MN Wood Lathe advice

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Tools

We have tools just for class use. We also have tools for general use in the red chest.

If you are using the tools in the red chest we encourage you to donate each day that you use them toward sharpening and replacement. Once you decide you enjoy turning, we recommend you buy your own and sharpen them when and how you wish. With experience we each learn we prefer different grinds and working with sharp tools makes all the difference.

Wood Selection for beginners

Each wood has different issues and you may learn and practice with most. Avoid Douglas Fir and Redwood if you have better options, but to learn use whatever you can get for cheap. Maple and cherry are great choices for hardwoods that turn well and are pretty inexpensive.

You can play with green "scrap" wood you might find from recently downed trees. Green wood has different properties for turning (search the internet for "turning green bowls" for details), but it's cheap and great for practicing.

Dried softwoods such as pine or spruce are the most difficult woods to turn cleanly. Some people recommend buying a box of hardwood firewood from the grocery store for wood to play with.