Printable turning project planner
One sheet per session: list the pieces, read the blank sizes off the plan rows (allowances pre-applied), tick through the pre-cut checks. Green wood is cheap until you waste it — this is how you don't.
Turning project plannerdate: ______ · bodger: ______
| Piece / project | Finished Ø ″ | Finished L ″ | Blank Ø ″ | Blank L ″ | Species / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sizing rule: blank Ø = finished Ø + ¼″ (round up to ½″) · blank L = finished L + 1½″ (¾″ mounting waste per end).
Reference: common sizes
| Finished Ø × L | Start with a blank of | Typical piece |
|---|---|---|
| 1″ × 8″ | 1.5″ × 9.5″ | spoon handle |
| 1.5″ × 10″ | 2″ × 11.5″ | potato masher |
| 2″ × 12″ | 2.5″ × 13.5″ | rolling pin body |
| 2.5″ × 17″ | 3″ × 18.5″ | chair leg |
| 3″ × 6″ | 3.5″ × 7.5″ | mallet head |
| 4″ × 3″ | 4.5″ × 4.5″ | small goblet |
Session checks
- Blank riven (split) where possible — grain follows the piece
- Pith excluded — no dark core anywhere in the blank
- Blank Ø = finished Ø + ¼″, rounded up to nearest ½″
- Blank L = finished L + 1½″ (¾″ waste each end)
- Hand-spun clearance circle before first cut
- Face shield on; rest height & gap set per tool
How turners use this planner
- Plan the whole session at once — blanks from one log share grain direction and moisture; cutting them together saves setup and waste.
- Tenons get their own allowance — for chair work, add the tenon length to the finished length before applying the rule, or the rung comes up short.
- Rough green, finish dry — mark turned-rough rows in pencil; when the piece has gone out of round, take the finishing cuts and re-check the plan.
Setting the rig up to match? The tool-rest setup card has the heights and gaps — and the bodging guide covers the rest of the workshop.