Is Woodturning a Good Hobby?

You've probably landed on this Blog Post because you saw a video or two of someone Turning on a Lathe and wondered if it would suit you. Maybe you are just looking for an activity for your spare time or you just want to be in your own space doing what you want to do and when you want to do it? Is Woodturning a Good Hobby to get involved in you may be asking yourself. As human beings we are often afraid of what we don't know and don't understand so I decided to write this post to clear up a few things up for you.

If you’re still weighing things up and wondering where to begin, So You Want to Be a Woodturner? offers a step-by-step look at the tools, mindset, and setup you’ll need when you’re starting out.

My Own Early Experience

I started Woodturning back in 1996 when a friend showed me his homemade Lathe made out of a washing machine motor, welded bed, moveable tailstock with a basic pulley system & on/off switch. Although extremely primitive, this setup actually worked and I was hooked from the very first try. I bought my first Lathe within a fortnight and went on to buy a bigger Lathe within the year as well as a few basic Tools. My mistake going forward is that I didn't go and get lessons immediately and this cost me dearly long term. I ended up leaving the Lathe idle off and on for several years as a direct result of not getting a more experienced Woodturner show me the ropes.

Turning a Finial

In 2014, after an extended break I came back to Woodturning again with a vengeance. I was turning every day with the view of starting up a Craft business but was hampered by my inexperience and lack of foundation knowledge of Woodturning. I eventually sought out a Professional Woodturning Teacher in 2015 as the same problems that I had in the beginning kept holding me back. It was the best decision I could have made and the end result was that it propelled me forward. I finally had explanations as to why my earlier Turning sucked, why major catches were happening and I had clear advice on how to go forward creating beautiful pieces. Well, it took a little bit longer before I was making anything decent. Practice, practice, practice......as the saying goes.

Why You Should Learn from My Mistakes

If you want to succeed at anything in life you must first get good advice. You can blindly feel around finding your own way but this is a fool's quest. Take it from someone who knows that painful truth only too well. I spent money on bad Machinery and Tools and squandered precious time that I could have devoted to being a real Woodturner. Who knows how far I could have gone if only I had gone for that first lesson.

Tuition is Expensive

Yes, initially it is an expense where you don't seem to gain anything tangible. You don't appear to have the same gain as when you buy a physical Tool for the same amount of money. What you are in fact gaining though is the insight and knowledge from a professional who has already walked the same road as you are on now. I wasted many hundreds of Euros buying cheap, bad Machines and unnecessary Tools. I could have used the money to buy better if only I had someone to show me the way. You will save money long term by taking a lesson and it will also speed up your learning journey time.

So, Is Woodturning a Good Hobby?

Yes, it is an amazing hobby to have. I am doing this professionally since 2015 and I love creating my current range of products. I get so much joy in creating the best pieces I can make and know that I can still improve even now. If I had been able to show my earlier self what I would be capable of after taking lessons I would have been absolutely gobsmacked. If I wasn't in business anymore I would still continue to Turn as a hobby and would probably be making more artistic, complicated one off pieces instead of the production line type products I make now.

Woodturning is very therapeutic for me even now in my Woodturning business and I am often able to shut out the outside world when I'm at the Lathe. Even if your early pieces are not very good, you will still be very proud of them and should continue to improve the more time you invest. Most people do not understand that the shaped piece in front of you is a direct result of every movement your body makes or doesn't make and even your breathing comes into play while Turning. You are as much an artist as any sculptor out there as you cut away the raw material to expose the finished surface beneath. Keep that in mind when you first start Turning! Keep plugging away until you Turn what you see in your Mind's Eye!

The Cons of Woodturning

Con Number 1; It's expensive. There I said it but what pastime isn't? Unfortunately, it is not a cheap hobby and you will have to throw money at it in order to get anywhere. I normally tell my Students to expect to pay between €2,500 and €3,000 just to get started with the basic Lathe, Sharpening Station, Chucks, Tools & Accessories. This is buying brand new, you may be able to pick up good equipment second hand if you are careful. Spend a fraction of this money and you probably won't get very far. In actuality, if you really want to be serious about taking it up, €5,000 wouldn't be an unrealistic amount to spend. Spend money on Equipment I recommend during my classes and you will be Turning long into the Future. Of course, this doesn't include purchasing a Bandsaw which you will need in time and all the other bits and pieces that you will want to buy; and you will want to buy more!

