A first DVD from Les Thorne has to be a landmark event.  For anyone who knows him, the chance to enjoy a few minutes - or in this case hours - in the company of this genial and jovial young man is a treat not to be missed.  For those few who may be unfamiliar with Les, the beaming smile on the cover photo says it all.

That is not to say that Les has made his name based solely on his ability to smile widely and laugh loudly: the fact that he is a full-time professional turner of great versatility who demonstrates tooling skills that are absolutely top-notch and creativity that has really taken flight in the past few years may also have something to do with it!  I guess that it also explains why he has become one of the most popular turners on the club and exhibition circuit where his excellent presentation skills and affable manner have made him a firm favourite.

This DVD reflects Les's range of skills in that it includes not only a very creative piece with a carved, textured and coloured rim with an inset ring but also a classic and elegant spindle turned form - a table lamp.  Maybe this goes to demonstrate the truth of the old adage which holds that a good spindle turner can turn anything, be it on faceplate or between centres, whereas a good bowl turner is limited to that mode of working.  Spindle turning is where skills are developed and refined to the level of excellence, regardless of whether the turner will eventually turn bowls or spindle - or both.  Les certainly shows the skills developed in turning thousands of stair spindles, newel posts, balusters etc. to great effect in this project.

On the way to creating these project pieces, Les covers basic tooling and tool sharpening in some detail.  In this, his long experience of teaching woodturning to students in his own workshops and elsewhere shows through in clear demonsatrations and descriptions.

A final gem for lovers of "interesting facts" is that the DVD gives a brief insight to The ToolPost as it was filmed in our new training room where Les was using one of our WivaMac lathes.

If you have ever been privileged - and I use that word quite knowingly and deliberately - to see a demonstration by Mike Mahoney, then you will know what the word "accomplished" truly means.  Not only is Mike a superb and skilled (and left-handed) turner but is also an excellent presenter whose easy, friendly, supportive attitude shines through ever scene of these DVDs.

The most recent addition to this excellent line-up of education on DVD is 'Heirlooms' in which Mike affords the viewer a priviliged insight into his approach to turning bowls, platters and containers.  This production covers all aspects from identifying and harvesting the timber, rough turning, drying and subsequent turning to the finished form.  These are products that find use in everyday life, which is surely where our wooden artefacts should find their role?  They are likewise that are part of our shared history and culture.  Take a look at how a master approaches the subject and be inspired.

For anyone who owns or is thinking of buying a McNaughton Centre Saver, Mike's production showing its safe and efficient use is a revelation.  If you own the tool, you really need the video: I thought I had been using the McNaughton system for long enough to know how to use it but Mike gave me so much food for thought and improved my use of the tool out of all recognition - as well as taking all of the fear and trepidation out of the process!.

Mike is, above all, a bowl turner: indeed his email address is bowlturner@ ... ... so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised to find two excellent presentations of bowl-maker's skills included in this series.  In "Bowl Basics", Mike covers all that one might need to know to create beautiful and functional vessels from wood.  He does so with the eloquent skill of someone who turns bowls by the thousand, for Mike Mahoney is a production bowl turner and truly makes his living by creating beautifully turned objects that the public clamour to buy and does so at a rate and in a manner that supports himself and family.

"From the Tree to the Table" could be seen as a lesson in turning treen.  In fact it is a very thorough exposition of not only the methods but also the reasons and design considerations that make a piece of functional tableware a thing of beauty as well as one of utility.  If you eat off wood - and why shouldn't you - then Mike will show you how to make the tableware you need.

There are turners who make their living by turning hollow forms - and some of them seem to go out of their way to make it look difficult so that you are less tempted to challenge their skill one might suppose.  Mike Mahoney's approach is very different and in this DVD Mike reveals all of his tricks and trade secrets, enabling you to aspire to become a great turner of hollow forms too.

