TJ Episode 24: Not Cutting the Mustard (and Why I’m Doing Something Different)
Some of what I’m going to say here might be a little controversial, but it’s been on my mind for a long time, and I think it’s worth being honest about it.
I’ve been making woodturning videos for years now, and I’m genuinely grateful that people still take the time to watch them. I love sharing techniques, I love showing what I’m working on, and I still get a real buzz from letting people into the workshop through the camera. That side of it hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the reality of what it takes to produce long-form YouTube content well.
A good video is not just turning something on the lathe. It’s planning, filming, editing, filming again, finding the right angles, cutting it all together, and trying to make it worth someone’s time. When you do it properly, it takes days. And when you’re already running a workshop, teaching, developing new ideas, and trying to keep everything moving forward, something has to give.
The other truth is that YouTube simply doesn’t pay enough to justify that sort of effort anymore. The platform rewards content that feeds the algorithm, not necessarily content that’s thoughtful, well-made, or rooted in the craft. And I’ve realised I’m just not interested in chasing the algorithm.
Instead, I’m putting more energy into the things that actually matter to me: the workshop, the turning, the teaching, and making content that feels genuinely useful rather than endlessly performative.
That’s why I’ve been filming a new series of short videos called Bite-Size Workshop. These are mostly quick, focused pieces filmed in the workshop, covering one useful idea at a time. A small technique, a tool tip, a sharpening reminder, or just a simple thing that makes the whole process easier or more enjoyable.
They’re not flashy. They’re not trying to go viral. They’re just practical, honest workshop videos, and to be honest, they feel much closer to the way I actually work and teach. And they are behind an affordable paywall for people who want to learn.
Woodturning is slow. It’s about repetition, patience, and time at the lathe. The skills that really matter don’t come from chasing trends, they come from turning, making mistakes, and turning again.
So going into the new year, the plan is simple. I’m going to keep making work I’m proud of, but I’m going to do it on my own terms. That means more time in the workshop, more time teaching, and more content that supports real learning, rather than content designed to keep a platform happy.
I’m not leaving Youtube behind. Certainly not. I will continue to produce Turner’s Journey each week as I enjoy doing it as it gives me a chance to consolidate my thinking and share that consolidation with you, and life around the work. But as I have more time in the workshop now (not a huge amount more, but enough), I will be producing some good quality inspirational demonstration project videos for YouTube focusing more on the ideas rather than the method.
As always, thank you for watching, and thank you for sticking with me. If you’ve followed what I do for while, I appreciate it more than you know and I hope this isn’t too disappointing.
Take care,
Martin