Free Project Plans
Below you can search over 60 free project plans for woodturning. There are lots of things you can make on a lathe, but deciding which one to tackle can be a problem! Below are a selection of project plans which will hopefully give you inspiration to get onto your lathe and be creative! ;-). While these plans are provided free of charge, we would appreciate a photo of anything you make from them. Just send it to web@gaw.org.uk and include a few details about the wood and finishes used etc. Also, if you encounter any problems with a plan then tell us and we’ll look into improving it.
Finally, if you are not a member of the GAW then you’re still welcome to use these free project plans for woodturning, but please consider making a small donation to charity. Either the Club’s charity of the year (Linc) or another of your choice.
All plans are in either PDF or Word format and are categorised by :
- type (spindle, bowl, both or non-turning);
- level (beginner, intermediate or advanced);
- single or multi-part;
- details of the creator and date of publication.
If you’re after something specific try typing in the search box 😉
| Photo | Item | Type | Difficulty | Multi-part? | Creator | Published | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Father Christmas Gonk | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Sept-25 | 2025 |
 | Pen making guide | Spindle | Beginner | No | Phil Yerburgh | Aug-25 | 2025 |
 | Goblet | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Aug-25 | 2025 |
 | Cotton reel tank | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Nov-24 | 2024 |
 | Chalice for Novice turner competition | Spindle | Beginner | No | Martyn Edgley | Sep-24 | 2024 |
 | Involute Candlestick from March 24 demo | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | Robert Till | Mar-24 | 2024 |
 | Space Rocket | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Feb-23 | 2023 |
 | Racing Car | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Nov-22 | 2022 |
 | Willie Worm | Both | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Mar-22 | 2022 |
 | Table Lamp | Both | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Jan-22 | 2022 |
 | Mushroom box | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Oct-21 | 2021 |
 | Homemade off centre screw chuck | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Warner | Mar-21 | 2021 |
 | Pillar Clock | Both | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Mar-21 | 2021 |
 | Golden Caliper | Non turning | Beginner | No | Keith Fenton | Jan-21 | 2021 |
 | Christmas Carousel (Picture) | Both | Advanced | Yes | Colwin Way | Nov-20 | 2020 |
| Christmas Carousel plans ? part 1 | Both | Advanced | Yes | Colwin Way | Nov-20 | 2020 |
| Christmas Carousel plans ? part 2 | Both | Advanced | Yes | Colwin Way | Nov-20 | 2020 |
| Christmas Carousel plans ? part 3 | Both | Advanced | Yes | Colwin Way | Nov-20 | 2020 |
| Christmas Carousel plans ? part 4 | Both | Advanced | Yes | Colwin Way | Nov-20 | 2020 |
 | Cup Urn | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Nov-20 | 2020 |
 | Bird Nesting box | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | May-20 | 2020 |
 | Easy to make Centre finder | Non turning | Beginner | No | John Warner | May-20 | 2020 |
 | Decorated Table Light | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Jan-20 | 2020 |
 | Axminster Colouring Process – how to do it | Non turning | Beginner | No | Keith Fenton | Feb-20 | 2020 |
 | Toy car | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Feb-20 | 2020 |
 | Ron The Ram | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Feb-22 | 2022 |
 | Kaleidoscope kit assembly instructions | Non turning | Beginner | No | Axminster | Aug-20 | 2020 |
 | Textured box based on Steve Heeley demo | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Apr-20 | 2020 |
 | Marble run | Bowl | Beginner | No | Anon | Oct-19 | 2019 |
 | Multi Axis Candlestick | Both | Intermediate | Yes | Rick Dobney | Oct-19 | 2019 |
 | Box project | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Nov-19 | 2019 |
 | Bird House | Both | Beginner | Yes | Robert Till | May-19 | 2019 |
 | Hedgehog pine cone | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Jun-19 | 2019 |
 | Hinged box | Bowl | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Jun-19 | 2019 |
 | Candlestick Folk | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Jul-19 | 2019 |
 | Duck – Jemima Puddleduck | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Aug-19 | 2019 |
 | Woody Woodpecker | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Sep-18 | 2018 |
 | Percy the Pig | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Feb-22 | 2022 |
 | Mushroom | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | May-18 | 2018 |
 | Egg Project | Spindle | Beginner | No | Dave Appleby | Mar-18 | 2018 |
 | Christmas angel | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Dec-18 | 2018 |
 | Pine Christmas tree | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Sep-17 | 2017 |
 | Platter | Bowl | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Nov-17 | 2017 |
 | Miniature Nest Box | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | May-17 | 2017 |
 | Classic goblet | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Jan-17 | 2017 |
 | Segmented pen blank | Spindle | Intermediate | Yes | Frans Brown | Jan-17 | 2017 |
 | Apple Project | Spindle | Beginner | No | Dave Appleby | Oct-16 | 2016 |
 | Tippe-Top plan | Both | Beginner | Yes | Anon | Oct-16 | 2016 |
 | Bowl Jaw Set Hole Plan (see 043) | Non turning | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Aug-16 | 2016 |
 | Bud Vase | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Aug-16 | 2016 |
 | Small Bowl Project | Bowl | Beginner | No | Anon | Aug-16 | 2016 |
 | Egg and egg cup | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Sep-15 | 2015 |
 | Egg and egg cup – Actual size template | Non turning | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Sep-15 | 2015 |
 | Spinning top | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Mar-15 | 2015 |
 | Classic Light Pull Plan (see 047) | Spindle | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Jul-15 | 2015 |
 | Actual size template for classic light pull (see 046) | Non turning | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | Jul-15 | 2015 |
 | Natural Edge Bowl | Bowl | Beginner | No | John Hawkswell | May-14 | 2014 |
 | Demo Handout – Candle stick | Both | Intermediate | Yes | Bryan Milham | Apr-14 | 2014 |
 | Garden Dibber | Spindle | Beginner | No | Anon | Mar-13 | 2013 |
 | Chuck and Apple Project | Spindle | Beginner | No | Dave Appleby | Jun-13 | 2013 |
 | Tazza | Both | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Jul-13 | 2013 |
 | Platter | Bowl | Beginner | No | Colin Fulbrook | Jun-12 | 2012 |
 | Vacuum chuck for £10 or less | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Jul-12 | 2012 |
 | Bowl Jaw Set (see 045) | Spindle | Beginner | Yes | John Hawkswell | Dec-12 | 2012 |
 | Christmas Tree Ornament | Spindle | Beginner | No | Frans Brown | Nov-11 | 2011 |
 | Light Pull | Spindle | Beginner | No | Frans Brown | Nov-11 | 2011 |
 | Honey Dipper | Spindle | Beginner | No | Frans Brown | Nov-11 | 2011 |
 | Honey Pot | Bowl | Beginner | Yes | Frans Brown | Nov-11 | 2011 |
 | Platter | Bowl | Beginner | No | Frans Brown | Nov-11 | 2011 |
 | Paper Knife | Spindle | Beginner | No | Frans Brown | Dec-11 | 2011 |
 | Gavel and Anvil Project | Both | Intermediate | Yes | GB | Dec-00 | 2000 |
Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay