Wood Turning Textbook

Wood Turning was a classic textbook prepared for the manual training of students in technical schools and colleges during the early 20th century.

"It has been the writer's experience that students lose confidence and become nervous because of the mishaps that are sure to occur, especially in attempting certain forms often presented early in courses of this character; and for this reason these exercises have been arranged in such a way that the turning of beads and similar work is left until such time as the confidence of the pupil is fully established; in fact, until he has had considerable experience on the lathe in handling the principal tools in connection with the simpler forms."

"The course and problems are those which students in elementary woodwork at the Lewis Institute are required to complete during the first course in shop work, and are so arranged that each successive lesson contains a new principle closely related to those in previous exercises."

Although a century has passed since it was originally published in the 1900s, the textbook is still one of the best on the subject.

Contents Covered:

• Introductory Text
  • Primitive Lathes and Their Development
  • The Speed Lathe and Its Parts
  • The Rules for Obtaining the Diameters and Speeds of Pulleys
  • Motor Head and Gap Lathes
  • Tools Used in Turning
  • Grinding and Sharpening Turning Tools
  • The Gouge
  • The Skew Chisel
  • The Round-Nose Scraping Turning Tool
  • The Square-Nose Scraping Tool
  • The Diamond-Point Tool
  • The Cut-off or Parting Tool
  • The Sizing Tool
  • Tools Used for Measuring
  • Tools Used for Sharpening
  • Sizes of Chisels and Gouges
• Lathe-Tool Practice
  • Cylinder
  • Cylinder, Stepped
  • Socket Chisel Handle
  • Teapot Stand
  • Candlestick
  • Mallet
  • Napkin Rings
  • Small Box
  • Smokers' Set
  • Towel Rails
  • Rolling Pin
  • Potato Masher
  • Card Receiver
• Supplementary Exercises
  • Policeman's Club
  • Indian Club
  • Bowl
  • Plate
  • Picture Frame
  • Powder Box
  • Cup
  • Dumb-Bell
  • Gavel
  • Turning Tool Handles
  • Towel Rings
  • Vase
  • Lamp Standard
  • Stocking and Glove Darner
  • Parted or Split Work