Finally and maybe on a lighter note, Mike goes "head to head" with Stuart Batty in an entertaining presentation filmed at one of the recent AAW symposia.  Working side by side on two lathes with almost identical workpieces mounted we are able to contrast and compare the styles of the two turners, their tools their approaches and to get an insight into the differences in turning method experienced by right- and left-handed turners, for we have one of each "persuasion" here!  An entertaining piece with much to teach us all.

Watching Jimmy Clewes turn is always a pleasure.  Undoubtedly possessed of consummate skill and artistry, he is also a very relaxed and fluent communicator and all-round Good Guy. His style can get exciting too when he indulges in a little pyromania on the lathe.  Now you may re-create the atmosphere and excitement of a Jimmy Clewes demo through these excellent DVDs.

Jimmy Clewes is certainly a much-travelled man, as viewers of his earlier work (see below) must have realised.  In the latest boxed set, 'Turning The World' he takes us with him on his world wanderings with a trip on the Norwegian fjords, a visit to the rugged West coast of Scotland and finishes in his new "home from home" in Las Vegas.  Along the way we see him turning projects ranging from a wooden spoon, through a Celtic-inspired wall hanging, a spurtle for the man's porridge, a bangle and a closed wooden vessel inspired by the handwork of the native peoples of his new home in the USA.

Many would like the opportunity to take a lesson with Jimmy Clewes.  Especially now that he is based on the far side of the pond, the chances for most of us are fairly slim.  However, we can have the next best thing by inviting Jimmy into our homes to show us the ropes through his DVD, 'Back To Basics', in which he discusses and demonstrates the fundamentals, setting us off on the right course for a lifetime's happy and rewarding woodturning.  Because this is a presentation aimed primarily at the newcomer to woodturning, Jimmy covers all of the aspects that one would expect such as Health and Safety, the choice of equipment and tools and the all-important matter of tool sharpening.  He even gives advice on the choice and use of abrasives and finishes.  All of this sound advice is then put to good use through three projects - a candlestick, a pen and a bowl - that show that this guy is no mean theorist.  If you are just getting started, or if you fancy a refresher course before taking your next leap forward in the adventure which is woodturning, then this DVD is well worth a look.

The 'Turn It Up' boxed set of three DVDs, show a range of projects including a maple coloured form, a top hat turned in cherry, a natural edge bowl in acacia burr, a lidded burr box and a combination of skills demonstrated when adding a spun silver insert into a mallee burr turning.  But what makes these DVDs special is the extra-curricula activities which Jimmy brings into the program - a visit to the huge timber facility of Theo Nagel, in Germany, a feature on production turning in an English factory and the "other side" of Jimmy when he takes us for a round of golf to demonstrate how to make a golf tee!  These programs take the foundation work shown in his earlier videos a step further with ever-more interesting, demanding - and stunning - work.

The 'Turn It On' boxed set again comprises three DVDs, each complete in itself, with a range of sections covering both projects and techniques as well as an insight into the broader aspects of a professional turner's life.

The Turnaround presentation covers spindle work, tool sharpening, end grain work, box-making and a superb demonstration of creating a stunning large-diameter platter which he then colours beautifully.

For those who wonder, I have Jimmy's word that the impressive, apparently-endless ribbon-like shaving pictured flying off his gouge on the front cover of the Turnaround DVD is entirely genuine.  Having many times worked alongside Jimmy and watched his demonstrations 'in the flesh' I have every reason to believe it is true!   Of course, if he was a real turner, he would have made it fly across the room in the shape of his signature: obviously he was not concentrating that day!!  (Oh, oh: sorry Jimmy, I've just realised - that IS your signature!)

For my own part, I like the fact that Jimmy uses WivaMac lathes and does an excellent job of showing what superb machines these are for serious turners - and those with serious ambition. And just to show that we can all fall prey to conceit, I am most enthusiastic about Volume 1 of Turn It On because it includes footage of your truly at the WivaMac "Open Doors" event where Jimmy and I worked together.  Bask in the glow!

