Woodturning News | Prism Hobbies

How to use a four-jaw chuck for safer woodturning grips

The safest four-jaw chuck grip starts with the tenon-or-recess choice, because the wrong geometry can weaken hold and let a bowl blank shift on the lathe.

Jamie Taylor•3 min read•02:49 AM

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Milwaukee Area Woodturners maps out summer and fall with demos and events

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Craobh Eo Woodturners tackle captive ring goblet at July meeting

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Vermont woodturners to demonstrate flame blackening finish in Jericho

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Louisville Area Woodturners to feature Eric Gourieux at July meeting

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Steven Garrison's sunfish sphere earns Woodturners forum honor

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Hand-chasing threads brings ancient precision to lidded woodturning projects

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Bowl-coring systems compared, Oneway, Woodcut and McNaughton reviewed

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More News

Community

Milwaukee Area Woodturners list Rob Nelson demo at Woodcraft of Milwaukee

Rob Nelson's Saturday demo lands on MAWT's July 25 calendar at Woodcraft of Milwaukee, with the club still marking the time and cost as tentative.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Woodturning beginners need these four essential lathe tools first

Start with four spindle tools, not a shopping spree. The right starter kit gets you making clean cuts faster and keeps costly first-lathe mistakes off the bench.

Sam Ortega4m read

Releases

Elbo 2 hollowing system adds stability, deeper reach for turners

The Elbo 2 adds 10 pounds, broader lathe fit, and a 12-inch hollowing reach, aiming to give turners more control on deeper vessels.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

AAW board election voting opens August 1 for members

AAW members will vote August 1-31, with candidate statements and electronic voting instructions in the August American Woodturner. The ballot will decide who steers AAW’s education and events.

Sam Ortega2m read

Community

Worldwide Woodturners calendar links turners across the globe online

Worldwide Woodturners' July calendar puts Kirk Kapp's 6 PM EST demos and a July 22 meeting front and center for turners who need an online club rhythm.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

Five giants who turned woodturning into modern art

These five pioneers still shape what you see on the lathe: Prestini’s precision, Stocksdale’s restraint, Moulthrop’s scale, Lindquist’s hollowing, and Osolnik’s teachable form.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

Center driving demystified, the foundation of spindle turning

If a spindle chatters or slips, the first suspect is often the drive center, not the gouge. The right bite, alignment, and tailstock pressure keep long-grain work true.

Nina Kowalski4m read

News

Woodturning video on unprecedented lathe method draws millions of views

A @Agronommejean lathe clip passed 5 million views and drew 4,000 likes, but woodturners already know plenty of inventive variants.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Seated woodturning opens the lathe to more makers, safely and comfortably

Seated turning shifts the shop around the maker, not the other way around, and the AAW’s resources show how to tune height, reach, lighting, and tool handling today.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Analysis

Vacuum chucking helps bowl turners finish the bottom cleanly

Vacuum chucking gives bowl turners a cleaner way to finish the foot, remount a piece, and sand the bottom without leaving the usual tenon.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

The sensational skew chisel, simplified for better woodturning results

The skew feels unforgiving because it exposes bevel control and tool presentation fast, and that is exactly why experienced turners keep teaching it.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Community

West Riding Woodturners brings ancient craft to a new generation

West Riding Woodturners is using funded, hands-on taster sessions to pull younger beginners into the craft, and the model is easy for other clubs to copy.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Analysis

NOVA guide maps lathe thread compatibility for woodturners

The biggest compatibility trap in turning is assuming one chuck fits every lathe. Spindle threads, Morse tapers, and inserts decide what actually mounts.

Sam Ortega4m read

Analysis

Wood dust hazards in the workshop, and how to reduce them

The worst dust in a turning shop hits at the lathe, not the broom. Roughing, sanding, and cleanup call for capture, filtration, and a respirator, in that order.

Sam Ortega4m read

Analysis

Turn a lazy Susan on the lathe for a cleaner, faster build

Turn a lazy Susan on the lathe for cleaner curves, faster shaping, and a real lesson in faceplate turning. The project rewards careful mounting, balanced stock, and a finish that spins as well as it looks.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Community

Tri-State Woodturners to feature Beau Bunn at June 20 meeting

Beau Bunn returned to Tri-State Woodturners on June 20 with a sphere-turning demo, backed by 10-plus years teaching at John C. Campbell Folk School.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

How woodturning evolved from utility to modern sculpture

Woodturning’s modern look began when turners used the lathe for control, thin walls, and personal form. Prestini, Stocksdale, Moulthrop, Lindquist, and Osolnik trace that shift.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Spindle roughing gouge: the essential tool for spindle turning

The spindle roughing gouge turns square stock into a cylinder fast, but only in spindle work. Used correctly, it is a shop-floor shortcut with strict safety limits.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

Why carbide tools changed woodturning without replacing traditional tools

Carbide inserts removed a lot of sharpening anxiety, but they did not make gouges and skews obsolete. The right tool depends on the cut you actually need.

Sam Ortega4m read

Updates

Worldwide Woodturners spotlights July newsletter and LEVEL-UP 2026 registration

Worldwide Woodturners packs lathe maintenance, a crooked walking stick, and LEVEL-UP 2026 registration into one practical July update for turners.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

How to choose the right finish for your woodturning project

Choose by object: bowls reward curing oil, display pieces welcome shellac and wax, and the wrong oil may never really protect the wood.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Community

Louisville Area Woodturners to feature Eric Gourieux at July meeting

Eric Gourieux led Louisville Area Woodturners through epoxy pouring, vacuum and pressure-pot blank making, then turned the project live at Walden School.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Hand-chasing threads brings ancient precision to lidded woodturning projects

Hand-chasing threads turns a lidded box into a precise heirloom when the wood, rest setup, and cut order all line up.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Community

World Wide Wood Turners shares new turnings, safety tips and Haim Matza demo

World Wide Wood Turners’ July 8 meeting video is live with a night gallery, a hard-hitting safety discussion and Haim Matza at the lathe.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Analysis

How to stop chatter and buckling when turning long spindles

Long spindles give off warning signs early: chatter, spiral flats, and buckling mean the rest has to come in before the catch does.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Analysis

How to turn live-edge bowls with natural bark intact

The bark stays put when you choose the right blank, follow the log’s curve, and mount the bowl with balance in mind before the first cut.

Nina Kowalski4m read

Analysis

Richard Raffan’s handled bowls bridge bowl turning and spindle shaping

One blank can become two handled bowls, and the whole lesson lives in the details: grain, remounting, balance, and the handle transitions that keep the form elegant.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Why grain direction changes everything in woodturning

Read the grain before the gouge touches wood, and the lathe will tell you where tear-out, catches, and endless sanding are already waiting.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Segmented turning starts with geometry, not the first cut

Segmented turning is won on paper long before the lathe spins. One wrong angle, diameter, or wall-thickness choice can turn a clean blank into gaps and wasted stock.

Jamie Taylor3m read