady Yun, from the Spring and Autumn Period. Lu Ban is said to have brought the plane, chalkline, and other tools to China. His teachings are supposedly left behind in the book Lu Ban Jing, “Manuscript of Lu Ban,” although it was written some 1500 years after his death. The book is filled largely with descriptions of dimensions for use in building various items such as flowerpots, tables, altars, etc., and also contains extensive instructions concerning Feng Shui. Unfortunately it mentions almost nothing of the intricate glueless and nailless joinery for which Chinese furniture was so famous. Historically, woodworks relied upon the woods native to their region, until transportation and trade innovations made more exotic woods available to the craftsman. Woods can be sorted into three basic types: hardwoods typified by tight grain and derived from broadleaf trees, softwoods from coniferous trees, and man-made materials such as plywood and MDF. Typically furniture such as tables and chairs is made using solid stock, and cabinet/fixture makers employ the use of plywood and other manmade panel products.As civilization developed throughout the years, human skills developed. People continued to learn more advanced techniques, strategies, and designs in woodworking, and woodworking became an art. Some of the wellknown skills are carpentry, parquetry, marquetry, wood carving, and cabinetry. All of these pertain to the wonderful and artistic concept of woodworking craft.Indeed, the craft of woodworking has undergone many changes throughout history. One can surmise that the craft of woodworking isn’t just a “skilled art” but can also be considered as history itself.Sources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/woodworkinghttp://www.vintage-crafts-patterns-designs.com/woodworking_history.html

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The history behind cabinet making - Piualto

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Introduction: Wood Turning 101 - What You Need to Know to Get Started on the Lathe

Wood turning can seem like a mystery to many woodworkers. In fact only a very small percentage of woodworkers and makers are familiar with the lathe. I recently got a small lathe, and I thought it would be interesting to go over the basics. So when I had the opportunity to ask master wood turner Carl Jacobson a few questions, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to clarify a few things. So let's get started with some questions that I wondered before starting out and that I think others would find useful to know as well.

Step 1: Getting Started

What do you need to get started in wood turning?
You simply need something that will spin wood. A small beginner's lathe is a great option, you don't need a big, heavy duty lathe to get started. Another option is to make your own lathe using a drill or a drill press if you're feeling adventurous.
What's the difference between a large and a small lathe?
Mainly the capacity. If you want to turn larger pieces, then a larger lathe is needed. Smaller desktop lathes for example can only turn about 10 inches in diameter, whereas larger lathes can turn up to 24 inch bowls for example.

The bed length is another difference. Larger lathes have longer bed lengths, however many smaller lathes also come with extensions if you want to turn a baseball bat for example.

A larger lathe will also be more sturdy and can handle more substantial pieces of wood without shaking or become unstable. However, if you anchor your lathe properly, and make sure to use reasonably sized pieces of wood, then you won't have much of an issue, no matter what size lathe you've got.

Step 2: Tools & Accessories

What accessories do you need?
Most lathes come with a face plate, a spur center and a live center for the end and that's really all you need to get started other than the tools.
Do you need a chuck?
Well, it depends. There are a lot of people who turn with chucks and a lot of people who turn without one. Certain things are certainly easier to turn with a chuck, such as to hollow out boxes and turning bowls, but then there are many other things you can turn where you don't need one.
What kind of tools do you need?
So you have traditional tools and you have modern carbide cutting tools. The main difference between the two is the learning curve. Carbide cutting tools are easier to use right off the bat, whereas traditional tools take a little longer to learn how to use right.

You also need to sharpen traditional tools as you use them with a grinder, however that's not an issue with the carbide cutting ones, as you replace the tips when they become dull.

The two are also used differently. A traditional tool, like a roughing gauge for example is held at an angle, pointing up towards the wood as you're cutting, whereas the carbide tools are held straight.

Step 3: Steps to Using the Lathe

What are the steps to setting up the lathe?
Once you have unboxed your lathe, first of all put in your spur center and your live center, and make sure they meet in the middle on center, and that is critical if you do spindle turning. Another useful thing is putting down some W40 or other lubricant on the bed to make it everything slide smoother. Make sure to re-apply a lubricant every time you turn.

If you have a desktop lathe, make sure to bolt it down to secure it.

Also make sure to check your belts, so they're on the right speed for what you're trying to do.
When do you use different speeds?
Well, when first setting up a piece of wood on the lathe, start on a lower speed. When trying it out, if the lathe is wobbling, go down one speed. Then once your piece is centered, you can raise the speed.

Be aware, that if you're working with a piece of wood with defects in it you want to be even more careful and start the speed out slower, or else it can crack on you.

