Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What woodturning projects make even an experienced turner nervous?For me, it comes down to two things. The first is working with an expensive, almost irreplaceable piece of wood, where the material itself raises the stakes and forces total focus on every single cut. The second is anything wildly off centre, like the Mallee burr piece I shared a little while ago. Turning something that far out of balance means one wrong move could knock the whole piece off the chuck, so it calls for a different kind of cautious confidence rather than outright nerves.This is one of the weekly Ask Martin questions, this one from Danielle Duplessis. If you've got a question about woodturning, technique, or life in the workshop, drop it in the comments and I might answer it in a future short.
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool
Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
What woodturning projects make even an experienced turner nervous?For me, it comes down to two things. The first is working with an expensive, almost irreplaceable piece of wood, where the material itself raises the stakes and forces total focus on every single cut. The second is anything wildly off centre, like the Mallee burr piece I shared a little while ago. Turning something that far out of balance means one wrong move could knock the whole piece off the chuck, so it calls for a different kind of cautious confidence rather than outright nerves.This is one of the weekly Ask Martin questions, this one from Danielle Duplessis. If you've got a question about woodturning, technique, or life in the workshop, drop it in the comments and I might answer it in a future short.
🎓 Want to learn in person? I run woodturning courses at my school in Hampshire for all levels — from complete beginners through to more advanced techniques. Details at www.thewoodturning.school
🛢️ My Finishes: yandles.co.uk/shop/?manufacturer=martin-saban-smith-woodturning
📘 Design and proportion in woodturning — I wrote the book: msabansmith.com/shop
📍 Based at Garthowen Garden Centre, Four Marks, Hampshire — next to the South Downs National Park.
🌐 msabansmith.com
Facebook — Me: facebook.com/msabansmith
Facebook — Woodturning School: facebook.com/thewoodturningschool
Instagram — Me: instagram.com/msabansmith
Instagram — School: instagram.com/thewoodturningschool
The visual video content (including my voice), any text and any graphics in the video are Copyright © Woodturning Online Ltd 2015–2026. All rights reserved.
