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What is Woodturning?
Woodturning is the art and craft of creating shaped objects on a lathe. The lathe is a machine, originally invented over 3,000 years ago, that holds and rotates a material like wood or stone so that it can be quickly carved with sharp tools. Turned objects range from the baseball bat, chair leg and and rolling pin, to ceremonial bowls and modern sculpture.
Woodturning is fascinating to watch - the process moves quickly, and shavings fly as the woodturner works. Turning is exciting at all levels: it is a fun activity to learn, and a beginner can walk out of his or first class with a finished object.
Becoming an accomplished turner requires practice and a deep knowledge of the properties of many different kinds of woods, the constant refinement of technique, understanding of finishes, and a strong sense of form.
Lathes range tremendously in size, from a watchmaker's lathe that can be held in the hand to lathes over a hundred feet long for making masts. Lathes can be motor, water, or human-powered, but they all perform the same task: spinning wood so that it can be carved. From this single machine, through the hands of the skilled turner, comes an infinite and breathtaking variety of forms.
The general public can see woodturning in action at the AAW International Woodturning Symposium's trade show.
Registered attendees may attend any of the over 100 demonstrations and panel discussions held at the Symposium.
Want to know more? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodturning
Above: a modern wood lathe.
Lathes come in many sizes and configuations, but they all spin material rapidly and securely so that it can be carved and shaped.
About the
American Association of Woodturners
International, non-profit, and now over 15,000 members strong, the American Association of Woodturners is dedicated to the advancement of woodturning, a specialized form of woodworking using the lathe. The AAW has over 325 local chapters in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, and Japan.
To find out more about the AAW, visit their website: www.woodturner.org
Members of the AAW include professionals, amateurs, gallery owners, collectors, and wood and tool suppliers. The AAW publishes American Woodturner, sponsors the world's largest woodturning symposium, hosts an active online member's forum, and provides educational grants, insurance and more to its members. The AAW is dedicated to providing information and support to its members and others through publications, DVDs and more.
The over 300 local chapters of the AAW provide instruction, fellowship and networking for turners at all levels.