For those who do not have a lathe speed readout (my Powermatic 3520A does not), there are cell phone apps that work as stroboscopes.

If you sense any sounds or vibrations, back the speed down a bit until the rotation is smooth. This is the speed where you should begin working.

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This article is for bowls and large diameter work. I understand that, and you understand that, but there are a few of those that follow that rule of the law into other territories (pen and spindle turning worlds) and are horrified by it.

Thank you, Bob! You might want to try a 4″ dovetail jaw set on your chuck. https://turnawoodbowl.com/bowl-chuck-for-wood-lathe-how-to-use/ You can initially mount the blank in a variety of ways. See this article. https://turnawoodbowl.com/attach-wood-lathe-3-safe-secure-methods/ You are doing great making bowls. Keep it up! All the best to you and Happy Turning!

This chart is designed to merely be a guideline of maximum speeds. Use common sense when turning any piece of wood and avoid dangerous or poor quality wood with splits, checks, or cracks.

I fully agree with this article and understand centrifugal force (physics background). However, I have noticed problems for personality types that follow strict rules and guidelines without thinking. I turn pens in addition to bowls. On several occasions in the past 15 years, bowl turners would come on and be horrified at 2000 rpm or 3500 rpm and make statements on how dangerous that was. For pen blanks that start out at 3/4 inch square, 2000 or 3000 RPM is not a problem.

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Thanks for the comment. The example of 9000 divided by 10″ diameter bowl equals 900. The rpm for a 10″ bowl should not exceed 900 rpm. Seems pretty straight forward.

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I gained some really helpful knowledge regarding lathe speed. I started turning about 5 years ago although work schedule did not allow me much time to turn but now I’m retired and immersing myself in your courses. I will share an accident I had when my bowl blank launched into the air because of excessive lathe speed and a nasty catch on the interior of the bowl. Luckily I only sustained cuts on three fingers. The outcome would have been very different if I was standing in front of the bowl when it went airborne.

If the lathe is too fast the turning bowl blank can become a dangerous projectile. If the lathe is too slow, cuts become clumsy and turning a bowl can take a long time.

Metallathe cutting speed chart

When you begin turning a blank bring the speed up to the point when vibration or noise starts to occur, then back the pace down a bit until smooth rotation returns.

And by the way, you know you’re hooked on bowl turning when you are mentally visualizing turning while in bed. ? I know because I do it too. LOL

Agree – its the other way around!! You’re also correct on your suggestion to use surface feet per minute. Taking the 10″ bowl as an example. It has a circumference of 31.4″, which means in one minute it the outer surface of the blank passes the cutting tool 900 times – this means the distance travelled is 900x circumference = 900 x 31,4 = 28260 inches /minute or 2355 feet/minute (this is the same for all the examples given). 9000 is simply a factor to make the maths easy. It assumes all wood is equal and all tools are equally sharp! I prefer the “start at a speed at which there is no vibration” and always below a 1000rpm until you’ve confidence in the bowl and most of the wood mass is removed.

Hi Loren or Ken, I am not sure to whom this email will go. I have a Teknatool 1200 I would like to convert to a variable speed lathe. Electric motors are a mystery to me and I could use some advice. Can this lathe be converted? what would I need? how do I get started? Any help would be appreciated. Kind regards Leo

I would recommend trying to find a variable speed lathe. A fixed speed lathe, especially one that can only go as slow as 600 rpm is not good for bowl turning and not safe. If you put an unbalanced bowl blank, even a smaller one, on this lathe and flip it on to a set 600 rpm, some bad things can easily happen. Variable speed lathes allow you to make all the incremental adjustments you need as you turn. Check out variable speed lathe review as an example.

If you encounter just a subtle sound or vibration, try increasing the speed just a bit higher. Sometimes there are harmonic vibrations that occur at a particular speed, and once the speed is changed, they disappear.

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Kent, As usual, I learned some valuable information from your article. If anyone mentions starting Bowl turning I would direct them to your site,. Wish I had found it before I started, having to unlearn some bad habits even though I’ve only been turning bowls for 3+ months. I am fully addicted, having turned over 20 bowls so far. I find myself at the office or before going to sleep, mentally turning bowls lol. Thanks Tex

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When we make a cutting pass from the rim to the bowl center, we can see this force in action. The beginning of the cut is fast and slides quickly across the surface. However, to maintain that same clean cut we must dramatically slow down the bowl gouge at the center nub of the bowl.

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Cutting speed chartfor turning

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Thank you that is a very informative article an yes when you’re starting out it is intimidating about the blank come off. My question is I have an rigid lathe when is only belt driven thus stopped can only be changed when it turned off. Is keeping it at about 750 or so on 6 to 8 inch blanks a good idea as so they don’t come off? I wished I could up grade but just can’t do it right now.

