Thread: Woodturning speed - duration, not RPMs

Well... apen only takes a couple of minutes to turn. A lot of time in prep work, but only a few minutes of fun. [sigh]

I timed myself making goblets, from log to table takes between an hour and ninety minutes for my "everyday fiddles." Good quality goblets, for sales or competition, always take at least twice as long. Funny, that.

On the other hand, bowls seem to take me forever! Probably 'cos I turn so many goblets and so few bowls... with bowls I have to keep stopping and taking stock of "where I'm up to." Sad, but true.

5 years and counting.
I have things on the "go" that I started 5 years ago, I havent given up on them, yet.

Al

Andrew you should not worry too much on how long it takes to turn a bowl or anything else.

1/ Learn to turn.

2/ Learn to turn good

3/ Learn to turn fast.

Do not do it any other order as some try to go from learn to turn to turn fast and finish up with a mediocre product.

Speed will come with confidence and ability.

1/ Learn to turn.

2/ Learn to turn good

3/ Learn to turn fast.

and that sir, is damn fine advice.

Also try and find the time to develop your eye for fine curves. Shape or form, edge treatment and finish will make even crapiata outstanding.

Originally Posted by jim

1/ Learn to turn.

2/ Learn to turn good

3/ Learn to turn fast.

good advice jim.

I always figure that the longer I spend on something the nicer it *should* turn out. not sure I'm not fooling myself on that one, but so far it seems to be true.

It depends of the circumstances.
In a race Jean François escoulen finished a perfect egg in 28 seconds with an oval skew chisel...
Stuart Mortimer used 4 months to produce a twisted vase...
Both are real experts!

Turning can be done fast if you discount all the lessons and practice it takes to get there ;-}

A medium bowl used to take me a day; now it's half that if I stick to a plan. But I'm happy to play around with it at odd times over a week just to see ....

I've been turning for 17 years now. Some of the copy turnings I do I have down to 5-6 mins each. If I am making a really nice peice it can take 5-6 hours!

I've been turning since March, 2004. It takes me about two days to finish turn a piece from cured wood. At least most of th' time. Like I said, I'm slow.
If it's green RedOak, I turn it to finish in one sitting (actually, standing) and that's usually all day. First I shape the outside, then, while working on the inner, I keep spraying the outside with soapy h2o to keep it from splitting, and that slows me down... When I get to the bottom, I try to sling the water out of it, by turnin' up the RPM. By the time I finish turning the bottom, and sanding it, it's usually dry enough, so I apply the finish to the outside, and let 'er warp. :eek:
Soap soaked roughout bowls takes me a couple of days to dry and finish. I usually just finish the outside of these, too. Then I add the inside finish later, and buff. ('cept for hollowforms... these are a different subject)
Did I mention that I'm slow?

Originally Posted by OGYT

I've been turning since March, 2004. It takes me about two days to finish turn a piece from cured wood. At least most of th' time. Like I said, I'm slow.
If it's green RedOak, I turn it to finish in one sitting (actually, standing) and that's usually all day. First I shape the outside, then, while working on the inner, I keep spraying the outside with soapy h2o to keep it from splitting, and that slows me down... When I get to the bottom, I try to sling the water out of it, by turnin' up the RPM. By the time I finish turning the bottom, and sanding it, it's usually dry enough, so I apply the finish to the outside, and let 'er warp. :eek:
Soap soaked roughout bowls takes me a couple of days to dry and finish. I usually just finish the outside of these, too. Then I add the inside finish later, and buff. ('cept for hollowforms... these are a different subject)
Did I mention that I'm slow?

Try holding a little water bag with a fine spray under your arm and a flashlight between your teeth. If you are really good you will be able to think of a way of using one of your feet also. Thank you for your enquiry. Have a nice day.

Ern.
How long does it take to turn a Goblet ??
Only taking the Mickey.

A 30x10cm(12"x4" bowl from start to finish, takes me 45 mins. Likewize, I have only turned 50 or so pens, they take me around 20 mins each!!

Bowls, I have turned around 1000.
Vases 30
Platters 35
Pens 50
Misc 200-300.

You should know what you are doing before you start trying to turn fast. As always, safety is an issue,

enough enough,

Joash

Originally Posted by Auzzie turner

A 30x10cm(12"x4" bowl from start to finish, takes me 45 mins. Likewize, I have only turned 50 or so pens, they take me around 20 mins each!!

Bowls, I have turned around 1000.
Vases 30
Platters 35
Pens 50
Misc 200-300.

You should know what you are doing before you start trying to turn fast. As always, safety is an issue,

enough enough,

Joash

So that's roughly a completed item everyday since you were 10 ! Busy boy!

I turn an average of 2 and a half items a day.