Ellsworth on Woodturning

Very well written. Author has a very good command of language and can describe complex ideas in an understandable way.

For those of us considering wood turning this book outlines everything from material selection, design, tools, body position to the fundamentals of riding the bevel. It is full of practical advice and I would recommend it to anyone interested in turning bowls and hollow forms.

I am an intermediate turner, and do both bowl and spindle work. This book is heavily based on using the Ellsworth "signature gouge" for face grain - the bowls, pots and vessels. I had an Ellsworth gouge, because of seeing his video, before buying the book. To use this book you will either have to buy one, or regrind another bowl gouge to his form. I recommend it, although I'd take some of the instructions with a grain of salt. Like most skilled turners whose books I've read, or videos seen, he has a particular dedication to his style. An understandable thing as each of them has developed a skill and a style over years.If I were to have three books on turning I'd have this Ellsworth book, and Richard Raffan's Turning Wood and his Turning Bowls. Raffan uses classic fingernail gouges and Ellsworth his signature gouge. I bounce between them, sometimes I like the classical and sometimes the signature, depending on the wood and the cut.A final note, my first signature gouge was a 1/2" (flute width, 5/8" shaft). I work on a midi lathe and have since bought a 3/8" as well. I'd reground another 3/8" to the Ellsworth shape, but went for the original once I got the book. Both work well on my turnings, but if you are on a midi I'd go for the 3/8" first. Packard Woodworking sells both online in the USA.Buy the book, but don't take it as gospel. Use Ellsworth's cuts, and the classical cuts, and find your own style. A final comment on books versus video, view the video but buy the book, you will find it is easier to remind yourself of the cut opening a book to the page rather than skipping through the video.

Not quite what I was looking or wanting, but it was well done, informative and clearly a man of great skill and artistic abilities

Best book that I have read so far on bowl turning - and I have read most of them. Multiple tips on stance, tool use, sharpening, bowl design. The advice on stance height for bowl turning vs spindle work, which I have seen nowhere else - is worth the price alone.A wonderful book from the number one bowl turner - should be on every bowl turner's bookshelf

I would consider myself an intermediate woodturner. Not really a beginner, but by no means an expert. From that perspective, I found this book extremely useful. Although David Ellsworth is recognized as a master in hollow forms, there's a lot more in this book than just instruction in hollow form turning. I found a lot of useful information in nearly every chapter, many times explaining why problems happen shortly after I had experienced it myself.One example that was extremely helpful for me was the section on drying wood and why forms crack when (and where) they do. In many cases the cracks can be traced to uneven wall thicknesses -- the thinner walls dry first and become less flexible, then can't move when the thicker walls continue to shrink. This, and the methods used to slow down the drying process (besides just painting a waxy coating on), really opened my eyes.Highly recommended.

Purchased this from Amazon on recommendation of a friend who knew I was interested in starting to make wooden bowls. It really explains the basics to someone just starting out, with a great deal of information on tools, techniques, and designs. A lot of photos are included to support the text, which I found particularly helpful trying when to understand a lot of the concepts and terminology described by Ellsworth. I also believe this would be a good resource for someone who has been a wood turner for a number of years, since the ideas and suggestions by Ellsworth could definitely add some additional insights on designs. If you are seriously considering getting into wood turning, buy this book first to get some of the fundamental concepts down, and then take an introductory class where you can get some hands on experience. There is a lot to learn if you want to be a successful wood turner.

I have been turning less than two years but have read more than a dozen books on turning and own three of Raffan's and Keith Rowley's book. I have had the opportunity to see Dave Ellsworth demontrate at a symposium. I really like his book! Reading parts of the book reminded me of the notes I took at his demo covering points I was not aware of or failed to realize the importance. It is an inspirational book and covers topics frequently missed in other books like making your own tools. It has a great chapter on Design. It is probably not the first book a new turner would buy as it does not cover basics as well as some others like Keith Rowley's Wouldturning: a Foundation Course. But if you have advanced to bowls and hollow forms you need to get this book.

If your new to turning this is a must have book.Detailed guides on tool sharpening angles, techniques of moving the tools and body, and more importantly why!Also some great illustration and photos.

It's a great book. Great inspiration and reading.

Ottimo libro che affronta molti aspetti della tornitura, dalla meccanica di taglio alla sicurezza, all'autocostruzione di alcuni attrezzi.Illustrazioni ottime e schemi molto chiari, l'autore è un mostro sacro della tornitura del legno.

Ich bin wirklich begeistert von diesem Buch. Der Autor hat sich alle Mühe gegeben, sein Drechselwissen an den Leser anschaulich weiterzugeben. Man findet darin viele Tipps und Denkanstöße, die ich in allen anderen Bücher, welche ich bisher zum Thema besitze, vermisse. Der Autor geht auch auf viele Dinge ein, die nicht direkt mit dem Drechseln zu tun haben. Er erklärt Entspannungstechniken genauso, wie die richtige Körperhaltung beim Drechseln und der Weg zum Design von Objekten. Er zeigt wie man Werkzeuge selbst fertig und wie man seine Werkzeuge richtig schärft. Das alles in einem entspanntem Ton und ohne die Leser belehren zu wollen. Man merkt dem Buch an, dass der Autor ein Praktiker ist, der sich vieles selbst erarbeitet hat. Lediglich für Einsteiger würde ich dieses Buch nicht empfehlen, da die gezeigten Techniken und gedrehten Objekte schon anspruchsvoll sind. Trotzdem volle fünf Sterne!

欧米のウッドターニング界では重鎮の一人とされるエルスワース翁の著書です。当然全編英語での記述ですが、写真とイラストが非常に多く殆ど英語が分からなくても読み取れる事は多いと思います。内容としては木材の特性や扱い方から、様々なツール類の紹介、刃物の研ぎ方、加工のテクニック更には体の使い方や体操（笑）まで非常に濃いものになっています。中級者以上の方にも、確かな基礎に立ち戻るきっかけや再発見の多い一冊になるのではないでしょうか。