Woodturning: A Source Book of Shapes [Paperback]

John Hunnex (Author)

Book Description

Series: Woodturning | Publication Date: December 31, 1993

A full-color guide that features 188 superb lathe-turned shapes that will inspire all turners. Each piece is beautifully lit and photographed to reveal the combination of well chosen wood, immaculate finish and individual shape, making this a visual inspiration for all woodturners and lovers of fine craftsmanship and design. There are bowls, containers, bottles, vases, hollow forms, closed forms, natural tops and edges, platters and variations. Each category is prefaced by comments about the forms and designs included, and each shape is accompanied by a short caption describing the woods used, the dimensions, and information on the turning or finishing techniques used. 144 pages (129 in color), 8 1/4 x 10 7/8.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (December 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0946819459
• ISBN-13: 978-0946819454
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,676,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideas for woodturning, December 29, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Fort Collins, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Woodturning: A Source Book of Shapes (Paperback)

141 Pages. Full color photos of turned objects, usually one per page, type of wood and size for each object. Not much text, a "picture book". I have used this book a lot, much more variation than in single artist books. Contents: Bowls, Containers (Boxes), Bottles, Vases, Hollow forms, Closed forms, Natural Tops and Natural Edges, Platters and Plaques, Variations in Shapes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, October 10, 2009

By 

yankee2 "woodworker" (Pasadena) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Woodturning: A Source Book of Shapes (Paperback)

I had expected something more of an in-depth study of shape, and how it relates to design in woodturning. What I got is a portfolio of images of one mans's personal choices, and very little of universal interest. There is very little discussion of shape beyond the statement that "Successful woodturning ultimately stands or falls on the shapes used..." It tells us nothing about what makes some shapes better and others worse, or what a good shape is, or how to achieve one, and it tells us virtually nothing about the symbolism, or emotional impacts of shapes, their history, or ideas that might be associated with them.

In short, Woodturning_A sourcebook of shapes, is little more than a gallery of images that illustrate Mr. Hunnex's personal production of a range of simple bowl shapes. Many of his bowls are nice enough, but most of them are conservative and traditional, and some, in MHO, could use some work. There is hardly a piece illustrated that could be considered groundbreaking, exceptional, or even very interesting.

Hunnex's book may provide inspiration in one or a few cases, to try shapes one may not have considered turning before, but basically, there are many other books currently available, showing collections of much better, more artistic turnings, which should provide much greater inspiration, and much more enjoyable viewing than this one.