|
Woodturning
is not new, evidence of bowl turning fragments were found in an Etruscan
tomb in 700BC and a recent UK find at a Scottish bronze-age site unearthed
more evidence of ancient woodturning. There are also copies of an
order that was placed for 12.000 turned wooden bowls to be used at the
coronation of Richard I in 1189.
The origin of
the lathe appears to date back to ancient Egypt in the form of a sapling
bent with string to turn the wood, this we know as a pole
lathe,
these were still in regular use in Britain until 50 years ago. The
pole lathe was gradually replaced by foot operated treadle
lathes. The industrial revolution saw
the introduction of heavy cast iron lathes, but still a far cry from
today's modern woodturning lathe with electronic variable speed controls
at the push of a tiny button.
-
Leisure time has
made woodturning a very popular craft, even a career for some turners.
-
Woodturning is a rewarding and
relaxing hobby widely enjoyed by both sexes , young and old world wide.
-
Wood turning
lathes, tools, timbers and accessories are now more readily available than ever
before with the number of stockists increasing every year.
Nowadays with
the increase in leisure time the craft of
woodturning is again becoming very
popular on both a professional and hobby basis, lathes, tools and
equipment are more widely available than ever before giving everyone the
chance to try out this fascinating hobby for themselves.
-
The Association Of Woodturners Great
Britain look after the interests of turners at all levels, offering
advice, courses, demonstrations, insurance and much more.
The highly
respected
Association
of Woodturner's Great Britain, is one of the major
bodies caring for the interests of the woodturner in the UK, their site
offers lots of free advice, gives lists of tool stores, names of timber
merchants, woodturning artists and, more importantly turners offering good
professional
tuition to further enhance the skills of
the beginner. The best advice that can be offered to anyone
interested in starting out in woodturning would be to visit a specialist
shop or professional turner and listen carefully to all they have
to say. |
