Something pretty amazing happened a couple months back, I got sponsored by Timbecon!
Ordinarily I’d have posted something about that, but at the same time I also started my new day job in a new business, there really hasn’t been much free time around here.
Why’d they choose me? Well, I have no woodturning experience, and I’m quite upfront about that. Timbecon are interested in showing what’s like to begin woodturning as a newbie, and well, I’m a newbie. I’m happy to share my mistakes and missteps as much as I am my successes, so the guys decided to do something pretty damn amazing, and gave me a lathe and tools to practice on, to help show future newbies what they’re getting themselves into.
It has been the most fun I’ve had with woodworking for years, incredibly enjoyable.
So let me start making things right again! I’ve 4 videos so far made for Timbecon, all of them about using my new lathe! These four videos basically document my first 14 hours or so using the lathe, so if you’re thinking about diving into the wonderful world of woodturning, well, this is a great place to start watching.
One of the reasons that I stayed out of turning for so long, was the learning curve that I saw with traditional tools. Using them is one thing, but then knowing how to sharpen each one properly, having the correct equipment to do so, it just seemed too much of a hassle. Timbecon instead have set me up with Carbide cutting tools from Easy Wood Tools.
There’s no getting around the fact that these tools are more expensive upfront, but at the same time, they really feel like great value to me. You don’t have to sharpen them. Yep, I said that – you don’t have to sharpen these. The carbide cutters take an absolute pounding, and then when they’re completely cooked, you can just rotate the cutter around, and have a fresh edge again. (You can sharpen the cutters as well, but there is little required in the way of technique, it’s essentially place the cutter upside down on a stone, and rub it with finger pressure. I’m a long way away from needing to try that out.) Now, I’ve over 10 hours of actual cutting time with the square shaped rougher, and I can honestly say it still looks like I took it out of the package, no wear at all.
Can you do everything with Carbide tools that you can with Traditional ones? Maybe, maybe not, I’m only a beginner, I don’t know. I’m sure that the Traditional ones are faster to use, and they leave a better finish, but, at the same time, the Carbide cutters are simple to use, and seem to let me make all the same types of cuts. There will probably come a day where I need to learn how to use the more traditional tools, but I’m happy at the moment using these ones.
I’m working on the 5th video as we speak, I made my first ever turned box, and spoilers, it looks amazing! I’m really proud of this one, and can’t wait to show it off.
Tried woodturning? How’d you go? What sort of tools did you use? Let me know down below!