Here is a collection of books on woodturning. These books will cover topics such as lathes, tools, project, materials, and techniques.

Books on Turning page 1, 2, DVD's

Book Index Page

Turn a Bowl with Ernie Conover: Getting Terrific Results the First Time Around (by Ernie Conover, Rude Osolnik )

Bowl turning is becoming increasingly popular as a hobby and a way to reconnect with a traditional craft. Ernie Conover is a master turner who has turned his experience teaching this activity to hundreds of people into a practical, easy-to-read guide. This book provides basic instructions to get aspiring turners directly to their goal of creating a pleasing bowl. Along the way, he shows how to: gather and buy wood for turning; apply basic and advanced turning techniques; sand and finish; use the faceplate and chucks to hold the work; choose, sharpen, and handle tools; and create the most attractive bowl shapes. The author's straightforward, encouraging style and extensive photos and
illustrations make the process easy and rewarding.

(Reviewer) - This book, and a couple others (I bought a set of 3) catapulted my turning abilities from novice to salable in a just a few projects. More importantly, as I improved, I've saved many hours and sheets of sandpaper. His explanations, photos, and diagrams combine to make lathe turning very understandable and even more fun than I expected. Even some of the techniques that gave me some trepidation I now find routine. If you have a lathe or thinking about it, this book and others by the same author (Turning Wood is the basics) are highly beneficial. 192 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.47 x 10.00 x 9.14

Raffan shows his expertise in both turning and writing. This book clearly expresses concepts of design and technique in a manner understandable by every level of woodturner. The chapters on acquiring and preparing wood are excellent. This book should hold a special place in every turner's library and will be worn out from use before a second edition can be printed! 169 pages.

In this new edition incorporating the latest innovations, experienced woodshop instructor Ernie Conover shows how to choose and set up the proper lathe, and tune and maintain it for the best performance. He outlines basic techniques needed to produce turned furniture parts and suggests quick, practical ways to duplicate parts. 208 pages.

Renowned woodturner, Richard Raffan, presents 23 intriguing woodturning projects - rolling pins and mallets, hollow vessels, scoops and ladles, even a turned hedgehog. The projects range from simple to complex, and are accompanied by step-by-step photos and drawings. The photo gallery of ideas at the end of each chapter is sure to inspire you to turn some truly unique pieces.

The craftsmanship evident in worked wooden forms ensures they are treasured pieces, handed down through generations. From the tools and equipment you need to get started, through to intricate decorative techniques for the polished professional, this book clearly explains every step of the way: equipment and tools, wood selection and preparation, design, lids for boxes, deep hollowing, surface decoration, variations on the basic box, finishing techniques - oils, lacquers and waxes. Projects range from the simple to those significantly more challenging. 171 pages.

544 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.59 x 11.32 x 8.70; Taunton Pr; (March 12, 2002)

They're among the most attractive and perennially popular of all turned articles--and these boxes showcase an incredible richness of shapes and styles. Fifty projects will appeal to turners who have mastered the basics of the craft and long to expand their range of techniques and develop their abilities. Some are a bit more challenging than others, but any competent amateur can do them all--and most require no specialized equipment. They use a variety of native and exotic woods, and make the most of striking colors and grain patterns. Among the highlights are graceful teardrop,
Japanese lantern and pagoda, skep or beehive, onion-top, and Mosque boxes. Each design comes with a working drawing (usually full size) and color photographs. Bonus: a gallery of works by the world's leading turners! 192 pages.

Contemporary Turned Wood: New Perspectives in a Rich Tradition (by Ray Leier, Jan Peters, Kevin Wallace, David Peters (Photographer)

The medieval art of woodturning, common in England, has recently caught the attention of the rest of the woodworking world. Moving beyond the staple table legs and banister rungs, this detailed tutorial shows how to shape bowls, vases, and other works of art. Close-up photography and etailed diagrams enhance in-depth explanations of each technique, including gluing, spindle turning, cupchucking, threading, turning, and finishing. The historical background of the art is
covered and attention is given to historic techniques, as well as more recent methods.

Turning Lathes: A Guide to Turning, Screw Cutting, Metal Spinning and Ornamental Turning (by James Lukin, Britannia Company)

Frank Knox referred to James Lukin (1827-1917) as one of the outstanding ornamental turners of the modern period, and considered his books second only to those of Holtzapffel in usefulness, clarifying much of what Holtzapffel left unclear. This reprint contains both the 1894 expanded edition of Turning Lathes and the 200 page 1896 Britannia Company Catalog that lists and illustrates all types of lathes and lathe equipment, as well as other quality machine tools. Lukin, in the over 200 page narrative section, covers turning tools, hardwood turning, metal turning with hand tools, slide test work in metal, the self-acting lathe, chuck-making, turning square sections, screw cutting, metal spinning, a description of BeddowUs (combined) epicycloidal, rose cutting, eccentric cutting, drilling, fluting and vertical cutting, the eccentric chuck, the dome or spherical chuck, the goniostat, the oval or ellipse chuck, and much other fascinating information. 432 pages. 6" x 91/4". Fully illustrated. Soft cover.

Books on Turning page 1, 2, DVD's

Book Index Page