The following article appeared in the 3rd issue of our new woodturning newsletter, The Highland Woodturner. If you are interested in receiving The Highland Woodturner every month, you can sign up here!

An Introduction to Sphere-based Turning

by Joe Skehan
Salt Lake City, UT

Most wood turning is performed on material mounted in a single plane; the wood is placed between centers or held in a chuck. It is then worked perpendicular or parallel to the grain. However, as early as the 16th century, turners discovered that if the material being worked was in the shape of a sphere, then it could be worked from any point, rotated and then worked from any other point, producing concentric designs.

What is the secret to all sphere-based creations, and how can you turn one yourself? Click here to find out!