How to Prepare Found Wood for Turning

Use a straight edge to draw a line from one corner to the diagonal corner on the surface of the wood blank that will be turned on the lathe. Repeat this for the other two corners. The center of the block is where the two lines cross. Be careful not to press too hard with the pencil while marking the lines.

Use a carpentry awl to create a small indent at the center point on the block. If a carpentry awl is not available, use a pointed object to create a small indentation at the middle point of the block.

Place the point of a compass in the hole just made by the carpentry awl. Open the compass and draw a large circle on the wood blank without running off the edge of the blank.

Set the faceplate of the lathe on the piece of 3/4-inch scrap wood and trace around the outside of the faceplate. Drill a hole in the center of the traced circle with a 1/4-inch drill bit. Use a scroll saw to cut the traced circle out of the scrap piece of wood. The circle is now a prepared screw block.

Cut a circle the same size as the screw block out of the brown paper bag and poke a small hole in the center of the paper circle.

Use a hammer to place a 1 1/2-inch finishing nail in the center point of the wood blank. Take care to insert the nail only 1/8-inch into the block.

Place a layer of carpenter's glue on one side of the paper bag circle and place it glue-side down on the wood blank. Put the nail through the hole in the center of the paper circle to keep everything centered. Press down on the paper circle to smooth it out. Repeat this process with the screw block.

Place a 1-inch-by-1-inch piece of wood that is the same width of the wood blank on top of the screw block. Attach wood clamps to the ends of this piece of wood and to the underside of the wood blank. The clamps will hold the screw block in place until the glue has dried.

Attach the faceplate to the screw block once the glue is dry and place the wood blank on the lathe. The wood blank is now ready for turning.