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 (Great Oaks Hospice) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Acorn Box | Bowl | Intermediate | Yes | John Hawkswell | Sept-26 | 2026 |
 | 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