Birch
The palest of our timbers — near-white, blond and almost grain-free, with a clean satin finish. Takes paint and pale stains flawlessly.
03 · Bespoke
Custom Wood Turning
Sketch us a profile on the back of an envelope and we’ll turn it. Stair parts, furniture, bowls, inside-out turnings — anything that can be turned.
The service
You can literally draw something on a piece of paper and we can turn it into reality. We use our design expertise to help you realise the profile — don’t worry if the drawing isn’t perfect.
There are no limitations for custom wood turning. From stair parts to bowls, custom turning lets you create unique pieces designed exactly as you want them — for the trade, for a single showroom piece, or for the home. We can also visit to look at existing woodwork, so the match is exact.
The process
Sketch in,
spindle out.
Four steps, one workshop.
- 01
Send a reference
A pencil sketch on the back of an envelope. A photograph of an existing profile. A measured drawing. Anything you can give us is enough to start.
- 02
We draw the cutter
We translate the reference into a turned profile, bench-test the cutter and quote for materials, lead time and any matching.
- 03
Sample turned for sign-off
A first piece is hand-turned in the timber you’ve chosen and sent for approval before any volume run begins.
- 04
Volume run + delivery
Once signed off, the full order is turned, finished, and delivered UK-wide. Often within a matter of days for urgent jobs.
What we turn
From a single replacement spindle
to a four-poster bed set.
If it can be turned, we’ll turn it.
Stair Parts
Replacement and full sets, regulation-aware.
- Spindles
- Newel posts
- Newel caps
- Pilasters
Furniture
For furniture makers, restorers and one-off commissions.
- Table legs (4” Victorian, 3” slim)
- Bed posts
- Four-poster bed sets (5” cross-post to 3” slim)
- Coffee table legs in barley twist
- Dressing tables and stools
Decorative
A whole bedroom can follow a single design idea.
- Bowl turnings
- Plant stands
- Candle holders
- Fruit bowls
- Fireplace, TV unit and wardrobe turnings
Inside-out turnings
A particular speciality of the workshop.
- Special-occasion gifts
- Architectural detail pieces
Timbers
Endless timbers in stock.
Exotics on request.
Each spindle finished ready to paint, stain or oil.
Hard Maple
A Scandi-renovation favourite — light creamy-amber, exceptionally hard and even, with a tight, fine grain that turns crisply.
Pine
Warm honey-toned and softly grained — easy to work and quick to turn, a friendly mid-pale timber that stains evenly to mimic richer woods.
Beech
Common in 1930s semis — pale pinkish-cream flecked with tiny rays, clean and quietly modern. Dense, stable and steams to any shape.
American Oak
The workhorse of British staircases — light reddish-tan with a bold, open cathedral grain. Strong, characterful and suits period and modern homes alike.
Cherry
A warm reddish-brown that deepens beautifully with age — smooth, flowing grain and a refined, satin finish. A favourite for fine furniture turnings.
Sapele
A sustainable mahogany alternative — rich red-copper with a fine, ribbon-straight grain. A premium African hardwood for heirloom staircases and period restorations.
Walnut
The premium dark staircase — deep chocolate-brown with a flowing, characterful grain. Our richest, most luxurious timber.
And many more — we’ll turn your piece in any timber you can name.
These eight are the timbers we’re asked for most. Need ash, iroko, idigbo, tulipwood, a reclaimed beam or something more exotic? Name it and we’ll source and turn it to your specification.
Common questions
Custom woodturning questions, answered.
As specialist woodturners we turn bespoke pieces to order from a sketch, a photograph or a sample — for the trade and the public alike. Here are the questions we are asked most about commissioning custom work.
- What can you turn to order?
- Almost anything that can be turned on a lathe — stair spindles, newel posts, table and chair legs, bed posts, pillars, bowls and inside-out turnings — for the trade, a single showroom piece, or the home.
- Can you turn a piece from my own drawing?
- Yes. You can draw a profile on a piece of paper and we will turn it, using our design experience to refine the shape. We can also visit to look at existing woodwork so the match is exact.
- Do you make a sample before a full run?
- Yes. For any bespoke profile, a sample piece is turned and sent for sign-off before the volume run begins, so you approve the exact shape and finish first.
- What timbers can you work with?
- Pine, oak, beech, maple, sapele, cherry and mahogany are routine, with more exotic species on request. Because every piece is bespoke, you can order in any wood or design.
- Do you offer trade and bulk discounts?
- Yes. We offer discounts on bulk orders and to fellow tradesmen and furniture manufacturers. Every order is priced by quotation, so ask when you get in touch.
Begin a commission
Send a sketch. We’ll turn the rest.
A pencil drawing on the back of an envelope is enough — or send a photograph, or pick up the phone. The first sample piece is turned and sent for sign-off before any volume run begins.