Woodturner Food, Wood & Garment Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Woodturner Do?
Woodturners use a lathe to remove superfluous material from wood. The lathe turns the workpiece around its axis, as shape tools are used to obtain the desired shape.
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Where Do I Start?
Design Principles
The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Woodturner
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialDesign Principles knowledge
The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialQuality Standards knowledge
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTypes Of Wood knowledge
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWood Cuts knowledge
Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWoodworking Processes knowledge
Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWoodworking Tools knowledge
The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialLathe Machine Parts knowledge
The different parts of a lathe machine and their applications, such as the compound, the bed, the sadle, the cross slide, the cutting tool, the lathe dog and more.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTypes Of Lathe Tools knowledge
Types of tools used for the lathe machining process such as high-speed steel tools, carbide-tipped tools and carbide insert tools.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialManipulate Wood skill
Manipulate the properties, shape and size of wood.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTend Lathe skill
Tend a lathe designed for cutting manufacturing processes on metal, wooden, plastic materials and others, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWear Appropriate Protective Gear skill
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWork Safely With Machines skill
Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAvoid Tear-Out In Woodworking skill
Use techniques to prevent the fibres of wood materials from tearing away, which produces a highly damaged looking surface, thus greatly reducing the value of the specific product.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInspect Wood Materials skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPosition Cross Slide Of A Lathe skill
Position, by turning a specific lever, the cross slide of a lathe machine perpendicularly, calculating the size of the workpiece and the type of lathe cutting tools used for ideal …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTurn Wood skill
Turn wood in chiefly two methods, spindle and faceplate turning. The key difference between these two is the orientation of the wood grain relative to the axis of the lathe.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Turning Tools skill
Use turning tools such as gouges and chisels to skin off rounded areas or cut new shapes in the wood.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 25 displayed)
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OptionalCutting Technologies knowledge
The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Daily Use Goods knowledge
The manufacturing of items used in the daily life, personal use or daily practice. These products include protective safety equipment, drawing equipment, stamps, umbrellas, cigarette lighters, baskets, candles, and many …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Sports Equipment knowledge
The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski's, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalSanding Techniques knowledge
The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalSawing Techniques knowledge
Various sawing techniques for using manual as well as electric saws.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTimber Products knowledge
Key features, advantages and limitations of the different timbers and timber based products sold at a company and where to access this information.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Furniture knowledge
The manufacture of all types of office, shop, kitchen or other furniture such as chairs, tables, sofas, shelves, benches and more, in various types of material such as wood, glass, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Wood Finishes skill
Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCheck Quality Of Raw Materials skill
Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalConsult Technical Resources skill
Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDispose Of Non-Hazardous Waste skill
Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalIdentify Hazards In The Workplace skill
Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInspect Quality Of Products skill
Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalKeep Records Of Work Progress skill
Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMeet Contract Specifications skill
Meet contract specifications, schedules and manufacturers' information. Check that the work can be carried out in the estimated and allocated time.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Automated Machines skill
Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Wood Sawing Equipment skill
Operate various machinery and equipment to cut wood in different sizes and shapes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Machine Maintenance skill
Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRecord Production Data For Quality Control skill
Keep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalReport Defective Manufacturing Materials skill
Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSand Wood skill
Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up The Controller Of A Machine skill
Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine skill
Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTroubleshoot skill
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDistinguish Wood Quality skill
Course recommendations coming soon.