- 1). Cut a piece of wood to the maximum dimensions of its finished size. If you are turning a profiled candlestick that has a maximum diameter of two inches, cut a square piece of wood that is two inches by two inches by the planned length of the candlestick.
- 2). Mount the piece of wood on the lathe by pinning it between the headstock and the footstock. The headstock is the spinning point that is attached to the lathe's motor. The footstock is the corresponding point that is mounted on a base that slides up and down the lathe.
- 3). Adjust the tool rest so that it is as close to the piece of wood as possible without touching it. After you have secured the tool rest, turn the piece of wood through several rotations by hand to be sure that it doesn't come into contact with the tool rest.
- 4). Put on a full face shield for safety. Turn on the lathe. Rest your cutting tool firmly on top of the tool rest and slowly bring the point into contact with the spinning wood.
- 5). Cut away the surface of the wood in shallow passes using your cutting tool. Continue cutting until you have transformed the square piece of wood into a cylindrical dowel.
- 6). Using various sizes and shapes of chisels and gouge, shape the surface of the piece of wood to your desired design.
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