Woodturning A-Z

Backing up.
Now called shear cutting or slicing - cleans up the surface finish.

Banjo.
This clamps the toolrest to the bed. It can slide along or across the bed. It is usually a casting with a slot in it plus a hole for the T rest stalk.

Barrel.
The part inside the tailstock which slides back and forth to clamp the wood between the centres.

Bead.
A decorative convex feature or moulding often seen on chair legs etc

Bed.
This supports the headstock and allows the tailstock and toolrest to slide along it.

Bedan.
A turning chisel with a special wedge-like section. Handy for cutting beads and for hollowing boxes and for use with the sizing tool.

Between centres.
Work held between the headstock and tailstock. It is driven around by the drive centre and supported by the tailstock centre which serves as a bearing. The maximum distance between centres appears in the lathe specifications.

Bevel.
The surface, at a certain angle to the tool blade, generated by grinding and sharpening a tool.

Bits.
Usually denotes a drill bit

Bobbin drive.
Lace bobbin drive. Uses a square tapered hole to grip lace bobbin blanks at the drive end.

Bocote.
Mexican rosewood. Dark brown with yellowish stripes. Goes very dark eventually.

Bodger.
A chair maker using primitive equipment to turn chair spindles - a pole lathe turner.

Boring.
Drilling a hole

Bowl Rest.
Special rest which reaches into the bowl to reduce tool overhang.

Bowl turning attachment.
A bracket which holds the toolrest and joins to the lathe allowing large diameter turning.

Boxes.
Cylindrical turned containers.

Burr.
"Burl" A mass of tiny knots in the wood which gives an attractive and highly prized blank.