Cindy Drozda has earned a worldwide - and very well-deserved - reputation for the excellence and elegance of the finial lids with which her turnings are adorned.  In these two productions, Cindy lets we lesser mortals into the secrets not only of how she produces such marvels but also the design ideas and inspirations which lead her to make the key decisions in the turning process.

  The latest of Cindy's eagerly-awaited productions concentrates on the creation of a complete and beautiful object of great artistic merit - her "Finial Star Lidded Bowl".  In this 105-minute (approx) DVD, Cindy shows us:-

• The complete step-by-step process for making the Finial Star Lidded Bowl
• The use of coloured dyes to make the figure of the timber really stand out
• Design tips to help with the finial creation
• How to make the three basic finial cuts - with confidence
• How to sharpen gouges and negative rake scrapers
• And how to use those negative rake scrapers to create a surface free from tearout.
• Finally we get to understand the process of shaping the scalloped edge of this fascinating bowl.

In this, the 2nd edition of "Elegant Finials", Cindy starts with a hollow form and takes us step by careful step through the process of first deciding the style and proportions of the finial lid and then through the actual making, supported by hints and tips on sharpening the tools and achieving each of the required cuts, including an analysis of the causes - and cures - of commonly-made turning errors.  The key elements covered are:

• Fitting the lid onto a vessel
• A detailed explanation of the cuts used in the finial turning
• Turning the finial
• Sharpening the tools used in turning the finial

Cindy's excellence at explaining not only "how" but "why" she turns as she does is again well to the fore in her second production "Fabulous Finial Box".  Two cameras are used in this DVD to give a comprehensive view of the turning process.  The audio commentary is done using voice-over techniques with the benefit of more complete explanations than is often the case with turning productions and without the distractions of external noises from elsewhere in the workshop: a very professional approach.  The DVD includes:

• Turning the finial box step by step
• Detailing the inside of the lid
• Contrasting wood inlay and foot
• Jam-fitting and box hollowing techniques

- and a gallery of images of Cindy's lidded boxes.  Again the video material is backed up by further information, in this case a booklet "Turned Boxes - A Formula for Success" written by Cindy, scaled working drawings of the finished box to help you create your own masterpiece, step-by-step written instructions and a comprehensive tool list for completing such a project.

These DVDs, created by a skilled, professional TV producer show how turned wooden objects, or artefacts, can easily rise to the status of high art.  What really strikes me about these DVDs is that they are inspirational as distinct from instructional.  For sure, these are not the DVDs to tell you "blow by blow" with detailed explanations and processes measurements how to create the objects featured, but what they do tell, with great thoroughness and respect, is what motivates, inspires, drives and even defines the "artists" featured.  Here you can see the environment in which these superb turners of international repute live, work and play and they share in words and pictures their influences, development, hopes and ambitions.  If you are looking for something beyond all other woodturning video productions, then I would highly recommend these.

For the avid woodturner the "Beyond Wood - The Fine Art of Turned and Sculpted Wood" DVD is a real bargain: the set comprises six DVDs and features the work of David Ellsworth, Giles Gilson, Rude Osolnik, Frank E Cummings, Jean-Francois Escoulen, Gianfranco Angelino, Christian Burchard, Hans Weissflog and Ron Kent as well as features on The Emma Lake Event, visits to the Lipton, Bohlen and Wornick collections and a series of exclusive interviews under the title "Perfection in Form".

The ardent admirer of segmented work will find much to appreciate and admire in the work exposed in the production entitled "Ray Allen - Master of Segmented Bowl and Vessels".

William Hunter is described in the third DVD as a Wood Sculptor but as you will see in this enlightening DVD, the basis of most of his work is turning - it is simply that having turned a fabulous article, he has only just started to develop its final form in his artist's eye

Reed Gray has produced a very down-to-earth no-nonsense DVD that demonstrates not only the basic uses of the McNaughton Centre Saving system but also some of the "add-ons" such as the laser guide. 

This practical approach sees Reed follow through the complete process, after introducing you to the tool, with sections covering considering whether this tool will work on your lathe - a good starting place - then looks at mounting the bowl blank, sharpening the tool, a demo of coring a standard bowl and a host of other insights not covered elsewhere.

