Lathe
A lathe is a fundamental machine used in woodworking to create rounded or cylindrical pieces. Think of it as a machine that spins wood while a craftsperson uses tools to shape it - like a potter's wheel, but for wood. Woodworkers use lathes to make things like table legs, bowls, baseball bats, and decorative posts. There are different sizes of lathes, from small benchtop models for hobbyists to large industrial machines. When you see this term in a resume, it indicates that the person has hands-on experience with this essential woodworking equipment.
Examples in Resumes
Created custom furniture pieces using Lathe and Wood Lathe techniques
Operated Lathe machinery to produce decorative columns and spindles
Trained junior woodworkers in safe Lathe and Wood Turning operations
Typical job title: "Woodturners"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Woodturners
Online Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you approach training someone new to lathe work?
Expected Answer: A senior woodworker should discuss safety protocols, basic tool handling, speed control, and progression from simple to complex projects. They should mention supervision requirements and common beginner mistakes to watch for.
Q: What considerations do you take when selecting wood for lathe projects?
Expected Answer: Should explain how different wood types behave on the lathe, moisture content importance, grain patterns, and how these factors affect the final product quality and safety.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What safety procedures do you follow when operating a lathe?
Expected Answer: Should mention proper protective equipment, speed settings for different wood sizes, tool rest positioning, and wood blank inspection before starting.
Q: Can you explain your process for creating matching pieces on a lathe?
Expected Answer: Should describe measuring techniques, use of templates or calipers, and methods for ensuring consistency across multiple pieces.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic tools used in lathe work?
Expected Answer: Should be able to identify and explain the use of basic tools like roughing gouges, spindle gouges, and skew chisels.
Q: What is the proper speed setting for different sized wood pieces?
Expected Answer: Should understand that larger pieces require slower speeds, and be able to explain basic speed calculations based on wood diameter.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic lathe operation and safety
- Simple spindle work
- Basic tool handling
- Understanding of wood types
Mid (2-5 years)
- Bowl turning
- Complex spindle work
- Pattern replication
- Tool maintenance
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced project design
- Training and supervision
- Complex shape creation
- Custom tool modification
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic safety procedures
- Unfamiliarity with different wood types and their properties
- Lack of proper tool maintenance experience
- No experience with speed and feed rate adjustments
