I'm just finished the first class in a 10 week beginning machinist course. I thought I'd learn some useful new skills plus I've got some ideas for mixing metal details into my wood furniture. After doing my first metal turning where we measured down to 1/1000", it got me wondering why woodturning tools and techniques are so imprecise. Yes, the material is much more dynamic but it seems that the precision design of a metal lathe could be applied to woodturning. Why not have a lead screw and tool carriage? In fact, why not just use a metal lathe?