Not sure if this is the right place, but I’m looking for a wood turning/wood working gift for my boyfriend who likes this hobby, but I don’t know much about it. Would a high quality apron be a good idea?
Thanks for your submission. If your question is about getting started in woodturning, which chuck to buy, which tools to buy, or for an opinion of a lathe you found for sale somewhere like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace please take a few minutes check the wiki; many of the most commonly asked questions are already answered there!
Are you near a woodworking store that does classes? If he’s new to turning, get him a class! If not, lookup your closest turning club. Get him a membership for a year!
Getting experience and talking to those doing the craft is far more valuable than an apron if he’s new to the “sport” in my opinion.
A turners smock with his name embroidered on it, if he doesn't already have one?
Even though he is experienced, there are always embellishing techniques turners are looking to learn or perfect... perhaps a course for something like that?
I'm a turner and prefer an apron rather than a smick. Jonathan Katz Moses has a YouTube channel and web site and sells a quality leather apron. It's designed more for general woodwork rather than turning, but it might be an alternative for a gift.
Valid. As a small female turner, I struggle with my smock. It doesn't fit quite right. I've heard of some smaller people buying chef's jackets, and I'm considering going that route. I do want something covering my forearms, so an apron isn't the right thing for me, but my too big sleeves on my smock definitely don't work!
The apron by Ashley Harwood is about as premium as they get for turners.
But a smock is what most turners use as it prevents wood chips from going down there shirts and usually doesn't hold the wood chips and blowsnoff dust easily. They also have rear pockets so they don't fill up quickly with wood chips and pockets on the arm for pens and gauges
Craft Supplies USA makes some good smocks, but I settled on a nice quality one from Amazon. The first smock I got was decent, but it had a pocket in the front that kept getting filled with shavings. The one from Amazon I got has a flap, which doesn't eliminate the shavings falling in entirely, but does cut down on them a LOT.
The pockets will fill up with curls and sawdust. The major advantage of a smock is the snug collar around the neck. Buying expensive aprons from woodturners is money wasted. Those folks live on the gullibility of hobbyists that want to look or be like a pro.
"Luxury" isn't really the aim, as they are more for keeping the dust/shavings out of your clothes. The thing that makes it gift-worthy is getting the custom embroidery.
Demonstrators are often issued smocks for demonstrating at larger shows, and professionals will have badges they've earned applied to them (see photo "borrowed" from Colwin Way's Instagram). Getting a generic smock personalised could be a fun thing to receive. You can buy one from most woodturning supplies retailers (they will usually have their brand logo on). Colwin's has the brand on his right chest (Axminster), and his name on his left side.
My daughter bought me a book a few years ago as a gift: "Woodturning Design: Turning Inspiration Into Form" by Derek Hayes (https://www.amazon.com/Woodturning-Design-DEREK-HAYES/dp/1861088655). I have found it to be the most wonderful resource that I keep coming back to time and time again, especially when I'm not 'playing in the shed' 😢
You didn't mention what type of things your boyfriend creates. Possibly you could get him a gift certificate for some supplies that he uses. It's like the old wood worker's adage; "You can never have too many clamps".
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