What is Creative Woodturner?

Creative Woodturner is a woodturning design app for iOS and Android that lets you plan turnings on a phone or tablet and preview them in 3D. It suits woodturners who want to work out proportions, curves, and dimensions digitally before committing wood to the lathe. The app's own description highlights over 140 wood images, a catenary curve tool, dimensioning, and printable plans.

What the app does

The core workflow is design-first: you build a turning on screen, apply a wood appearance, and check the result in a 3D view before you turn anything. According to the site, the main capabilities are:

• 3D preview — see the design "come to life in stunning 3D realism" on your device.
• Wood library — over 140 wood images to apply to your designs.
• Catenary curve tool — a distinctive shaping aid for laying out curves; the site calls it "unique."
• Dimensions — size your design with measurements rather than eyeballing it.
• Printable plans — output plans you can take to the shop.

Who it is for

It is aimed at woodturners who want to plan designs digitally rather than sketch on paper or improvise at the lathe. The phone/tablet format means the design step can happen away from the workshop, with the printable plan carrying the result to the bench.

Good fit

• You already turn and want to test shapes and proportions before cutting.
• You want a visual sense of how a wood species will look on a finished form.
• You like having measured, printable references at the lathe.

Less relevant if

• You do not turn wood or plan to.
• You prefer paper sketches and do not want a design step on a device.

Platform and availability

The app is described as available for both iOS and Android, so it is not tied to a single mobile platform. The source material does not state pricing, subscription terms, or account requirements; check the App Store or Google Play listing for current cost and device requirements before installing.

Practical example

Suppose you want to turn a bowl with a sweeping outer curve but are unsure how deep the profile should sit. You could lay out the profile in the app, use the catenary curve tool to shape the outer wall, apply a wood image close to your blank, and check the 3D view. Adjust dimensions until the proportions look right, then print the plan and use it as a reference while turning. The value is in catching a shape you dislike on screen rather than in a half-turned blank.

Bottom line

Creative Woodturner is a mobile design tool for woodturners, built around 3D preview, a large wood-image library, curve and dimension tools, and printable plans. If you turn wood and want to plan shapes digitally on a phone or tablet, it is worth checking the store listing for current pricing and compatibility; if you do not turn, it offers little.