Woodturning, “I Don’t Need a Lesson”

“I don’t need a lesson.”

I said it myself, more than once in my early days woodturning. At the time, it felt reasonable. I could figure things out as I went, I felt I was smart enough to do that even in the age before the internet, videos and articles. Woodturning didn’t seem that complicated, and like a lot of people, I didn’t fancy standing beside someone else while they watched me struggle.

So I went it alone.

My early woodturning setup before proper instruction

Why That Thinking Feels Sensible at the Start

There are plenty of reasons people convince themselves they don’t need lessons. Cost is one. Pride is another. Sometimes it’s the belief that struggling through something is part of the process, and that help somehow cheapens it or is a cheat in the process.

Today, there’s also an endless supply of online content. You can watch a dozen different people turn a bowl in a dozen different ways and feel like you’ve learned something meaningful. It gives a sense of progress, even when very little has actually changed at the lathe.

I understand all of that, because I lived it.

I’ve written about this mindset before in Will Woodturning Tuition Benefit Me?, where I explore why so many people hesitate to seek guidance, even when they know it would probably help.

If you’re still at the stage of wondering whether woodturning is even worth the effort at all, I’ve written separately about that question in Is Woodturning a Good Hobby?, looking at the reality rather than the romantic version.

What I Didn’t See at the Time

What I couldn’t see then was how slowly I was actually progressing.

I wasn’t bad enough to give up immediately, but I wasn’t improving either. Small mistakes crept in and stayed there. Poor habits became normal. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and there was no one beside me to point it out.

Eventually, frustration replaced enjoyment.

I’d spend more time fighting tools than using them. Finishes never quite looked right. Projects took longer than they should have. Instead of recognising that I needed guidance, I assumed the problem was me.

The Quiet Cost of Going It Alone

The real cost wasn’t just slow progress, it was momentum.

Woodturning stopped feeling rewarding and started feeling like work. Bad work at that. Without realising it, I drifted away from the lathe altogether. What I thought was independence ended up stalling my growth so badly that I walked away from the craft for a number of years.

That’s the part people don’t talk about enough.

I’ve written about this pattern before in Why Do Most New Woodturners Fail, where I look at the common reasons people drift away from the craft, often without a single dramatic failure, just a gradual loss of confidence and momentum.

What Lessons Actually Do (and Don’t Do)

A good lesson doesn’t turn you into a great woodturner overnight. It doesn’t remove the need for practice, and it doesn’t replace experience.

What it does do is remove unnecessary confusion.

It shortens the distance between effort and understanding. It helps you feel what “right” actually feels like, rather than guessing. It stops bad habits from bedding in so deeply that they become invisible.

Looking back, even a small amount of guided learning early on would have changed everything for me.

What I See Now, Years Later

These days, I see the same thinking play out again and again.

I see it in beginners who hesitate to book lessons because they want to “have a go first.” I see it in people who wait months before using gift vouchers they’ve been given. Not because they don’t want to learn, but because they’re unsure, nervous, or quietly convinced they should already know more than they do.

That hesitation is understandable, but it’s also where a lot of people get stuck.

Learning Is Not a Shortcut, It’s a Foundation

Taking a lesson isn’t an admission of failure. It’s not cheating, and it’s not something you do only when you’re struggling.

For me, avoiding lessons didn’t make me more self-reliant. It made me slower, more frustrated, and eventually disengaged from something I genuinely enjoyed.

If you’re starting out, or even if you’ve been turning for a while and feel like you’ve plateaued, it’s worth being honest with yourself about why you’re avoiding help. The reasons often sound sensible, but the long-term cost can be surprisingly high.

The Fear Nobody Talks About

One of the things that holds people back is not knowing what a first lesson actually involves.

Many imagine being put on the spot, rushed, or made to feel foolish for what they don’t know. That uncertainty alone is often enough to stop people ever starting.

I see this hesitation play out regularly, not just in conversations, but in how long some people wait before using gift vouchers they’ve been given. It’s rarely about time or money, it’s about not wanting to feel exposed.

I’ve written a separate post, Your First Woodturning Class, What to Expect, which walks through what really happens in an introductory session, how it’s paced, and what beginners usually find reassuring rather than intimidating.

A Different Way to Look at It

Woodturning already has enough challenges built into it. There’s no need to make it harder than it has to be.

I wish I could share that moment where I finally made my first decent Ring Holder, where I was happy with the shape and the finish was exactly what I'd hoped for.

I also wish I could share with you the feeling I had the day after my first lesson. Sure, I was tired, but it was like someone had lit a fuse under me. I couldn’t wait to get back into my workshop and start again with a clearer head.

Learning with guidance doesn’t remove the satisfaction of doing it yourself. If anything, it restores it.

And that’s something I wish I’d understood much earlier.

Thanks for Reading,

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.

Over the years, I’ve learned that woodturning is as much about patience and problem-solving as it is about tools and technique. I work mainly with Irish hardwoods, teach woodturning full-time, and spend most days learning something new in the workshop myself. On this site, I share the same practical knowledge I pass on to my students, shaped by experience, mistakes, and time spent at the lathe. If you’re interested in learning in person, I offer woodturning lessons in Tralee, with details available on my Woodturning Tuition page.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

☕ Buy Me a Coffee?

I used to run ads on my website to generate a small income, but they slowed things down and didn’t fit the feel of what I’m building here. So, I’ve removed them in favor of something simpler and more personal—a “Buy Me a Coffee” button.

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

● Woodcraft Hub - View my woodcraft creations for inspiration of gift buying.

● 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.