Con Number 2; It's difficult. Woodturning is a difficult, challenging but not impossible craft to master. I often tell Students that the world would be full of Woodturners if it was easy. First you will need good equipment and Tools. Second, you will need to put in lots of time to become proficient and this is only after receiving lessons. Many believe that they can throw a few hundred Euro at it and an hour or two here and there and they will magically be brilliant at it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. If you are up to the challenge and are willing to work through failure then Woodturning is probably right up your street and something you should pursue. If you want an easy hobby, then Woodturning my not be the right one for you.

Along the lines of the cons in woodturning, I have to mention safety. It’s something I’ve written more about in my post From Dust to Disaster: Common Workshop Hazards and How to Avoid Them. It’s always better to go in with your eyes open to the possible dangers you might not be aware of.

Enjoy It!

Enjoy your time on the Lathe! No matter what is going on in your life, you can always put a piece of wood on a Lathe and just Turn. Fairly soon, you will only see and think about the piece in front of you. What could be a better Hobby to have?

Getting Started the Right Way

Learning the basics on your own can be slow, and mistakes can add up fast. If you’d like to see how proper guidance can speed things up, check out my post Will Woodturning Tuition Benefit Me? — it breaks down what you’ll gain from a structured lesson.

And when you’re ready to book your first class, Your First Woodturning Class – What to Expect walks you through what really happens during a session and how to get the most from it.

Conclusion

Many of my Students have the same issues or worries when getting started. They wonder if they like Woodturning enough at the beginning to justify spending all that money because the results are not immediately apparent and may not be for a while. How do you gauge it so? I normally ask Students if they felt great while Turning in my classes or was it a 'take it or leave it kind of thing'. To those that felt great, I say go ahead and spend the money. To those that didn't enjoy it so much I say maybe it's not for you.

If you feel you are in either of those groups, take a lesson first and then at least you will know. If you take my advice and buy great equipment and decide down the road that its not for you; you can always sell it on and get most or all of your money back. If you buy cheap, you won't get your money back. What do you have to lose? My post Buying Your First Lathe should be very helpful and point you in the right direction.

Don't procrastinate. Don't worry about the initial cost of Tuition, you will reap the rewards in your first year on the Lathe while saving money. Don't be shy when it comes time to book. Just go for it and be happy with the fact that it will be of great benefit to you going forward as a Woodturner.

My Woodturning Tuition Classes in Tralee

I specialise in low Teacher to Student ratio Sessions of short duration where I cram as much as possible into each session instead of you having to attend full day courses with groups of strangers as with other Woodturners.

I now have 4 and 5 Hour sessions where I cover a huge amount of information, from sharpening to sanding & finishing techniques and a bit of basic Turning. Generally, coming back for a second session after you've bought your Lathe and tried Turning on your own for a while is advisable. You will make mistakes and will have questions for me as a result.

Check out my Woodturning Tuition page for listings and more details or read more in the Blog Posts at the bottom of this page.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you in my Workshop in Tralee real soon!

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.

During that time, I’ve worked with Irish hardwoods, taught woodturning, and run my workshop full-time. On this site, I share the same knowledge I pass on to my students — from choosing the right wood and tools to finishing techniques that make every project shine.

I also stock a carefully chosen range of turning blanks, tools, and craft supplies that I use every day in my own work. You can explore more of my handcrafted pieces and classes at David Condon Woodcraft.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

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If you found this post interesting, helpful, or simply enjoyable, feel free to use the link below to show your support. No pressure at all—but every little bit helps, and it’s always genuinely appreciated. As a small independent maker, I rely on a mix of teaching, crafting, and sharing to keep things going. This is just one way to help keep the shavings flying. Thanks so much!

More Woodturning Pages to Explore​

• Hampshire Sheen - Fine Finishing products that will highlight your project pieces

• Hamlet Tools - Fantastic Woodturning Tools from a well trusted brand

• Sanding Essentials - Essential sanding products for Woodturners & Woodworkers.

• Woodturning Blanks - A fine range of Hardwood Spindle Blanks & a few Bowl Blanks too!

• Woodturning Pen Blanks - A huge assortment of Acrylic & Irish Hardwood Pen Blanks.

• Crafter's Haven – A vast range of craft supplies for crafters and gift givers!

Original content © David Condon Woodcraft — Written by David Condon. Please credit and link if shared.