Customer Reviews

Ellsworth on Woodturning: How a Master Creates Bowls, Pots, and Vessels

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David Ellsworth's hollow vessels are magic in your hands. This book is truly a book from a master. An understanding of the Ellsworth method can do nothing but improve your turning experience. The cover of the book shows the hole worked through to create the vessel. David's approach is straight forward with no gimmicks or special apparatus to create his stunning turned pieces. If you do hollow forms this is the example of the best. Recommended.

David Ellsworth's new book on Woodturning is, on one level, a concise introduction to his art. It covers everything that he teaches in his intensive three-day seminars taught at his home and in his week-long classes offered at leading schools of arts and crafts. He offers insights on wood selection and object design. He explains what tools he uses -- and how to make them -- and the techniques with which he applies those tools to the wood. With beautiful photographs and his own sketches, Ellsworth demonstrates how to create the three basic forms: open bowls, natural-edge bowls, and hollow vessels. He literally takes the reader from the sawing of a log to the sanding and finishing of a final product. On that level alone, his book would be a great success, one that anyone interested in woodturning should read.

But the book offers much more. Ellsworth is, after all, a master of his art. He invented many of the tools and developed many of the techniques that are used today by woodturners around the world. He as much as anyone has been responsible for the recognition that woodturning is more than a craft that produces useful objects. He has greatly contributed to the public appreciation that woodturning is an art and that its practitioners can produce works of beauty, revealing the special qualities of wood in shapes and forms with visual and tactile delight, often incorporating references to classic ceramic or glass forms. Along the way, he has challenged the conventional notions that woodturnings need to be functional, or that forms need to be monumental to be appreciated as art. In very personal ways, in this book, Ellsworth shares his sense of awe at the qualities of wood, and his appreciation for the work of other woodturners. For example, the sketches in the book are all by Ellsworth's own hand. They are very personal and, to this reader at least, each sketch says as much about the author as it does about the subject of the sketch.

So on a second level, the book reveals much about the mind of a gifted master of his art. He shares his deep appreciation of the qualities and varieties of wood, especially its ability to change as green wood dries and matures. He demonstrates the importance of using tools in their most efficient and effective manners. Ellsworth's appreciation for efficient use of tools also extends to the human body. For him it is important that the body be used in ways that minimize the wear and tear and maximize the opportunities for success in woodturning. For Ellsworth, the body of the artist should move in an almost dance-like way as the tools move through their arcs on the wood. It is only through such smooth and efficient movement that smooth and graceful lines can be created. On this level, the book reminds of George Nakashima's "The Soul of a Tree."

Finally, Ellsworth is not only a talented artist, he is also a caring and gifted teacher with a delightful sense of humor. In his brief concluding appendix, he sets forth his approach to teaching, revealing much about the artist as a person who takes joy in sharing his insights with others. And in his glossary we see his humor -- a buyer is someone with the means to purchase a turned wooden object; a collector is someone with the means to purchase a second object.

In summary, Ellsworth's book is a great read for anyone interested in woodturning, or in gaining insights into the mind of a master artist.

I am an intermediate turner, and do both bowl and spindle work. This book is heavily based on using the Ellsworth "signature gouge" for face grain - the bowls, pots and vessels. I had an Ellsworth gouge, because of seeing his video, before buying the book. To use this book you will either have to buy one, or regrind another bowl gouge to his form. I recommend it, although I'd take some of the instructions with a grain of salt. Like most skilled turners whose books I've read, or videos seen, he has a particular dedication to his style. An understandable thing as each of them has developed a skill and a style over years.

If I were to have three books on turning I'd have this Ellsworth book, and Richard Raffan's Turning Wood and his Turning Bowls. Raffan uses classic fingernail gouges and Ellsworth his signature gouge. I bounce between them, sometimes I like the classical and sometimes the signature, depending on the wood and the cut.

A final note, my first signature gouge was a 1/2" (flute width, 5/8" shaft). I work on a midi lathe and have since bought a 3/8" as well. I'd reground another 3/8" to the Ellsworth shape, but went for the original once I got the book. Both work well on my turnings, but if you are on a midi I'd go for the 3/8" first. Packard Woodworking sells both online in the USA.

Buy the book, but don't take it as gospel. Use Ellsworth's cuts, and the classical cuts, and find your own style. A final comment on books versus video, view the video but buy the book, you will find it is easier to remind yourself of the cut opening a book to the page rather than skipping through the video.

I have been turning less than two years but have read more than a dozen books on turning and own three of Raffan's and Keith Rowley's book. I have had the opportunity to see Dave Ellsworth demontrate at a symposium. I really like his book! Reading parts of the book reminded me of the notes I took at his demo covering points I was not aware of or failed to realize the importance. It is an inspirational book and covers topics frequently missed in other books like making your own tools. It has a great chapter on Design. It is probably not the first book a new turner would buy as it does not cover basics as well as some others like Keith Rowley's Wouldturning: a Foundation Course. But if you have advanced to bowls and hollow forms you need to get this book.

Quality writing, photos, editing, layout, binding & paper.
Informative for all from budding experts to those of us who simply appreciate the beauty of the hand-turned objects & enjoy learning how they are created. The perfect gift for any wood-worker.

I had the good fortune of experiencing an Ellsworth demonstration that my woodturning club hosted. What a great turner!! One of the best things about the demo and the book is Ellsworth's "no frills" straightforward approach. Though I turn more bowls than hollow forms, I can apply most everything to bowls. His techniques and teaching style is very easy to follow, and encourages the turner to do what works for them. I love the book, and my only regret is that I didn't get it signed at the demonstration.

Finally Ellsworth has come out with a book with his own name on it. As one of the most revered, and most quoted turners of our time it was long overdue.

It encompasses all aspects of turning: design and method, tools and materials. He spends a bit more time then I like going on about his "Signature" gouge, but it is a standard tool in most current turners kit now days, primarily due to his influence.

I especially like his integration of the mind/spirit/body as part of the process, as I think that is a large part of the reason he has become the master he is.

The book was both very practical, as well as a most enjoyable read. The "how to" segments on bowl turning and hollowing were complemented by the discussion on design. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in turning.

We purchased this book for a friend who has just begun learning the art of turning wood for bowls. He has enjoyed reading it and thinks it has valuable information

A wonderful book from the studio of one of the world's finest artist-woodturners. Dave's love for the lathe and his comprehensive knowledge of turning is evident on every page of the book.