This DVD was purchased on ebay. At the time, I was considering buying a lathe to make nose cones. Having never used a lathe, it seemed like a good idea to get more information first. This instructional video looked like a good place to start.

The DVD is the first in a series of eight and is marketed by KTMP, a UK based company. DVDs are available in both PAL and NTSC (US) formats.

Introduction

Reg Sherwin starts by introducing himself. He started woodturning in 1966 and has written 200+ woodworking articles since. He also teaches woodworking several days a week.

The most interesting part of the introduction, besides Mr. Sherwin's background, is the comment he makes about practice. He starts by saying that you can not simply pick up a book (or DVD) and be a woodturner. It takes lots, and lots, of practice. This is also where the subtle humor shows.... Mr Sherwin states : "I've been practicing for 30 years and I'll get it right someday.".

Lathe Setup

This section is great for someone with zero experience, like myself. It goes over the parts of the lathe and how to get things set up correctly. We're talking basics which could have a big impact. How high should be bench (and tool-rest) be? What surface should be bench be on, how does one change the speed?

Mr. Sherwin also explains that he wears boots while turning. He does this to avoid getting wood turnings in his socks. There are lots of little tips like this which would help just about any beginner.

Lighting, Stance, Tools

The next three chapters deal go further into setup and correct usage. Fluorescent lights in a shop can cause strobing which would make it appear that the part is turning the opposite way that it really is. This is something I wouldn't have thought of. Mr. Sherwin continues to detail a suitable (and very versatile) lighting setup.

One's stance is also more important than I had imagined. An incorrect stance can have an effect on the tool which will effect cutting. Mr. Sherwin shows how an incorrect stance can have this effect, followed by a demonstration of the correct stance.

The chapter on tools also contains lots of valuable information. One such tip is using PVC pipe to protect tools when not in use. Mr. Sherwin goes over a large selection of tools (chisels, gouges and scrapers) and shows the difference between each.

Grinding & Grinding Measurements

In this chapter, Mr. Sherwin demonstrates using a protractor to measure the angle of a bevel on tools. Different woodturners will prefer to work with different angles on their tools. Mr. Sherwin shares his preference for angles on various tools.

The next chapter deals with grinding. When grinding tools, steel debris gets created, which can be a mess and hard to clean up. The DVD illustrates a method, involving a magnet, to make cleanup a breeze. This chapter is actually quite extensive and includes a demonstration of the actual grinding.

Centers, using the bandsaw, finding centers, grain direction, and much more

There are several more chapters, each of which contains lots of valuable tips and tricks. Trying to describe each chapter would make this review far too long.

Conclusion

While this DVD has an amazing amount of valuable information (spread over two hours), it didn't really show any turning. It deals with lathe setup, the tools which will be used, and getting the blank into the lathe.

This is the first DVD in a series, I can only imagine the second volume will show the actual turning. As the first volume was highly informative, I will most likely pick up the second volume also.