What people say
From time to time I am heartened to receive appreciative emails about this site. These help to reassure me that I am not wasting my time. Here are a few extracts:
*****
I am a new turner. Not having any previous experience with a lathe, I looked to the usual sources of instruction, mainly books. Although I have gained knowledge by studying the books, they lack an effective way to teach technique. I discovered the Woodturner's Workshop where you have graciously provided "Introduction to Woodturning". Those chapters have been a great help to me. It's probably the next best thing to having an accomplished turner provide real time instruction.
(D.R. - Maui - August 2001)
*****
Thank you very much for the book on your website. I read lots of books before I got a lathe, and I've been following several of them to master the techniques, but none of them is as clear as yours.
(J.B. - New Zealand - January 2001)
*****
Your site does so much to explain and demystify the woodturning business - we refer all our newbie members to it.
(J.M. - June 2001)
*****
Visited your web site today, I was impressed. I can see where you have spent a lot of time and energy researching and compiling all this information into an interesting and very useful site.
(J.B. - May 2001)
*****
Just to say I think your web site is extremely good. I first saw it
mentioned in this months Woodturning magazine. I am most impressed it tells
the right level of information and in a form that can easily be printed off
for later reading. Please keep this site going it is one of the best I have
come across for a long time.
(D.W. - May 2001)
*****
Thank you for your excellent site. I wanted to thank you for taking the time and effort in compiling this wealth of information for other turners.
(H.B. - March 2001
*****
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience in
woodturning with the rest of us. Your website is very informative and a
pleasure to visit.
(D.W. - USA - March 2001
*****
Its not often that I feel it necessary to write - but having just visited
your website again I feel I must. I have found it a most useful reference
for me starting off as I am in the woodturning game. You have quite simply
put a lot of work into producing a straight forward and well organised site.
(R.N. - March 2001)
*****
I stumbled onto your web site and reckon it is one of the best site yet on the topic of woodturning. I am a retired trade teacher (25 years Carpentry and Joinery) and have enjoyed woodturning for about 45 years, including teaching it.
(J.M. - Australia - December 2000)
*****
Enjoyed your manual on woodturning very much. You have explained the
basics of turning at a level that is very easy to understand for us
beginners. Most books never seem get to down to the user level in a
manner that is useful or productive to one new at turning. I've
practiced the exercises and have found them to be very helpful to me.
(D.F. - June 2001)
*****
I got your site address in a french turning magazine ("Cahiers techniques du tournage"). I started turning a year ago now, and browsing in turning sites and newsgroup few months ago. It's really a great site, which is very different from what I've seen before. I especially appreciated the
"introduction to woodturning", as well as the video clips. Great idea for
beginners: I've given your URL to friends I've recently introduced to
woodturning.
P. O. - Grenoble, France - August 2002
*****
A most delightful experience. It almost makes me want
to use that treacherous beading tool again.
Where were you 25 years ago when I first started
turning? I could have used EVERYTHING on your site
then.
Thank you
A. C. - New Jersey - June 2003
*****
Wow What a site!!
Thank you for providing me with so much information, in plain language and clearly presented.
Your website is a joy to behold and surf, and as someone who knows a huge amount more about IT than Woodturning I congratulate you. Your projects have inspired and encouraged me to look at turning in a more 'creative' light and also to consider other things than bowls from mail order blanks.
T. G-C. - Dorset UK – January 2004
*****
I stumbled onto your site and I have learned more from my brief stay here than I have learned from several rather expensive books on the subject. I am a beginner at wood turning and it seems that everything written is aimed at the more experienced turner. Your site is exactly what I needed..... I will be returning to your site again and will recommend it to anyone I know who is interested in wood turning.
E. S. - Pennsylvania, USA - February 2005
*****
I have been on many web sites for woodwork and turning.
But your site is the best I have ever seen.
Thank you very much you are now my first stop for me when I need information.
D. H. - UK - May 2005
*****
I have recently started wood- turning as a hobby and am very pleased to have discovered your wonderful web site . I particularly appreciate the information contained in your e-book which is written in a very scholarly fashion and it far exceeds in quality everything that I have read so far on wood- turning. Your treatment of the subject in my judgment is very complete and it answered all the questions that I had which I did not find in other books, most especially my questions about handling the diabolical instrument : The SKEW. I do not mean to denigrate other authors ( Ernie Conover, Richard Raffan...etc...) but you are definitely the master of the wood lathe. I take the opportunity to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart for you great work. Keep up the good work and thank you so much.
H. R. - Quebec, Canada - July 2006
*****
I have just located your e-Beginners notes from your website.
They are AWESOME! So much detail in the description is a big
help! Thank You!!
M. F. - Calgary AB, Canada - January 2008
*****
Your woodturning website is a gem. I am very grateful for your time and effort for producing it. I'm a beginning woodturning and have used many of your words as a guide. Thank you VERY MUCH!!
N. R. - January 2008
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One of the things that infuriates me about about a variety of instruction books that I have been required to read over 45 years, is often a lack of addressing the "why" of things, and your E-book, which I discovered yesterday, does that so well, it suits me down to the ground.
I have it clipped together on a wall behind my lathe - which I've had for 6 days, and I am now doing my "scales" twice a day. Having retired from all my main careers and put aside the worldly stuff, I have returned to my boyhood training of restoring and making furniture, climbing trees, and being a nuisance. so the addition of the skill of turning has been a missing ingredient that I am attempting to rectify. Your book is absolutely terrific at getting to the guts of what seems to me as the basic principles. So a very big thank you for writing it and making it available.
J. S. - Ashdown Forest, UK - April 2008
*****
I just read through yourIntroduction to Woodturning, An E-Book for Beginners, and I just wanted to thank you for this wonderful posting. The videos and the e-book together are the single most useful resource I've found online; I doubt that I will even find a book as efficient, concise, and useful as what you have given to us. I just wanted to say "Thank you!" for everything, and let you know that your resources are most helpful and appreciated.
G. R. August 2015