There should be no odd sounds of vibrations when you turn. This can be daunting to realize, especially if you’re turning a sizeable off-balanced bowl blank.

Once the outside of the bowl is shaped, consider taping or wrapping the exterior of the bowl with stretch packing plastic film to secure the exterior while turning the interior.

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Initially, most wood bowl blanks are hardly ever perfectly balanced. Rarely will a bowl blank turn smoothly and at optimal lathe speed at first.

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Great info, thanks. Small point of clarification. The formula “9000/D” is what you meant to state. The phrase “Take the diameter (D) of the bowl divided by 9,000” would be written as “D/9000”. Example – “take 2 and divide by 5” is written “2/5”. I think what you meant to write was “Take 9000 and divide by the diameter (D) of the bowl”. Hope this helps. Bob

Hi! I’m Kent, a husband, dad, papa, graphic designer, photographer, artist, traveler, birder, dark chocolate lover and I’m addicted to turning wood bowls! Learn more about me, see the online courses I made for you, and join our group on Facebook. Ready for your wood bowl adventure? Click here to Get Started

At the bowl rim, the material is moving much quicker than we can keep up with, but at the center, it is so slow we must be patient and wait.

To illustrate this weird phenomenon try this experiment. If you can imagine it well enough in your mind, you may not need to go outside and try it, but it can be fun either way.

Now, walk twenty paces away from that post and walk a circle around the post keeping the post in the center of your circle. Count the seconds it takes to make one rotation out there.

If you are new to wood bowl turning, avoid turning pieces that have issues of loose bark, voids, rot, etc. There are too many variables and its best to not practice learning skills with poor quality wood.

The post represents the center axis of the turning bowl blank, and each path represents the speed of rotation at the center of the bowl compared to the outer rim.

I encourage you to put a piece of tape over an RPM readout display, if you have one, at least for a while. By blocking this information, you will not make as many assumptions, and you will probably pay more attention to the turning bowl blank.

When I was first introduced to this question, I thought for sure it was a trick question. “Both bowls are traveling at the same speed, 500 RPMs.” But that is not correct.

Use your intuition. If something seems off or odd, perhaps a subtly different sound becomes apparent, slow down the lathe a bit.

I’m just starting into this hobby and appreciate the information in this article…very informative…and something I’ll follow as I progress. I’d like to point out an error in your calculation statement…it should state “take 9000 and divide it by the diameter of the bowl”…the formula and calculations are ok and that’s what everyone is looking at, so it really isn’t much of an issue… Thanks again for article… Matt

After spinning wildly on the merry-go-round, in an instant, you were giggling in a pile on the ground because you couldn’t maintain that grip? Well, that’s what we don’t want to happen with a bowl blank on the lathe.

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Remember back to childhood when you and other kids played on the merry-go-round? Recall holding on for dear life as someone spun you as fast as they could?

When you’re learning any new skill, you’re basically trying to make repeatable patterns or movements to achieve an end result. As you consciously and subconsciously recall and repeat these learned movements, you form habits.

Hi Kent, I have a Nova 3000 and the main control board is toast. I have contacted Teknatool and dealers looking for a replacement part but I haven’t been able to get a response. Can you share any insight you might have regarding how you “adapted” your 3000 with a new motor and VFD? Thanks, Ray

Ray, I’d love to help with this issue, but I’m not an electrician, nor do I have a 3000. If you don’t get any help from the dealer or manufacturer, I’d suggest trying to find an electric motor repair shop and see if they can help. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent

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Thanks for the speed article. Just a comment re. the rule of thumb for speed: you stated it’s the diameter divided by 9000. It’s actually 9000 divided by the diameter. Not a big deal since the examples are correct.

Good morning…My search has brought me to you, with the a problem. How to keep a chuck on the spindle. My new chuck, VINWOX SCR4-4NV-SET 4” Wood Lathe Scroll Chuck Set, 4-Jaw Self-Centering Chuck Set, with Nickle electric Coating Chuck Body & 1″x8TPI thread & 3/4″x16TPI Adapter – Amazon.com “unravels” when I switch the lathe off. This lathe does not have reverse. The chuck does not have a set screw or “flats” at the rear to hold a wrench. Hand tighten only. So far I have caught it twice and missed it once. This happened last nite, first time using the chuck. I was turning a maple grill cover knob, about 2 1/2″ diam., at an elevated speed. If I reduce the rpm’s to a lower speed, it does not unravel. That is annoying and it shouldn’t be, I believe. I do not know the actual rpm’s, but I do not crank it up. Let’s say 75%. Would I do well to grind opposing “flats” to allow a crescent wrench on the rear of the chuck? Is there some sort of jam nut/washer that could be used? Teflon tape? Any ideas are appreciated…Thanks, Jack

Turning large bowl blanks are probably the most difficult to be patient with because they need to be turned slower than small blanks.

