Links for Woodturning Information

The following links to a vast number of other websites pertain to tools, supplies, and ideas that are of interest to woodturners. This page is constantly being updated based on recommendations from the INW members. Clicking on a company name should open their main page in a new window.
Please submit link suggestions via the message form at the bottom of this page (scroll forever).  Submissions will be reviewed and added if it is felt they would be valuable to the membership. Please add any useful suggestions as well. We are a community of learners at all levels of experience.
First and foremost is our national organization, the AAW: American Association of Woodturners:  This is the main site for the AAW, and a huge source of information, videos, tutorials and sourcing information for members. Joining the AAW is recommended, and our INW Woodturners club is an AAW affiliate club. A few of the many fine articles available from them are found in the Members Resources section.

Other Woodturning Clubs:

Suppliers

These are for profit sites and commercial in nature.  We list them for your convenience, but we do not have any affiliation with them except as stated.  Members have found these sites useful for sourcing tools or turning materials and supplies. Listed in groupings, but then in no particular order.
General Woodturning and Woodworking Supplies and Tools:
  • McMaster-Carr - Everything hardware related: nuts, bolts, fittings, electrical, you name it, they probably have it.  Fast shipping and very responsive.  Not a discount house, but definitely worth a look if you have a unique need not in the big box stores.
  • Woodcraft - Spokane's store open in the Spokane Valley (Fred Myer lot on corner of Sullivan and Sprague)
  • Craft Supplies USA - Woodturning Supplies - major supplier of everything woodturning.  We get a limited number of small gift certificates to Craft Supplies annually and use these a gifts at meetings and events occasionally.
  • Packard Woodworks - Woodturning Supplies
  • Penn State Industries - Woodturning Supplies
  • Woodworker's Supply – Woodworking Supplies - tools and supplies for all woodworking endeavors
  • Woodworkers Emporium - another supplier of almost everything woodturning and woodworking.  Nice owners, looking at retirement after 40 years in business! They have closed their retail store in LasVegas and are selling remaining stock only on-line.  This may be a chance to get supplies and tools that will not otherwise be available.  
  • Lee Valley - Tools and some unique stuff that is Lee Valley specific, as well as handling the Veritas line up.
  • Branches to Bowls - Just over our northern border Ken Rude sells VicMarc lathes and accessories as well as Carter and Son tools. Fast customer service. Recommended by club member Marianne Patton.
      Sanding Supplies:
      Fabrication and Machining:
      • J and M Fabrication - 16716 W State Route 904, Cheney, WA 99004.  Recommended by club member Gene Turner
      • Wheeler Industries - 1118 N Howe Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99212.  Recommended by club member Frank Hutchison.  They can weld aluminum (repaired his bandsaw fittings) and the turn-around time is fast!
      • TRMS Services - For the middle to larger shop, a great Spokane manufacturer of ductwork and fittings.  A minimum of 6" main duct diameter in 20 gauge galvanized steel is typically recommended, and larger size main pipes and fittings are available.  Jobs are made to order based on your drawing and parts list. Pricing is really excellent!
      Finishing Supplies:
      Kits and Kit Parts:
      Bandsaw Blades and Supplies: Blades and sharpening:
      • Central Saw Works - In Spokane on Freya across from the big NAPA store.  Custom blades to any length and specification.  Very fast turn around time.  Also sharpening of good circular saw blades, re-carbiding tips, etc.  Responsive and pleasant local shop!
      • Pro Cut Saw and Tool - 18909 East Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99016.  Founded in 1988 in Spokane, Pro Cut Saw & Tool has established itself as a leader in the development of cutting tools for wood, metal, plastic and aerospace materials.  "If it cuts, we sharpen it."
      Specialty Turning Tools or Supplies:
      • Carter Products - Carter products have been around for band saws for many years.  Their new line of products for lathes includes hollowing devices, steady rests, and various jigs for specific projects.  At all the woodturner shows, Carter is a company that is enthusiastic about turning!
      • Dave Schweitzer's Premium Woodturning Tools - D-Way turning tools
      • KMS Tools - Tools for everything at several locations in British Columbia and Alberta
      • Lyle Jamieson -  A wood turner and demonstrator who also sells tools and fixtures, especially for deep hollowing.  Instructional materials.
      • Woodworker Network - Hardwoods, exotics, live edge slabs of wood; tools and supplies for turning as well as all woodworking. Located in Addy,  just North of Spokane near Colville.
      • Best Wood Tools - This is a pretty weird supplier located in TN.  Baxter design threading mill fixture (expensive but fantastic looking!), adapters for all threads and Morse tapers, extenders, tool rests, other custom machining pieces.
      • Hunter Tool Systems   - Hunter is a maker of carbide cutters and cutting bars.  High quality, price in accord!
      • Harrison Specialties  - Harrison is a pretty eclectic source, everything from carbide cutters, boring bars, jigs and fixtures.  One inexpensive articulated hollowing system looks interesting.
      • Trent Bosch  - Trent is a modern legend in the turning industry.  A professional turner, demonstrator, designer and manufacturer of high quality tools. Any questions off his site and just call him!
      • John Jordan - John is a great turner and demonstrator with his own line of custom gouges and hollowing tools.  Great quality supplier.
      Wood Suppliers: Local sources:  Both Woodcraft and Windsor Plywood Supply have an excellent stock of hardwoods and some turning blanks. On line wood sources:
      • Berea Hardwoods - Wood blanks and kits
      • Australian Burls -  A major US supplier of ethically cut Australian woods including unique burls. Jim, the owner, is a fantastic turner, and looking at his work on his pages is a truly humbling experience, but one that is a lesson in excellent design and execution.
      • Cook Woods - Portland, Oregon-based supplier of exotic and domestic hardwoods that are unique, rare and beautiful! From wood slabs and turning blanks to specialty lumber, guitar wood and more.
      Lathe and Equipment Manufacturers: The order of the listing is not meant to be a recommendation.  List is not meant to be comprehensive, but includes some of the commonly encountered lathe manufacturers.
      • Powermatic - Powermatic makes two full size lathes, 24 and 20" throws, as well as one short bed lathe.
      • Oneway - An Ontario, Canada company that makes everything woodturning!  From various size lathes to tools and accessories, lots to spend your dollars on!
      • Jet Tools - Owned by the same company as Powermatic, Jet has taken the market by storm!  Lots of sizes and configurations of lathes available from Mini's to Midi's as well as full size.
      • Vicmarc - Australian maker of a full line of solid lathes as well as precision accessories including chucks and jaws as well as other fixtures and tools.  Lathe of choice for Richard Raffen and Glenn Lucas. One lathe is a sit down model, designed for those that prefer/need to sit while turning.
      • Delta Machinery - Most of us probably learned to turn on old Delta machines in middle school or high school. Delta has a midi lathe in its modern fleet, as well as accessories for all its past models.
      • Grizzly - Grizzly makes just about everything, including that bandsaw and air cleaner you're hoping for!  Wide selection of lathe sizes and price ranges.
      • Stubby Lathe USA - Stubby was made in Australia by Omega, and the lathe is no longer made, but the company remains alive, with support of its products, Oneway products, and hopes for a new designed "super lathe" in the future. Check AAW forum for discussion about this lathe.
      • Laguna Lathes - Laguna Tools has come on strong in the woodturning market with new lathes and accessories. They now offer inexpensive entry-level lathes all the way up through production lathes.
      • Robust Lathes - These are beautiful machines that are rock solid and "user specific" within the  three models they make.  Made when ordered, and variable lead time may be needed.  Some larger outlets handle Robust and may have stock. 

