Fine Woodturning by Tony Manella

 

What is woodturning?

Simply put woodturning is a mechanized form of carving and is the oldest form of powered woodworking known to man.  It is accomplished by placing a piece of wood on to a machine called a lathe. The lathe then spins the wood while hand held gouges are applied to cut the wood to shape.

I divide woodturnings themselves into three categories. Utilitarian woodturnings are those items created for a specific use. Salad and fruit bowls and furniture parts are examples of items from this category. Craft items are similar to utilitarian items in that they can serve a purpose but they tend to be smaller and inexpensive. Pens, bottle stoppers and ring caddies are craft items. The last category is art objects. These are items specifically created for strictly decorative purposes and have no use. The hollow form is the most common type of art woodturning but many bowls also end up in this category.

About the Artist

I entered woodturning the way many other turners do, through woodcarving. I was not happy with the time required to complete a carving and sought other avenues for my creative desires. In 1998, at the urging of a family member, I took lessons from my wife's great uncle, who is a very well known local turner. It only took a lesson or two for me to realize that this was the hobby I wanted for the rest of my life. Two months later, I bought my first lathe and a couple of gouges. Since that time I have devoted much of my free time to learning the many facets of woodturning. This includes tool use and control, tree identification and wood cellular structure, and artistic design. As time has passed I have improved both my use of tools and my design sensibilities. I have included a page of photos from some of my older work to show how I have grown as an artist and to give myself a reminder of where I have been.

Selling

Although this site has been setup primarily to show my woodturnings to other turners and the world, most items here are for sale. I do sell most of what I make. This helps me to offset the cost of woodturning. If a piece strikes your fancy please feel free to email me an inquiry and I can let you know if the piece is still available and at what cost. Thank you.

 

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Early Turnings - From years past

Bowls - Salad, fruit and art

Craft Items - Pens, ring holders, bottle stoppers, boxes

Hollow Forms - They look solid but are light as a feather

My Shop, Tips & Tricks - Photos of my shop, tools etc.

Links Sites worth checking out

The Norris White Treadle Lathe

Wood trading

New Items

 

Last updated 02-06-04