In this latest video series, I introduce you to segmented turner, Don Leman. Mr. Leman shares his insights, his sense of design, and his approach to this increasingly popular branch of woodturning.

Turning segmented objects is similar in many ways to traditional woodturning. But there are subtle differences - finesse and patience are a must. In the video featured on this page, guest artisan, Don Leman, shares his thoughts on how to approach the turning of segmented objects.

The blank glue-ups, which are the core of segmented objects, often contain dozens or hundreds of precisely made pieces and can take days or weeks to prepare. This type of construction can sometimes be more fragile than a solid piece of wood, especially during the early roughing out stage of the turn. But here, Mr. Leman describes how he minimizes the risk of “blowing up” the piece. Success rides on his mental focus and proper gouge & hollowing tool selection. Watch this video and find out how Mr. Leman approaches the craft and his special appreciation for the magic that comes from putting a complex segmented stack on the lathe and “putting steel to wood”. (3.5 Minute Video)