Turners Anonymous is a group of woodturning enthusiasts from the Tri-State area surrounding Pittsburgh. We love all things about woodturning… the satisfaction of a sharp clean cut; the smell of freshly sliced cherry shavings; an excuse to buy new, expensive tools; and most importantly, the chance to help others to explore and enjoy the hobby as much as we do.

Club Meetings
When -> Meetings are 9am every 3rd Saturday of the Month.
Where -> Contemporary Crafts (Timmons Studio) 5688 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15201 [ Google Map Link ]

What to expect at a club meeting
- 9:00am fellowship with coffee and donuts
- 9:45am comments from the board
- 9:50am demonstration
- 11:45am raffle & instant gallery
- Clean up

Non-members, guests and visitors are always welcome

See other club member benefits here

If you know of a tree that has down, or of wood that is looking for a home, please send an email to the WebMaster (include pics if possible). We love to reclaim wood into beautiful woodturnings!

NEW for 2026-2027 Season. Behold the club question box!
Ask any wood turning or club related question, anonymously if you wish, and get it answered at the next club meeting.
Ask a Question

The club is on break over the summer.

..... allowing plenty of time for this year's Summer Challenge!!

2026 Summer Challenge

This year's theme will be "Something from Nature". It could be something as simple as an egg (think basket of), or a flower (think vase of), a stump box, or a gnome (yes... gnomes are legal), or a mushroom, birdhouse, or.....the options are endless.

Craft your entry/entries over the summer break and bring them to our September 19th meeting where club members will have a chance to vote for their favorites.

The winner, along with fame and adoration from club members will get a 1 year free club membership.

Tip of the month - July

Use a White Background to Check Your Profile

It can be surprisingly difficult to judge the shape of a turning while the lathe is running, especially when the workshop background is cluttered.

Place a sheet of white poster board, foam board, or light-colored cardboard behind the workpiece. The clean background makes the silhouette much easier to see and helps reveal flat spots, uneven curves, and abrupt transitions.

This is especially useful when shaping bowls, goblets, finials, and spindle work where a smooth, continuous curve is important. Step back occasionally and view the piece from several angles before making the final cuts.

Keep the background safely behind the lathe and well clear of the spinning workpiece, chuck, and tool rest.

Next Meeting - September 19th

Obliquity Segmented Bowl - Pace Nalbone
- What happens when a spherical form changes axes?

Utilizing standard segmented form practices, laminated boards are ripped and segmented to stage a roughly spherical bowl form. Depending on the final depth (and comfort of the turner), roughing out the object in halves can reduce tool loading. After smoothing, the halves are joined and gauged to match a target radii - the closer to spherical the less wobble. Using a jam chuck method, the form is tilted to form a new rotational axis, and levelled off both top and bottom. Additional layers are added to form a lip & foot, after which final shaping and polishing can commence. The resulting object yields a spiral illusion, without needing to dive into custom multi-bevel faceting..

Members, guests and visitors welcome

Sept 11-12 - A Fair in the Park - Mellon Park

A Fair in the Park is held in the lush surroundings of Pittsburgh’s Mellon Park. An estimated 20,000 dedicated visitors enjoy the opportunity to interact with approximately 85 regional and national artists working in a variety of mediums including clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, and two-dimensional art.

All members of The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh are eligible to participate in AFIP. Each year approximately 60% of the artists at the Fair are members of The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh. The remainder of the artists are selected by a jury from a large pool of national and international applicants.
This public event is free of charge, held rain or shine.

Turners Anonymous will have a demonstration booth throughout the festival.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!This is a great way to promote your passion and fellow/mentorship with other club members.

May 9th Meeting

Kim Romanko gave a great and wide-ranging demonstration of several things from nature in support of this year's Summer Challenge. Taking requests on the fly to create flowers, apples, and acorns with tips, tricks, and insights Kim picked up along the way.

What awaits the winner of the Summer Challenge? Fame, glory, and a 1-year club membership.

Turners Anonymous would like to thank all of our supporting vendors

Please support the businesses that support our club.

RMP Finishes (Formerly Real Milk Paint Co.)

Turners Anonymous is proud to be a member Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW)

Turners Anonymous is proud to be one of 350+ worldwide chapters of the American Association of Woodturners. We encourage you to join this fine organization. Benefits can be found here -> AAW Membership Benefits 2026

The American Association of Woodturners(AAW) is an international, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. AAW's mission is to provide education, information, and organization to those interested in turning wood.