Woodturning:
Form and Formula

On 180 quality pages, discover how timeless design principles can transform your turning. This book makes the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio simple, practical, and ready to use at the lathe.

With clear explanations, step-by-step projects, and inspiration from world-class turners, you’ll learn how to design and create pieces that look right, feel right, and stand out.

Woodturning is far more than good technique. It’s about proportion, balance, and form. Some pieces feel instantly “right,” others do not. This book explores the why and the how.

In Woodturning: Form and Formula, Martin Saban-Smith RPT draws on the timeless principles of the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio, showing how they can guide your eye and your hand at the lathe. With practical projects, clear guidance, and thoughtful reflection, this book helps you bring harmony into your turning.

Form and Formula is about curiosity, creativity, and joy at the lathe. Whether you are a beginner building confidence or an experienced turner refining your eye, this book will help you see your work differently and create pieces that truly resonate.

Inside, you will find:

  • 180 (100gsm satin feel) pages of encouragement to experiment with both tradition and creativity.

  • Simple explanations of proportion using simple mathematics

  • 7 Step-by-step projects (102 pages!) that put the design principles into practice

  • Sketches and diagrams to train your eye for balance and flow

  • Examples of exemplary turnings, exploring their proportions

  • Tips on tools, timber, and finishing to bring out the best in your work

Pre-ordered copies will be signed and shipped
towards the middle of October. The book goes on general sale from Friday 24th October here and Amazon.

Worldwide shipping available via Royal Mail Tracked services. Please note that if you are ordering from overseas, additional customs or tax fees may be applied by your country’s authorities. Shipping costs are charged at cost price. Books ordered from here are a higher quality than will be available from Amazon.

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Explore the World
of Woodturning

Close-up of a decorative wooden plate with intricate black and gold patterns surrounded by a cream-colored wooden frame.
A wooden sculpture with a spiral and rectangular design, mounted on a wooden base, against a dark background.
A wooden sculpture resembling the shape of the state of Alabama, featuring a circular detail and mounted on a black base.
A man with a focused expression polishs a large piece of burl wood on a lathe machine.
A decorative circular plate with a shiny, metallic outer ring and a light-colored inner circle, displayed on a black spiral stand.
A decorative plate with a circular wooden center and a metallic gold rim, displayed on a black stand.
A festive table centerpiece with a tall, silver candelabra holding seven candles, one red and six white, decorated with snowflake ornaments. The table is set with white plates, red napkins, wine glasses, and holiday greenery with red berries.
A man is giving a woodworking demonstration to an audience seated in a hardware store, surrounded by tools and hardware supplies.
A person lying on a woodworking or carpentry machine in a workshop, with legs and shoes visible in the foreground, surrounded by various tools, equipment, and wood pieces.
Split panoramic view of a woodworking shop on the left and a workshop on the right, both with tools, workbenches, and equipment.
Black ceramic bowl with red gradient at the bottom and gold Chinese characters on the front.
A tall, artistic metal sculpture with a bulbous, reflective, dark red body and pointed decorative finials at the top and bottom, set against a plain white background.
A man with a black leather vest and a gray cap taking a selfie at a conference or seminar with an audience seated behind him in a large room.
A man wearing glasses, a flat cap, and a black vest with patches is working with a wood lathe in an indoor setting, possibly at a workshop or exhibition.
A group of people gathered around a woodworking demonstration at an indoor convention or fair, with booths and displays in the background.
A group of people gathered around a woodworking lathe in a wood workshop, observing a demonstration or class.
A group of people watching a woodturning demonstration at an event, with a man using a lathe and a large TV screen displaying the process.
Four men wearing safety gear, including safety helmets and glasses, are gathered around a woodworking lathe in a workshop. One man is demonstrating or explaining how to turn a piece of wood on the lathe while the others observe attentively.
A man working on a woodworking project in a workshop. He is wearing glasses, a brown cap, a gray T-shirt, and a black leather vest. He is concentrating on a piece of wood on a lathe machine, with wood shavings around him. The workshop has various too
A woodshop workspace with a table saw, wooden boards, tools, and storage cabinets in a garage-style setting.
A man wearing a cap and apron smiling in a woodworking workshop, with tools and supplies on the shelves and wall behind him.
A woodworking workshop with various power tools, workbenches, and woodworking equipment inside a garage-style space.
A man wearing safety glasses, a cap, and a leather vest, holding a color palette chart and a wood sculpture, in a store setting with shelves and a warning sign in the background.
Close-up of a metallic, engraved circular object with intricate swirl patterns, set against a dark background.

Guest Editor of Woodturning Magazine February 2025

I’m very honoured to have been invited to be the guest editor of Woodturning Magazine for the February issue (#406).

Learn more about what we do here at our workshops in Hampshire and a little of the busy history of my journey through turning.

A man in a leather vest and cap smiling in a workshop with wood turning equipment behind him, and a magazine cover featuring the same man holding a decorated wooden disc.

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