How To Articles | Worldwide Woodturners

Quick Change “Pin” Jaws with Bob Grinstead
If you have ever needed pin jaws but didn’t have them, or don’t want to take the time to change out the jaws, you can make you own quick change pin jaws out of scrap pieces of wood. You need a 3" x 3" x 1 ½" block of wood, Pine works fine. Make ...
July 1st Pyrography Demonstration with Nicole Kenney
Editor’s note: The following are progressionimages of techniques Nicole shared during her pyrography demonstration in our July 1st meeting. To see where the piece began, go to the Worldwide Woodturners YouTube channel and watch the ...
The Woodturning Speed Formula by Billy Burt
To determine a safe starting speed, woodturners use a standard rule of thumb based on the workpiece diameter (in inches): Minimum/Roughing Speed: 6,000/Diameter = RPM Maximum/Finishing Speed: 9,000/Diameter = RPM Quick Reference Speed Chart Workpiece Diameter Roughing / Out-of-BalanceSpeed Fine Cutting / SandingSpeed 1″ – 2″ (Pens, Spindles) 1,500 – 2,000 RPM 2,500 – 3,000 RPM 3″ – 5″ 1,200 – 1,500 RPM 1,800 – 2,200 RPM 6″ ...
Lathe Maintenance by Scott Medori
I found my banjo getting sticky, quill tightening up on my tailstock, and, of late, my Jacob’s chuck had spun in the tailstock when using a Forstner bit. Time to give my lathe some TLC. After researching, I came up with this maintenance list. Check all mounting bolts- they vibrate loose. Blow out belts, pulleys, bedways, motor, ...
Turning a crooked walking stick By Howard King
Our fellow woodturning member, Dr. John Sowell, found a very crooked stick that he visualized could possibly be a “walking stick”. It was about two inches in diameter and long enough to fit perfectly to his six foot six inch frame (five foot eighteen inches he would always announce when asked his height). He asked ...
3D Printed Tailstock Quill Impeller for Wood Lathes By Brent Sobotka
Original Concept Credit: This design is based on an idea originally ...
Multi-axis Weed Pot Using the Dux Chuck by Bob Grinstead
Here is an easy and fun offset turning project, “Fan” Weed Pots using Jim Duxbury’s Dux Chuck. There are plans on our web site showing how to make this chuck: https://www.worldwidewoodturners.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/duxchuck.jpg Start out with a ¾” x 3-¼” x 4″ board. Draw a 3″ circle, centered on the 3-¼” direction and offset in the 4″ direction leaving about ...
In Memorium by Joaquin Juatai
In my opinion, one of the most sacred duties that a woodturner is tasked with is creating a funerary urn. To be entrusted with the final resting place of the remains of a loved one can feel a little daunting. Very simply, an urn is a lidded box or vessel. From there, the sky is the ...
Making the Sun Rise Design Ring by Roger Wollam
Editor’s note: This design is a “double segmented” piece. The insert design is, itself, a segmented ring that is sliced and inserted into the segmented bowl. To find the exact size of everything, I start out drawing out the outside shape of the segmented insert. For this example, the dimensions are 2 ½” by 1 ½”. ...
Thin Walls and Piercing with Matt Harber
If you would like your own hardcopy of this description, click here Thin Wall Tips: Shape exterior contours first. Shape interior contours to consistently match exterior contours. Wet wood can be more easily thinned, it is more ...

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