      Tutorials

      Brian Havens is an excellent teacher and demonstrator on a variety of turning topics. These three YouTube demos on scrapers will answer a lot of questions.

      Conventional Scraping: click HERE
      Negative Rake Scraping: click HERE
      Shear Scraping: click HERE

      Testing Wood Glues:  click HERE.    This one is worth the trouble of skipping the commercials, says Carl.  Please hit skip the commercials as soon as possible; I am not responsible if you watch them!  What is really amazing is how relatively well Elmer's original wood glue does. Not the best anymore, but still pretty amazing.

       

      Craig Timmerman is a popular ZOOM presenter with our club. Anyone can search for his videos on YouTube, or access him directly at his own website HERE.

      To read and print his PDF handout on all sorts of bowls, click HERE.

      The heavy duty bowl scraper he uses is found at the Packard Woodworkers site; the man-made turquoise he uses is HERE, while the real turquoise and other stone he sources from Dennis Liggett.  His slotted, sleeveless sanding drum comes from Klingspor  and the sanding discs from Turningwood.  Craig likes the velcro disc holder sanding mandrels sold by The Sanding Glove and his bond optic epoxy comes from Agates Anonymous and Rare Earth Trading. He also recommends oil finish from Livos (get the white color if you want something without the amber tinge), and he as well as a bizillion other woodturners use Mike Mahoney's utility finish.

       

      Other useful videos and articles that are interesting, educational and of proven value to both the novice and the experienced turner:

      • Stuart Batty videos - Stuart Batty combines his unique heritage with 35 years of experience as a world-class instructor to perfecting the art of woodturning. This series is required viewing for any beginner!
      • Doc Green's Woodturner:  Many articles with good illustrations and some videos, especially of use to beginners and novice turners.
      • Wood Turning - Beginners Guide #1 - A Goblet :  This is a YouTube series by Mike Waldt from beginning turning demonstration and projects through to advanced techniques.  This guy's approach is delightful and very understandable.  Work through the videos and become a better turner!
      • Russ's Corner - Russ Fairfield's Collected Essays on Woodturning Topics, especially sanding and finishing. Russ used to be a member of INW.
      • Reed Gray aka Robo Hippy - 55 instructional videos
      • The Woodturner's Workshop - Woodturning resource articles & videos
      • Woodcentral - Forum
      • Sawmill Creek - Forum that is very active with many wood working topics
      • AAW Forum - Forum requires registration
      • Woodturners Unlimited - Forum and articles of interest in woodturning

      Your Thoughts?

      We welcome your suggestions for other links or to report broken links. Please use this form.

       

       

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