Now I don’t know if the 1,000 RPM threshold can be scientifically proven or if this is an urban myth started by a shop teacher in the 1960s, but it does seem to work.

“Take the diameter (D) of the bowl divided by 9,000.” This statement makes no sense. 10 divided by 9000 doesn’t square with you theory. Ever thought of just using Surface Feet / Minute as a guide?

Darell, Thank you for writing and sharing! I’d look online for a manual for the lathe. many are posted online. If that doesn’t work, try turning a small spindle and see which setting is fastest and which has the most torque. The faster settings (for spindle work) usually have less torque and many timnes the tool will stop the turning. I hope that helps a bit. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent

Just remember when you venture from spindle turning to the “real world of turning” and making bowls, the speed must come down. It’s no longer play time. Ha! I’m just kidding about that…sorta. ?

Avoid the temptation to turn beyond what is safe. If you need to, adopt the 1,000 RPM limit “bowl goes down” rule of thumb. I use that rule, and it works for me.

There is often a temptation to turn faster than what is considered safe, especially when you have acquired good turning skills and the bowl blank is turned to a balanced shape.

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A fixed speed lathe will be an issue with larger turnings. Based on the Diameter/9000 rule, I would recommend not exceeding a bowl diameter of 12″. Let me know if that helps.

The habit of thinking a fixed RPM readout of 800, for example, is “the” ideal speed for making finishing cuts is dangerous. If all the bowls you turn are four inches, perhaps this will work. When you place an 18-inch bowl on the lathe and think 800 RPMs is the standard speed you could get in trouble.

I have had a couple of bowls come off the lathe and skip across the floor, and my lathe speed was under 1,000 RPMs. By the way, those flying bowls were due to tenons that broke because of brittle, dry pecan wood, for the most part. That’s a whole other article. LOL

Further Reading you might enjoy:• WOOD LATHE VIBRATION SOLUTIONS – BOWL TURNING SMOOTHLY• 13 WAYS TO RUIN A WOODTURNED BOWL• FINISHING CUT – WOOD BOWL TURNING BEYOND THE BASICS• 10 BOWL TURNING BASICS – IMPORTANT FAQS ANSWERED

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When you pay attention to the subtle changes in sound, vibration, and the feel as you make cuts, you will be more in tune with the ideal lathe speed.

Hi Kent W, just picked up this article of yours on speed, the speed formula was just a wording error on your part, but may I ask is there any likely issues arise if a lower speed required, when as my machine does not go below “750 rpm” or is it a case of common sence prevails.

If the speed is under 1,000 RPMs, then a dislodged bowl blank is supposed to fall to the floor. Speeds faster than 1,000 RPMs can send a bowl upward and at your face or torso.

Good article. My question is how did you come up with 9,000 as the rule of thumb number to be used? Why not 7,500 or 10,000? I have seen other articles use 9,000 but no one explains why. Thanks, El Halley

I plan on saving this app on the speed you should ge at for turning, but how do I tell my speed if I don’t have speed setting. I’m working with a Beaver 3400 which I picked up used.

I’m not sure about the specifics for your lathe. I’d recommend finding a mechanical/electrical savvy friend to help or contact a small electric machine shop and see if they can help or give you advice.

I started turning on a lathe with a convenient RPM digital readout. At the time it seemed cool, but that wasn’t the greatest way to learn.

On the other hand, if you are more experienced, oddly shaped wood or wood with imperfections can make amazingly beautiful turned bowls. Just be aware of the hazards and take precautions.

Yikes! That’s scary indeed. I’m glad you’re ok now. Yes, keep that speed in check with the RPM gauge for now, but also pay attention to how it feels and sounds and you’ll know instinctively what speeds are best at different times. Also, no need to sand that fast, be sure to check out my sanding article too. All the best to you and be safe, Kent

Use common sense, pay attention to your turning bowl blank, know the limits based on each bowl size and you can make a beautiful bowl safely and efficiently.

Spindle turning lathe speeds can be much faster because of the much smaller diameter of wood material and the relatively small amount of mass compared to bowl blanks.

As you further progress in shaping the bowl, the blank will naturally become more balanced, and the lathe speed can be increased accordingly, but do not exceed safe limits for the size of bowl you are creating.

