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Getting Started.

An introduction to the Art of turning

You have just got a lathe and maybe turned some pieces and now you wish to develop your skills further or even more exciting you have never used a lathe and you want to find out if you like wood turning, this is a great hands on course to get you on your learning journey.

The two day programme covers the basic skills for turning including health & safety, golden rules, spindle and bowl turning. By the end of 2 days, you’ll have an understanding of better practice techniques, how to use the equipment safely and importantly everything you make you can take home to show your friends and family.

Course Overview: Beginner / early development skills

Two days Learning to turn spindles and bowls

Days start at 8.45am and finishes around 4.30pm, we regularly stop to review learning throughout the day and of course we also stop for refreshments and lunch.

Day1

An overview of the 2 days and what you will be working on, workshop safety, safe working and PPE.

I’ll show you the workshop, explain the tools and equipment, lathes, dust extraction, tools, care and maintenance of tools.

Some of the things we will cover:

  • Health and safety in the workshop

  • Selecting the piece of wood

  • How to mount work on the lathe

  • Correct use of tools

  • Roughing cuts to turn square to round

  • Planing Cuts

  • Parting off cuts

  • Beads

  • Coves

  • Finishing, sanding sealing and ‘waxing’

Finishing the day, Tidy up and summary of skills developed, take home your spindle and get ready for the second day

Day 2

A quick recap of safety and workshop practices and how that applies to Bowl turning. Then a discussion of the design of the bowl before preparing to turn.

Some of the things we will cover on day 2:

  • Selecting the piece of wood

  • How to mount your work to the lathe

  • A reminder of how to use the tools safely

  • Roughing down the wood

  • Shaping the outside

  • Turning the inside

  • Sanding practices to make it smooth

  • Sealing the surface and finishing with wood wax

If there is time we will then go on to design and make a third item.

Finishing up
Finishing the day, Tidy up and summarise of skills you have developed over the 2 days, take home your finished pieces to show family and freind’s

Ready to book your course?

Filling the contact form and we can arrange a date or discuss any questions you may have, we can do this by phone or even a video chat (FaceTime or WhatsApp).

A wood turning course makes an excellent gift or experience day. Course vouchers are individually produced and can make ideal presents.