| Wood turners are continually looking for new | | | | level allows for ever growing satisfaction in the craft |
| challenges in the form of woodturning projects. | | | | and increases ones passion for it. |
| Considering that the craft is at least thirty-five hundred | | | | 3) Third is the ability for the project to be repeatable. |
| years old, this is not hard to do. However, there are | | | | This is only a general consideration when the work |
| some things to look for when choosing your next | | | | depends on a particular piece of wood such as a |
| project. | | | | special burl or highly figured crotch, but the type of |
| 1) First of all examine your personal level of expertise | | | | form can be remade. For all intents and purposes, any |
| in woodturning. Most of the time this is thought of in | | | | turning can be replicated. However, if the project is |
| terms of beginner, intermediate or advanced but these | | | | undertaken for purposes of learning or perfecting a |
| labels can be misleading. As a simple example, think of | | | | particular skill, if is good to be able to turn the project |
| woodturning being separated into spindles which are | | | | several times, each one hopefully better than the last. |
| turned between centers and include such things as | | | | A good question to ask is if the project looks like fun. If |
| candle sticks and tool handles; and faceplate pieces | | | | not, there is likely one that can be substituted easily. |
| such as bowls, vases and hollow forms. An expert | | | | 4) Fourth is the need for the project to be affordable. |
| spindle turner may never have made a bowl and vice | | | | This will mean different things for different |
| versa. Instead of such designations think of your | | | | woodturners at different times. Some things to think of |
| abilities with certain tools and think over what you have | | | | here are the tools that will be needed for wood |
| turned before. Do you have the necessary skills to | | | | preparation as well as for the actual woodturning. A |
| make the piece in question? This brings us to the next | | | | woodturning project that requires merely a chunk of |
| item. | | | | maple from the woodpile becomes very expensive if |
| 2) Second is the consideration of why the project is | | | | a new bandsaw is required to get the chunk into |
| being thought of. Two major reasons are for the | | | | shape for the wood lathe. On the other hand that |
| simple enjoyment of making the piece and for learning | | | | bandsaw or other tool may have been in the works |
| or developing a new skill. Question if the project is | | | | for some time. Count the costs and determine if the |
| doable for you with either what you now know or if | | | | project is financially reasonable at the time. Another |
| you can reasonably learn the skills as you go. Most | | | | might be better for now. |
| people turn wood because it is fun and some projects | | | | Regardless of the considerations, remember to keep |
| should be undertaken just to enjoy the sound and look | | | | the craft fun for you. Undertake projects that keep |
| of shavings flying by and another piece coming off the | | | | you interested and always learning. This is a hobby |
| lathe. Remember that even what appears to be a | | | | that can keep teaching you for the rest of your life. |
| simple turning still reinforces and matures underlying | | | | There is always another woodturning project to keep |
| skills. On the other hand, developing a new skill or skill | | | | you turning. |