The road to becoming an experienced wood turner can be a frustrating one. The trick to ensure you don’t give up in frustration in the early days is to choose a project that interests you. You will also want to pick a project that is not too difficult and gives you a range of skills, rather than choosing several projects that are all similar.
Presenting friends and family with beautifully turned gifts is a rewarding hobby. The little gifts are a good opportunity to learn the skills you need to tackle bigger projects.
Wood Turning Beginners’ Projects
Here is a list of easy to complete, small projects:Bowls
It’s one of the projects that many new wood turners start with. But don’t be lured into thinking they are simple to do. It may take a few goes to get it right. A bowl gouge allows you to turn on the grain and also turn on end grain. The straight profile of the tip works by scraping rather than peeling off the wood. While the deep flute supports the cutting edge and removes large quantities of waste. A bowl finishing scraper gives a smoother finishing scrape to the inside edge of the bowl for a more professional touch. If you intend to put food in your finished bowl, use a food safe finish.Spoons
Whether you make a small spoon for mixing, a large salad server or a decorative spoon for display, making a spoon gives you plenty of experience using your lathe. Join different types of wood together for interesting patterns on your spoons. Design your own spoon template or do an internet search for templates you like.Candle Holders
A candle holder is an ideal beginner project. You don’t need to stick to a template and mistakes are easy to cover. Let your imagination run wild when you are thinking about the design or check out YouTube if you need some inspiration. Use small or even scrap pieces of wood and make a variety of candle holders in different lengths and shapes. Practice your finishing skills and give them away as gifts.Boxes
A trinket or jewellery box with a domed lid gives you the opportunity to master a curved lid and a collar to fit the lid. The three most common styles of box lids are:1. The loose fit where there is no resistance to take the lid off.
2. The suction fit which has resistance but the lid goes on and off easily.
3. The snug fit means you can travel without risking the box’s lid coming off.
Tea Light Holders
Another inexpensive project that can use up your scrap pieces of wood. Make a series of tea light holders to practice your turning and finishing skills. Make individual tea light holders for beautiful, handmade gifts that will fit any space and décor or make a larger holder for multiple tea lights.Spinning Tops
Make an old-fashioned spinning top to keep the young and not so young entertained for hours. Make the tops in a range of different shapes and sizes. They look great grouped together on display. Make your spinners entirely from wood or add a brass top to make it spin longer.Honey Dippers
Long or short-handled honey dippers are quick and easy projects for the novice wood turner. They make the perfect gift or market stall sellers. Finish with a food-safe mineral oil.Wood Turning Projects that Use Other Parts
The whole project doesn’t have to be made from wood. You can make fun trinkets that have turned wood as the hero attached to another part to make it functional. You can buy kits for the other parts to make beautiful bottle openers and stoppers, pens, a secret compartment, magnifying glasses, clocks and basting brushes.Check out the full range of wood turning products and accessories and if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us online.
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