I do know, as wood bowl turners we need to be aware that larger bowl blanks are under much more force than smaller pieces.

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Kent, I am recovering from a stroke and have had to review your article to get back it turning bowls again. I have some right hand restrictions that make it almost impossible for me too sharpen tool and have resorted to using carbon carbide tools and been successful, although sanding much more! My main problem that I’ve used the method of gluing my blank to blank and cutting exterior and interteor then cutting the core off. I have been using this method fairly succssfully but have had some glue failure would like to see using a chuck would be better, but forget what size to look for. My lathe will turn max 12″. I”m trying to eliminate variables to make it enjoyabe again! I’m 84 and just turned my first bowl in 2019 and have 20 bowls succesfully. I live in Lady Lake.

Thomas, Thank you for writing and sharing! I’m glad you have more time to turn now…and more safely. Yes, the RPM can bite us if we’re not careful. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent

Gradually increase the lathe speed as your bowl takes shape and becomes more balanced, but don’t force the situation by ramping up the RPMs prematurely.

In this article, I will share with you a specific way to determine lathe speed, and I will also share an easy formula and an Wood Lathe Speed Calculatation with a general guideline chart of top wood lathe speeds.

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Stand right next to the post with your hand touching the post and begin to walk slowly around the post while counting off seconds.

If you dabble in spindle turning too, it can be tough to slow down the lathe to make a wood bowl. Spindle turning lathe speeds can reach two, three, four thousand RPMs and higher.

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As always I learned something new , you have a gift of making a point in easy language so anyone can follow along. I have been getting rid of old habits also like moving your whole body with your cut I fought it a long time but now that I put forth the effort its honestly easier to get a nice cut riding the bevel and moving the body. I did not know the speed of a 1000 to keep work from hitting in the face but I had one blow up on me I was turning between 850 -900 and it hit me in the chest lucky and that explain why it did not knock a tooth out. Thanks for good info as always

Lathe cutting speed chart pdffree

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Jack, Good question. And wow, that must be annoying. Does the chuck “lock” in place if you turn and apply pressure with the bowl gouge? It also sounds like you might be turning a bit too fast. Check out this article > https://turnawoodbowl.com/safe-wood-lathe-speed-calculation/ Also, try using a spacer/washer https://amzn.to/3X5cbjd this might help the threads to lock better. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent

I would like to start turning but not sure were to start, I have my grandfather lathe and some tools. The lathe is a Delta-Rockwell that you have to move the belts between the pulleys, this lathe is equipped with the pulleys on the lathe the motor and there is another piece with two more pulleys on a rod. I have it set up with the belt between lathe and bar and the other belt connected between motor and the bar. I don’t know the RPM of any the the setting. Im using the diagram from my Delta drill press for speed consideration and not sure how accurate it is. Any thoughts wold be greatly appreciated thanks.

Hi there, Just looking for my first lathe (Ontario Canada here) to pick up where I left off 45 + years ago in school shop! There is a Busy Bee Machines lathe – Craftex CX 803- that seems a good start for a new lathe, but slowest spindle speed is 600., and max size is 14 inch diameter. Should i consider something that will go even slower to increase my margin of safety for 10-14 inch bowls down the road ? I will of course start smaller ?

However, before I share this, it’s important to note that this rule of thumb does not apply to large bowls. Large bowls MUST be turned slower.

9,000 is the number that works best for larger, more dangerous bowls. It seems a bowl around ten inches in diameter should not go faster than 1,000 rpm. I suggest keeping all bowls under 1,000 rpm. As the diameter increases, dividing by 9,000 proportionally reduces the maximum rpm based on the larger bowl size.

Start by attaching a bowl blank to the lathe. Always start with the lathe speed turned all the way down, then slowly increase the lathe speed.

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Every piece of wood you put on your lathe is different. Even if two bowl blanks were cut from the same tree or even the same log, they could be very different.

I am finding your articles very helpful and I am learning a lot and always looking forward for your new articles. I am just turning spindles fr the time being but later I will try to do some bowl turning. In Malta timber is so expensive and blanks are very rare to get but every now and then I go to some furniture makers and try to buy some offcuts which I still have to buy.

That centrifugal force playing on the bowl blank will make the blank fly off the lathe if the conditions become too much for the blank to handle. Just like the kid sliding off the merry-go-round.

The reason some are questioning the formula for bowl turning speed I think, is the fact that in the text you say “Take the diameter (D) of the bowl divided by 9,000” but you actually mean “take 9000 & divide it by the diameter (D)”. Hope this helps.

