Whilst I cannot claim any woodworking credentials – not even a CSE – I’ve always loved the look, feel and tactileness of wood. But since my abilities don’t extend to the complexities of dovetail joints and the like, I have to focus on simpler forms, which make it possible to enjoy the natural beauty of the wood without putting in years of training.
First amongst these simpler forms are those based on wood turning. Essentially you start with a block of wood, which may be a ‘blank’ cut from a larger plank, or it might be a piece of log or cut directly from a tree. You then mount it in a jig (called a lathe) which allows it to be rotated such that a chisel or similar implement can be used to shave it down so as to create a circular form from a solid lump of wood. There are two broad categories of working which are chiefly determined by the orientation of the wood grain; spindle turning, where the grain runs parallel to the axis of rotation, and bowl, or plate turning, where the grain runs at right-angles to the axis of rotation. The former is used for making chair and table legs, lampstands etc, the latter for making bowls and plates.