Being an honest individual, Reed even admits to bending blades - and shows how to straighten them out again!!  Fascinating.

Kip Christensen and Rex Burningham and well-known and respected turners, especially in their home country, the US of A.  In these two DVD series we learn why that is - the answer is, quite simply - they are both entertaining and informative in their approach, serving up gems of woodturning "nouse" with a deft but light touch.

If your ambition is to be a pen-maker par excellence, then apart from buying the right tools and equipment, I'd suggest that buying these DVDs would push you a very long way in the desired direction. Starting with a basic pen in 'Turning Pens with Kip & Rex (Video 1 - The Basics & Beyond)' they proceed to cover variations on this Slimline pen with wire burning, the addition of finger grip grooves and two special centre band treatments.  In addition to the "how to" section, they also cover the tools needed, suitable adhesives, specialised materials such as antler, exotic timbers and various plastics.  The second DVD, "Turning Pens with Rex & Kip (Video 2 - More Pens Plus Tip & Tricks)' continues the theme by introducing the making of more sophisticated pens as well as detailing how to work successfully with plastics materials and likewise for antler.  The tips and tricks section covers topics such as making a sliding cross cutting table, drilling jigs, timber selection, repairing timber defects, assembly jigs and - for the fateful day when it all goes wrong - tips on how to disassemble a pen.

If your interest lies in projects other than pen making, then the versatility of this likeable pair does not leave you wanting.  Again we have two video presentations, on DVD, each covering a variety of projects that really provide inspiration - and instruction - for when you need a bit of help to get the creative juices flowing.  The first volume of 'Woodturning Projects' gives details on the making of a bud vase, a bowl turned from green timber (that is to say, wet timber, not green coloured, dummy!), a wall clock, a Christmas ornament, a spinning top and - this you just have to see 'Curly Fries': this last is something I had never seen before and it is "a hoot'.  A similar theme is continued in Volume 2 where the projects detailed include a peppermill, an egg (beware indigestion), an hour glass (for timing the egg, presumably?), a stick pen, a toothpick holder and a carving mallet.  Superbly presented, no hard sell and great fun.

Gary Rance is not of the genre of woodturners who have made their name as demonstrators of the practice of woodturning: he is a far more rare animal - a genuine working woodturner who also demonstrates - brilliantly.  In fact Gary is reckoned to be the most accomplished production turner in the UK and he is held in very high esteem by his peers in the woodturning world.  After watching this video, it will be very clear to you why this is the case.

Gary is perhaps not the most verbally eloquent of turners, but in his hands you will see the truest expression of eloquence you could ever wish to behold.  In fact, it is no disrespect to Gary to say that if you watch this production without the audio switched on you will still be totally absorbed in the skill and artistry of this brilliant turner.  As the old song has it, this is truly 'poetry in motion'  (OK, I can't help it if you're too young to remember!).

Rarely do we mention value when reviewing woodturning videos, yet it must be mentioned that this has to be the best value production on the market, with a running time in the order of three full hours: this is a very comprehensive review of turning.  The production covers Health & Safety; tool sharpening (an excellent demonstration of how easy this can be); basic faceplate work and basic spindle turning techniques before launching into three projects: an inlaid box, a long-thin-stemmed goblet and a candlestick, complete with flame: the project that has become Gary's signature piece.

And if you are looking at lathes, you'll find that Gary, like Jimmy Clewes, uses a WivaMac lathe in this production (in this case a DB801) so you can also get a good insight into the performance of these excellent lathes - for which The ToolPost are UK distributors.

©1997-2006 P. Hemsley.  The information on this website is the copyright property of Peter Hemsley.  Coeur du Bois and The ToolPost are trading styles of Peter Hemsley.  Whilst reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, no liability can be accepted for errors in this information nor for contingencies arising therefrom.  If you are inexperienced in any aspect of woodworking, we would strongly counsel that you take a course of formal instruction before commencing to practice