Mike Waldt's thorough video tutorial demonstrates his method for turning wet wood. Wet wood is a plentiful and inexpensive option for many woodturners and, by following Mike's steps, produces excellent pieces.

Master turner and instructor Richard Raffan produced this helpful and all-encompassing article. The step-by-step format and plentiful illustrations breaks the bowl turning process into manageable, easy-to-follow pieces.

Ernie Conover's step-by-step guide demonstrates how to turn a wooden bowl with only a lathe and faceplate. The tutorial will allow you to start practicing your bowl turning techniques with minimal equipment.

Quick Tip: 7 Ways NOT to turn a bowl

In the midst of how-to videos and articles, Nick Cook offers a different type of insight. Find more insightful tips from Nick here.

1. Too big. Start by mastering crucial techniques on smaller, shallow bowls.
2. Too hard. Start with green wood, it can be found inexpensively and will provide smooth, easier cuts.
3. Big gap at the tool rest. If the tool extends more than an inch over the tool rest it's time to stop the lathe and adjust the tool rest.
4. Wrong direction. For face grain bowls cut uphill. On the interior of your bowl, cut downhill or from rim to center.
5. Wrong tools. Remember to never use a roughing gouge on bowl work. A 1/2" or 5/8" bowl gouge makes great beginners' bowl gouge.
6. Rushing into finishing. Don't worry about finishing a piece, focus on basic shape and confidence. Practice pieces are most important as you begin turning bowls.
7. Lack of body movement. Notice how most turners move with their work. This allows them to produce fluid curves.

Storing Before Cutting
Until you are ready to cut your log into blank sized chunks, store the wood in long pieces to limit the number of open ends at risk for cracking. Using a sealer, such as this one offered at Packard Woodworks, will guard against checking. Don't worry about removing tight bark, it will actually slow moisture loss and protect against splitting.

Cutting the Log
When you are ready to cut the log into blanks, it is helpful to understand that the middle of the log is called the 'pith' and is the tree stem. This area is very unstable, tends to dry unevenly, and should not be included in your turning blanks. Following the diagram below will allow you to cut two bowl blanks from a log while avoiding the volatile pith area.

Once you've cut your blanks don't forget to mark, seal and store them in a dry area until you are ready to mount them on the lathe.
Information drawn from this helpful Wood Magazine article. And this informative video.

1. & 2. Bowl Gouge: the workhorse

3. Scraper: the finisher

Scrapers are used to remove cutter marks left by your bowl gouge.

For this reason, new bowl turners often find scrapers very useful. Rather than cutting, a woodturning scraper "scrapes" using a burr. This burr must be kept very sharp to be effective. The tool meets the wood just below the centerline of the blank. When using a scraper, it is held at a downward angle - the tool is lower than the handle. Generally, holding the tool at about a 30º angle from the tool rest is effective.

A round nose scraper (also referred to as a bowl scraper) removes marks on the inside of a bowl, while a square nose scraper is used on the outside of a bowl, as well as boxes and other flat surfaces. When choosing a bowl scraper, a larger size provides extra sturdiness.

• Designed to remove cutter marks
• They scrape, using a burr, rather than cutting

Which size? We've found that 1" is the most versatile.

Step 1: Set Wolverine Jig Arm

Using the raptor set up tool, set the wolverine jig arm to the appropriate angle. Ensure that the raptor tool touches the wheel at two points and is resting firmly in the wolverine jig.

Step 2: Set Varigrind Jig

Next, fasten your tool into the varigrind jig. The tool should protrude 2" from the jig, and your varigrind should be set at a 23º angle. For a relief angle, allow the tool to protrude 2-1/2" from the jig.

Step 3: Grind!

Place the varigrind in the wolverine jig arm and rotate the tool back and forth to restore the edge.

Your best woodturning begins at the grinder. Razor sharp tools are not only safer - they create smoother cuts and an easier learning curve. And as with any skill - every sharpening master began as a rookie. Use the videos to the right, and the steps above to hone (pun intended!) your skills.

For sharpening your high speed steel tools we suggest a slow running grinder, Raptor Set Up tools, the Wolverine Jig and the Oneway Varigrind. While these jigs and tools are not required, they will help ensure that you end up with the same grind geometry every time.

(Not) your average weekend woodturning...

Productive day in the shop?

Mike Mahoney has serious shop goals!

Before you upgrade your lathe, consider a John Deere.

Can you ever have too many wood chips? Photo by Dale Bonertz