Lathes Education and Training

Find the best lathes education and training to further your career

Lathes are an essential piece of machinery in any furniture workshop or machine shop. A wood lathe provides the means to shape and decorate furniture, while metal and industrial lathes can be used in a variety of applications, including threading or boring metal pieces. A lathe operator will need to pick a specialty and take courses designed specifically for woodworking or metal.

There are many resources for learning to properly use a turning lathe for either metal or wood products. Most vocational schools offer a variety of classes that teach lathe operating skills. You can find many options, including:

1. Wood and metal lathe training materials.

2. Short seminars that teach lathe techniques and safety.

3. Online courses that teach you how to use and maintain a lathe machine.

 

Refer to written instruction manuals for lathes and lathe tools

The best way to learn about a specific tool, such as a lathe, is to read the full manual. This will tell any operator the specific functions of the lathe, what additional tools can be used with a particular model, and how to troubleshoot mechanical or safety issues.
Try: Quarterbore provides a long list of manuals for various models of metal lathes. If you are working with wood lathes, Jet Tools provides online manuals for each of its wood lathe models.

Choose wood lathe courses and seminars for hands-on experience

There are a wide variety of lathe applications for work and hobbies, from decorative woodturning to practical design for high productivity furniture shops. You can find plenty of seminars that cover the basics of using a lathe. However, there are also many seminars and courses offered that can teach you to make specific products with lathes.
Try: Highland Woodworking provides a variety of evening and weekend classes for lathe professionals and hobbyists. Palomar College provides lathe courses in such areas as furniture making and mill work.

Sign up for classes to learn about working with metal lathes

Metal lathes are similar to wood lathes in that you have the ability to sculpt and shape materials. But because wood and metal are so different, it takes specialized training to produce metal parts. This training can be used for work on vehicles and other mechanical projects.
Try: Mid-State Technical College can provide vocational courses that teach all of the skills needed to run a metal lathe. Southwest Georgia Technical College provides a lathe operator certificate for just 29 credit hours of study in machine tooling and lathe operating skills. The State of Michigan offers extensive information on training and apprenticeship opportunities for lathe operators.

 

• If you want to find teaching materials specific to a brand or model, ask professional who offer lathes for sale if they have additional training materials available.

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