I inherited an old Grizzly 14″ lathe, It has two spring loaded pulleys that are supposed to spread apart to adjust the speed. However, the pulleys are aluminum and the shaft is steel (a very bad combination!) and they seize. Do you know where I might find a variable speed motor and speed control. All the sources I’ve checked so far would cost more than the lathe is worth. I love turning bowls but the lack of speed control is a problem.

As we make larger bowls, we are adding much more speed and stress on the bowl blank. That added speed on the bowl size creates additional force that needs to be appreciated.

Hi, everybody, I come from Malta I do not know if everyone knows where that is? It is a Mediterranean country just below Sicilytis an island full of sunshine. Anyway, that is just y introduction. I have just bought a lathe an Austrian lathe Holzmann D460fxl, it is not such a great thing but for me, as an enthusiast, it is great (although the seller gave me a hard time).

Yes, as long as you link the page you found the material, give credit to http://www.TurnAWoodBowl.com and don’t share the material on the internet.

It’s really the bowls over 10″ that we need to careful with excess speed. This equation starts affecting the bowls at 10″ and larger, and it’s really not relevant for the smaller bowls.

True up the face of the bowl blank and the side as well. With these two areas smoothed, you should be able to increase the lathe speed gradually.

What this means is that in one revolution the lathe turns both bowls once, but the 10” bowl blank’s outer edge is moving almost two and a half times faster than the 4” blank in the same amount of time.

In a moment I will share a commonly circulated wood lathe speed formula, but there is another, better way, I want to share first-human intuition.

If you have a 4” bowl blank and a 10” bowl blank on a lathe turning at 500 RPMs (revolutions per minute), which bowl’s outer edge is turning faster?

Yes, we need to “dance” at the lathe. LOL As much as most of us guys don’t like dancing, we have to do it to get smooth cuts.

For clarity, this is the maximum speed under any conditions. Meaning, if the bowl blank is turned smooth and true and there is zero vibration still DO NOT exceed these lathe speeds based on the diameter of the bowl.

Thanks for sharing. Yes, I mention that spindle work is done at much higher speeds. And I agree that some don’t follow rules.

Jack, I don’t have any lathe plans. But I can tell you a couple of important details. A variable speed motor that can turn as low as 25-50 rpm, up to 1500-2000 rpm is ideal. Also, the center point of the headstock and tailstock need to be perfectly in line with one another. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Enjoy the project! Kent

If you’ve read my other articles you know I try to not generalize. And wood is definitely a huge component in this equation that can not be generalized.

We must slow down the bowl gouge at the center point because we have to wait for the wood to rotate across the cutting bevel.

Remove extremely loose bark or material by hand before you begin to turn. Use a screwdriver and pry out debris, so it does not become shrapnel while turning.

Paul, Thank you for writing and sharing! Great information. I’ll have to find one and check it out. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent

Cutting speed chartfor different materials

I am Jack from Mombasa, Kenya, Africa . I liked your article. I don’t have a large, but planning to fabricate one for both 6 ft spindles and bowls. Any sketches or drawings ?.

There are many factors to consider when determining lathe speed. The size of the bowl blank and the type and condition of the wood are the most critical elements to scrutinize.

Boy have I learned about lathe speed the hard way. A trip to the ER and 15 stitches! I was turned apiece of salvaged maple butcher block into a 1 1/2″ x 12″ platter. I was in the final sanding phase and spinning pretty fast when kaboom! The work piece came apart. One piece hit we in the chest and the other whacked my pinky finger really good. I first thought of amputation or broken bones. But when I gather the nerve to look I saw everything still attached but definitely messed up. The next day I looked at the work piece and saw that a glue joint had failed. Crystallized glue stuck to both sides of the joint, but no torn wood grain. So the glue just let go. I had no idea how fast I was turning because the lathe is an old Teknatool 3000 that I adapted with a new 3 phase 2 hp motor and VFD. The scale on the machine was no longer valid. I decided to figure something out, so during my convalescence I researched spindle tachometer. I found one that uses a small magnet on the turning spindle that is read by a sensor and displays RPM on a digital read out. I ORDERED IT ON Amazon and soon had it working. So how fast had I been going when things went South? Probably 1500 rpm, or WAY TOO FAST! Now that I have a functional tachometer I feel safe again.

The outer edge of the 4” bowl has a circumference of just over 12.5 inches. While the 10” bowl has a circumference of 31.41 inches.

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Know the limits for the size and condition of the bowl blank you are turning. Don’t exceed those limits and all should be fine.

So why all the talk about size and rotation and physics? Because we must understand we can’t simply turn up the lathe as fast as we want without there being consequences.

This site is all about the art of making wooden bowls. If I were to explain all aspects of all turning processes it would simply be too much.