Library Book Review:

“Learn to Turn”

by Barry Gross

“Learn to Turn” takes a refreshingly different approach as an introduction to woodturning and is a very good book for beginning woodturners. The book covers all of the basic areas that a beginner would need to know about in order to quickly come up to speed and not get bogged down in a comprehensive treatise. The topics include safety, tools and lathes, wood and preparing your own turning blanks, sharpening tools and techniques, sanding, and finishing. In addition, there is a very good projects section that covers basic confidence building first projects and progresses up through more challenging projects such as natural edged bowls and end-grain hollow forms.

One of the best things about this book is that it is amply illustrated with high quality photographs and drawings to depict the points being discussed. Many of the pages contain numerous pictures to illustrate step-by-step procedures discussed in the text. Of special benefit to beginners is good advice on purchasing a lathe and most of the commonly used tools for beginners. Without this advice on knowing what to look for in a lathe, for instance, it would be easy for a beginner to make a poor choice in what to buy. The primary function of each type of tool is discussed while generally avoiding mention of brand names. The illustrations and text on tool control are both done very well including showing to get started with each tool.

The projects in the book are clearly illustrated with detailed photographs. The skill range of these projects will serve the reader’s progress from beginner level and into intermediate level of experience. Another useful feature for beginners is a troubleshooting section for fixing common problems.

" Learn to Turn" by Barry Gross, published by Fox Chapel Publishing, is a new addition to the WNT Library and is available for checkout by club members. To see reviews of other new additions to the WNT Library, please visit the WNT web site at http://www.wntx.org/library/library.html.

Review written by WNT member, Bill Boehme.

Updated March 23, 2006

Copyright 2006, Woodturners of North Texas