Home woodturning workshop

Gift buyers, craft fair visitors, online shoppers and small gift shops that stock handmade items.

Selling finished pieces at craft fairs, through online marketplaces and your own social media, with extra income from custom orders and commissions.

• Woodturning technique and tool sharpening
• Patience and an eye for shape and finish
• Basic photography and pricing for selling online

• Wood dust is a health risk, so check what extraction and face protection you need
• Check your landlord, mortgage lender or council if noise or dust could affect neighbours
• Public liability insurance for markets, and home insurance may not cover tools and stock, so check
• Food-contact items like salad bowls need safe finishes, so check what applies before selling them as food safe
• Source timber legally and check its origin

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £800 to £3,500, depending on the lathe and tools you buy, the dust extraction and safety gear you need, and your timber. Buying a few good tools first and adding more later can keep costs down.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £100 to £1,200, depending on what you make, where you sell and how many hours you put in. A starting point is around 6 hours a week, selling at markets, online or to small gift shops.

Wood dust is a health risk, so check what extraction and face protection you need. Check your landlord, mortgage lender or council if noise or dust could affect neighbours, and check public liability and home insurance cover. Check what applies before selling items as food safe, and source timber legally.