Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Starting a woodworking hobby is a great way to learn a creative and functional skill, ...

Wood turning can be a lot of fun, and there are some pretty amazing things that you can make once you have the proper tools. But you're going to need access to a lathe before you can get started.

Jim Jacobs started woodturning more than 40 years ago in high school, but quit in short order. “I wasn’t having fun,” says Jacobs, from Hastings, Minnesota. “My teacher, lathe and tools were not that ...