Woodturning: Technique to create Elegant and Functional Wood Crafts

Woodturning is a fascinating art form that involves shaping blocks of wood into beautiful and functional objects using a lathe and various cutting techniques. Many turned objects require further splitting or carving to make another bigger object example, chair.

Unlike carving, during woodturning the spinning wood moves against a tool supported against a rest to to create pieces like bowls, vases, pots, candlesticks and even nested dolls. Understanding grain direction when using woodturning is important to achieve smoothness. Even then, there can be slight unevenness across and with the grain in handmade items.

A few woodturning techniques are the following -

• Hoop-turning technique using a face plate: this method is used to turn objects that are wider than their height. Example, small toys, wooden bowls.

• Turning technique between centres: this method is used to turn objects that are longer than their width. Example, chair legs, wooden candlesticks.

Pic of late 18th century chessmen made using woodturning method.

Our artisans have been skilled in this amazing method by their forefathers and other experienced fellow community members. This has kept this traditional skill alive across generations, and they have crafted many stylish and sustainable decor items.