West Bay Woodturners

Promote woodturning education and woodturning as an art form

Logo of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). West Bay Woodturners is an official chapter of AAW.

Join us on the third Wednesday of each month in Los Altos, CA! Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, our doors are open for all who love woodturning. Guests are always welcome to explore and learn with us.

Next Meeting

Wednesday, October 21, 2026
7 PM – 9 PM.

Bridges Church (2d floor)
625 Magdalena Ave
Los Altos, CA 94024

A building where members of West Bay Woodturners meet monthly. Bridges Church in Los Altos, CA.
Click to see map

Program

October demo: Don Bonnett will demonstrate how to turn unique finials.

Finial by Don Bonnett
Finials by Don Bonnett
Finial by Don Bonnett

President’s challenge:

October 2026: turn one of these:

  • An eccentric multi-axis turning – those without a purpose-built eccentric chuck can use the between centers with offsets method (see below)
  • A bowl (or other shape) with an off center hollow – those without a purpose-built offset chuck can use the rotating faceplate technique (see below)
Eccentric bowl turned from dark wood
Eccentric bowl by Brad Bond
Maple Burl Bowl by Al Holstein
Maple Burl Bowl by Al Holstein
An offset bowl decorated with a rose engine and embellished with rotary bits by Brad Bond.
Embellished offset bowl by Brad Bond

Read the most recent newsletter or email us at info@westbaywoodturners.com for more details.

If you are looking for an old HTML-based website, use this link.

West Bay Woodturners (WBW) has promoted woodturning education in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1994.

Since 2013, WBW has proudly maintained its non-profit 501(c)(3) status. Your donations will help in our mission.

Quick Links

Logo of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW)

American Association of Woodturners (AAW)

AWW is dedicated to advancing the art and craft of woodturning worldwide through education.

Logo of Santa Clara Valley Wood Carving club: a woodpecker on a tree.

Santa Clara Valley Carvers is a local woodcarving club with a long history of collaboration with WBW.

Recent Newsletters

  • August Picnic: WBW & SVW Picnic at Cuesta Park, Mountain View.

    Woodturners Newsletter, September 2026

  • June Program: thread chasing demo by Denis Lillis. President’s challenge: Turn a Slip Fit Box.

    Woodturners Newsletter, July 2026

  • May Program: Dean Caudle on removing the foot and finishing the bottom. President’s challenge: Turn a lidded box.

    Woodturners Newsletter, June 2026

Review all newsletters.

  • A Day at Woodturning Shop in Santa Cruz Mountains

    A Day at Woodturning Shop in Santa Cruz Mountains

    A successful sawdust session was held at Dennis’s woodturning shop in the Santa Cruz mountains in January 2025. Seventeen members learned about sanding strategies, wood processing, and shop setup and enjoyed good company and beautiful scenery.

    —

    by

    Roman Chernikov
  • Drying Wood

    Drying Wood

    Drying wood is a crucial step in woodturning, with techniques varying widely. Common methods include boiling, bagging, and sealing, each offering distinct advantages in reducing cracking and speeding up the drying process. Turners often choose based on wood type, available tools, and personal preference. Understanding these methods helps produce stable, beautiful wooden pieces

    —

    by

    David Vannier

  • Hands-on Open Shop – My Take

    23 October 2023 – Thanks to Claude Godcharles for making the Palo Alto Adult School wood shop available for the hands-on follow up to David Vannier’s “Grind, Grind, Grind” presentation at the October 2023 meeting, and to those who helped stage, mentor, demonstrate, explain, and clean up. About 15 to 20 people attended and participated…

    —

    by

    Edgar Whipple
  • Plate: chip carved, mid-century, Hutsul (Ukrainian)

    Plate: chip carved, mid-century, Hutsul (Ukrainian)

    This plate was among my grandfather’s items, which were mostly intarsia of his own making. It was probably given to him shortly after the second world war. The back of the plate bears an inscription, written in pencil, in English and German. It has been obscured by age, but what I can make out is:…

    —

    by

    Edgar Whipple
  • Food Safe Finishes

    Food Safe Finishes

    Food-safe finishes are essential for woodturning and woodworking projects that come into contact with food or drink. When selecting a finish, consider if it forms a surface film or penetrates the wood, whether it uses drying or non-drying oils, and other key factors to ensure safety and durability.

    —

    by

    Edgar Whipple
  • Lathe Safety Guidelines (AAW)

    Lathe Safety Guidelines (AAW)

    Follow American Association of Woodturners’ safety guidelines for a safe turning experience. Wear protective gear, check equipment, and exercise caution with damaged stock. Familiarize yourself with these essential rules to minimize risks and ensure an enjoyable woodturning experience.

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    by

    West Bay Woodturners