Step 4: What Type of Wood to Turn

Can you turn any type of wood?
Fundamentally you can turn with any type of wood, however it's a good idea to stay away from anything pressure treated. Also, certain tropical woods like cocobolo and rosewood and can cause some irritants. It doesn't bother all people, but some people have a stronger reaction to those than others.

Also, no matter what type of wood you're turning, it can cause problems if you turn a lot and inhale the dust. So it's always a good idea to wear a mask or a respirator.
Is there a difference how different woods turn?
While you can turn any wood, certain woods are a lot softer to turn and others are harder. Framing lumber for instance is rather soft, whereas hardwoods like walnut and maple are harder. Then certain woods like apple wood or cherry for example that are even harder than walnut, and turn nicer.
When do you turn wet vs dry wood?
You use dry wood when you don't want to have any more movement after it's turned. If you're making boxes for example, you might use dry wood, that way your lid doesn't shrink.

Green wood (or wet wood) is often used for bowls. Then you first rough turn when the wood is wet, let the bowl dry for about a year, and then finely turn it once the wood is dry.

Wet wood is also very different to turn than dry wood. It's softer and easier to turn, and a lot of fun!

Step 5: Why Get a Lathe?

Why would I get a lathe?
Well, wood turning opens up a lot of doors and enables you to do things that are difficult to accomplish in other ways. It really enhances some projects and it's a lot of fun. If you're making a table for example, you can turn round legs. Bowls are perfect to make on the lathe, as well as spindles, baseball bats, knobs and a lot of other things that belong in the "round family" of objects.

Step 6: Conclusion - Watch the Video!

Make sure to watch the video for a better perspective and some great info on getting started with wood turning!

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Wood Turning 101 - What You Need to Know to Get Started on the Lathe

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Wood Turning 101 - What You Need to Know to Get Started on the Lathe: Wood turning can seem like a mystery to many woodworkers. In fact only a very small percentage of woodworkers and makers are familiar with the lathe. I recently got a small lathe, and I thought it would be interesting to go over the basics.

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Woodworking 101: Essential Tools, Skills, and Techniques

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Discover all the tools, skills, and techniques for woodworking. From cutting and joining to sanding and finishing, learn how to create beautiful, durable woodwork.

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Everything you need to know to master the essential wood joints.

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What does a typical workshop look like for this cræft?

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What does a typical workshop look like for this cræft?

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Environment:

The workshop needs ample storage, lighting, ventilation, power, space, and noise reduction to ensure the students have everything they need without affecting others

Lumber storage areas must be completely dry with good ventilation, and no sunlight. Lumber must be stored flat and straight, not on the ground or leaned against a wall, as humidity and airflow must be the same on both sides of the board.

Work benches must have enough room for long, wide boards. Tool storage also needed to be considered, as well as room for a stationary machine area, and a finishing area.

Dust collection systems work best when placed directly at or next to the woodworking machine.

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Furniture Making Guide, Techniques & Project Plans

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Get on the fast track to building your own furniture with our handy furniture making guide. Find step-by-step techniques, videos and project plans to help you get started.

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What kind of objects would someone produce for this cræft?

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What kind of objects would someone produce for this cræft?

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Small Scale:

Dollys, jewelry boxes, picture frames, cutting boards, knife handles/blocks, racks, shelves, etc.

Large Scale:

Tables, desks, cabinets, accent walls, flooring, staircases, joists/rafters, etc.

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What are the typical tools and materials for this cræft?

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What are the typical tools and materials for this cræft?

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Tools:

Hand Tools - Claw Hammers, Tape Measures, Utility Knives, Moisture Meters, Chisels, levels, heavy-duty screwdrivers, Nail sets, Sliding Bevels, Layout squares, clamps, hand saws

Safety Tools - First Aid Kits, dust masks and respirators, hearing protection, safety goggles, aprons, push paddles and sticks

Electric Tools - Bench Grinder, circular saw, power drills, sabre saws, palm sanders, table saws

Materials:

Sheet woods

Hardwoods (cherry, maple, oak)

Solid woods

MDF

Plywood

Bendy-Ply

Softwood (pine, cedar, redwood)

Chipboard

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What are the requirements of the cræft as it relates to human skill?

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What are the requirements of the cræft as it relates to human skill?

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Patience

Perseverance

A steady hand

Spatial awareness

Precision

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The Art of Wood Carving: Techniques and Tools | Cottage9

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The Art of Wood Carving. Read the full article to explore techniques, tools, and the journey from raw wood to intricate masterpieces in this timeless craft.

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What are the important characteristics of the cræft?  How would you describe it to someone else?

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What are the important characteristics of the cræft?  How would you describe it to someone else?

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Woodworking is a very detail-oriented  and intricate craft, as it requires a lot of precise measuring and cutting. The process of creating something that is both aesthetic  and functional out of wood is very tedious, but also rewarding.