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Learn To Turn

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Written for true beginners, this approachable and enjoyable instructional guide teaches the art of turning. Readers receive advice on every step of the turning process, including selecting the right lathe, basic safety and woodshop setup, an overview of the proper tools and how to use them, and the basics on sharpening, sanding, and finishing. Step-by-step instructions for eight projects such as a birdhouse, a simple bowl, and a pepper mill are included. This guide also features a special chapter that addresses and reveals surprisingly simple solutions to common beginner mistakes.

113 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

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About the author

Barry Gross

17 books

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Michal.
322 reviews3 followers
September 12, 2025
Dobré na naprosté základy, ale jinak všechna témata prosviští příliš rychle bez přidané hodnoty.
Profile Image for Chris.
115 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2023
I'm sorry, but overall, this book was really not very good. With a publication date of 2018, I expected this to be more "up to date", but many things described in the book were described as if they were being done in 1981. There are better (more advanced) ways of doing things now.

Also, most topics were very glossed over without much info that really helped. I've watched some youtube videos and 2 or 3 youtube videos give you much more detailed info than this book. Topics were taken at a high level and no details on them really given. Not a very good way to describe topics for a "beginner" book. I got this book hoping for detail that was more than what's in a video from "Joe Blow" on youtube.

Projects had many steps glossed over (or even skipped). It had instructions using tools that were not listed in the project tool list. In the beginning of book the author talked all about how you could easily get started with only a few tools and then has 12 projects that needed MUCH MORE than the simple tools talked about at beginning of book. You couldn't get through the 12 simple projects without about $1500 worth of tools (tools only, not including lathe) and supplies not mentioned earlier in book.

I'd skip this book if you really want to learn to turn. It's more of an overview of what turning is about without the detailed needed to truly get going.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

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