M. Saban-Smith Woodturning

01/09/2026

Catches happen. Sometimes the kind where the wood stops spinning, and your heart doesn't. A moment of inattention, a lapse in technique, and suddenly the piece has a deep gouge across its surface..

Catches happen. Sometimes the kind where the wood stops spinning, and your heart doesn't. A moment of inattention, a lapse in technique, and suddenly the piece has a deep gouge across its surface..

31/08/2026

A little preview of Tuesday's film: my top tips for reducing the amount of sanding you need to do when turning bowls. It's one of those jobs we all do more of than we need to, and this video will help you improve you bowl sanding technique.

29/08/2026

A sculptural piece, turned and finished with metal pyro work. Film now on YouTube (link in comments)

28/08/2026

"New Course: Colour and Lacquering Masterclass" -

Most of us finish a piece with oil or wax, and both do a good job. A surface can be taken a great deal further than that, and it is what our new colour and lacquer masterclass is about.

27/08/2026

What PPE do you need for woodturning?
🛡️New Ask Martin short a guide in about two minutes.
Safety glasses as a bare minimum. A full face shield with a polycarbonate visor is better. A powered respirator covers face and lungs in one. FFP2 as a minimum for masks, FFP3 if you're spraying.
Plus dust extraction, or at the very least open windows and a mask on for as long as possible.
Woodturning demands respect. Good PPE is a straightforward place to start.

Got a question? Drop it in the comments below.
Link in bio.

26/08/2026

I had so much fun making this piece for my daughter's birthday recently.
A piece of mallee burr turned into a sculptural form with copper patina, inlaid metal powders with some pyrography thrown in, too.
You can see the making-off video via the link in the comments.

25/08/2026

My new film is now available. This one is inspiration for sculptural turning including pyrography, metal paints and metal inlays all coming together on a sculpted piece of mallee burr. And behind it, a 21st birthday gift for my daughter. I'd love to know what you make for the people you love. Link in comments

23/08/2026

This mallee burr sat in the workshop for years, all that gorgeous gnarly wood waiting for the right thing to become. The story behind how it became my daughter's birthday present is coming this Tuesday night.

22/08/2026

22/08/2026

Do you get spiral marks in your spindle turning? The difference is whether the bevel was floating across the wood or being leaned into. That's it.

I show you the full breakdown on my YouTube channel this week. Link in comments