There’s something deeply satisfying about taking a rough chunk of timber and shaping it into something beautiful on a lathe. If you’ve been thinking about getting into woodturning, you’re in for a treat. But before you start making shavings, let’s talk about what you actually need to get going.

The Lathe Itself

Your lathe is the heart of everything. For most beginners, I’d recommend starting with a midi lathe. They’re compact enough for a garage or shed, affordable, and perfectly capable of turning bowls up to about 300mm in diameter. Brands like Nova, Jet, and Carbatec all make solid midi lathes in the $500-$1,200 range here in Australia.

Look for a lathe with variable speed control - you’ll want to run slower speeds for larger pieces and faster speeds for smaller work like pens. A 1HP motor is plenty to start with. Make sure it has a sturdy stand or bench mount option, because vibration is the enemy of good turning.

Essential Turning Tools

You don’t need to buy every gouge and scraper on the shelf. Start with these basics:

• Roughing gouge - for taking a square blank down to round
• Spindle gouge - your workhorse for shaping curves and details
• Bowl gouge - deeper flute, designed for hollowing bowls
• Parting tool - for cutting pieces off the lathe
• Round nose scraper - handy for finishing cuts inside bowls

A basic set of five or six tools from a decent brand will run you about $150-$300. Don’t go for the cheapest option you can find - poorly made tools are frustrating to sharpen and won’t hold an edge. That said, you don’t need top-shelf gear either. Mid-range tools from Robert Sorby or Henry Taylor are well-regarded and will last years.

Chucking and Mounting

You’ll need a way to hold timber on the lathe. A four-jaw scroll chuck is practically essential. They grip the timber securely and let you reverse-mount pieces to finish the bottom. Budget around $120-$200 for a decent chuck with a set of jaws.

A drive centre and live centre come with most lathes. You’ll also want a face plate for mounting bowl blanks initially. These are inexpensive and straightforward.

Safety Gear - Don’t Skip This

Woodturning throws off chips, dust, and occasionally bigger pieces if something goes wrong. At minimum, you need:

• Full face shield - not just safety glasses. A face shield protects your whole face from flying debris.
• Dust mask or respirator - fine timber dust is genuinely harmful over time. An P2 rated dust mask is the bare minimum. A powered respirator is even better.
• Sturdy footwear - closed shoes, not thongs. Dropped chucks hurt.

Some turners wear short sleeves and remove any jewellery or lanyards before switching on the lathe. Loose clothing and spinning machinery are a bad combination.

Your Workspace

You need a solid, level surface for the lathe. A heavy workbench or purpose-built stand works well. The lathe centre height should be roughly at your elbow height when your arms are relaxed at your sides - this reduces fatigue during longer sessions.

Good lighting matters more than you’d think. A flexible LED task light positioned over the work area makes a real difference. You’ll also want decent dust extraction, even if it’s just a shop vac with a hose positioned near the lathe.

Keep the floor clear around your turning area. Shavings pile up fast, and tripping while near a spinning lathe is something you want to avoid entirely.

Where to Learn

Books and YouTube are great, but nothing beats hands-on guidance when you’re starting out. Sydney has several woodturning clubs that welcome beginners and run regular demonstration nights. Many offer beginner workshops where experienced turners walk you through your first project.

Mens Sheds across Sydney also often have lathes and members happy to teach. It’s a brilliant way to try turning before committing to buying your own gear.

What to Turn First

Start simple. A basic pen or a small spindle project like a tool handle gives you a feel for the tools without too much pressure. Once you’re comfortable with the basics of tool control and sharpening, move on to a small bowl.

The learning curve is real, but that’s part of the fun. Every piece you turn teaches you something. And before long, you’ll have more bowls, pens, and bottle stoppers than you know what to do with.

Welcome to the addiction.