The third step of the lesson - roughing out
How can we learn the craft of woodworking? People learn in different ways. Some people learn from books and magazines. Some people learn from YouTube. And some people are lucky enough to be taught by someone who knows something. I suppose nowadays most people do some combination of all three. The topic grabs your interest in one medium or another, and you slowly dive into everything else that's out there.
I tend to learn mostly from printed material. My primary formal woodworking instruction was decades ago - and woodturning played only a minor role. But now with our forthcoming treadle lathe I've had to re-learn it again from scratch.
As it happens, I have tons of old material in my library - and by old, I mean dating back to the 17th century, on turning, but the big problem is that I want a systematic approach. I really want a lesson-by-lesson instruction manual on using a treadle lathe. Videos are fantastic for showing a particular operation, but probably less efficient than reading for providing systematic information. I went through all the material I have on lathes. Most of the early pre-19th century material isn't suitable for beginners or is more of an overview than a coherent course. (The 19th century marked some changes in pedagogy in general and the beginning of what we would call shop classes.) A book that that resonated with me is "Elementary Turning" by Frank Henry Seldon. I have an original copy from 1907, but I'm using is the online edition, which is free. You can print out a PDF with pages that lie flat and can be reprinted if they get messed up in the shop. The instruction is designed for a powered lathe but I still find it great. The first lesson is on centering work. The second lesson is on taking a small square of wood and roughing it out into a cylinder using a roughing gouge and a skew chisel. Each lesson thereafter - there are 31 lessons in all - gets more and more involved. The first series of lessons are about basic techniques using a very limited set of tools. Seldon's approach might not appeal to you. There are many ways to learn things. And to a large extent it doesn't matter which lesson you follow, or which guru floats your boat. What is important is a consistent approach that you get by following one systematic approach. Learn from everyone, but initially follow one approach.
In other news, we have a opening for a part-time salesperson (or salespeople) at our Brooklyn showroom for several days a week.
Sales at Tools for Working Wood is an interesting job. You get a range of customers and that's what makes it interesting. We have people who come in who've been doing this for 40 years and will tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about 80 grit sandpaper. After they leave, you experiment yourself to see if you agree. And then a week later somebody, a newbie, maybe just a newbie in that particular area, will come in and you will get a chance to repeat back everything you've ever wanted to know about 80 grit sandpaper. And frankly this is how we learn. You keep your ears open, you keep your brain functioning, and all interactions are really interesting. Some people come in knowing what they want and some need help. Our goal is to point people in the right direction - and as many customers can attest, even if that direction is to a different store or product we don't sell or to the bad news that no such tool or process exists (yet). And you meet some interesting people too. We're looking for people who are interested in woodworking even if they're not experts because while we can teach people woodworking we can't teach you enthusiasm. I suppose I should mention the employee discount, which if you're outfitting a shop is not a bad thing to have. The most important thing we are looking for in the candidate gets along with people and a desire to learn.
We haven't posted this job elsewhere yet. We're hoping someone who reads this blog is looking to work in the craft and woodworking industries. So if you are interested in a great opportunity we'd like to talk to you. Send us an email.
Lesson one - Marking centers Lesson two - Mounted in the lathe ready to rough out
After roughing out - smoothing with a skew chisel Done - a pretty smooth cylinder - The instructions say it won't be perfect - mine isn't but I am pretty pleased Elementary Turning and behind it an illustration from Manuel Du Tourneur, 1792
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02/19/2025 Frank Clark
Joel, just wondering if you have any more info/update on the treadle lathe release. Thanks and take care.
02/19/2025 Dave Polaschek
I strongly recommend “Simplifying the Skew,” but start with a bedan. The huge bevel on a bedan is dead easy to lay on the piece and get a feel for riding the bevel. And most bedans have a large square shaft, so you don’t need to worry about tipping it a bit, or running into trouble with catches (the bedan will kinda just plow through most mistakes that would be a scary catch with a skew).
Then move to a skew and repeat everything you did with the bedan. Then again with a smaller skew so there’s even less bevel to ride. Et voilá.
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Then move to a skew and repeat everything you did with the bedan. Then again with a smaller skew so there’s even less bevel to ride. Et voilá.
https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/simplifying-the-skew/