Woodturning Beginners Courses
Two Day Woodturning Course
Two day group courses with Les or Martin are ideal for those who have taken up turning and looking to learn the basics. You do not need any turning experience to enjoy this course. This course runs once a month on a Thursday and Friday with dates bookable up to 6 months in advance.
Our two-day woodturning course offers beginners an incredible opportunity to dive into the enriching craft of woodturning (or the perfect next step for those advancing from our Experience Day).
Starting your journey in this craft in a professional setting gives you access to the best tools, techniques, and expert guidance, greatly boosting your ability to develop your skills safely and efficiently.
Moreover, Martin and Les share valuable insights into the creative process, design principles, and essential tips on sharpening your tools. This dynamic approach to learning ensures you enhance your proficiency and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the art form itself.
On the course, you’ll discover the exciting world of woodturning tools and how to use them effectively.
By turning these pieces, you’ll gain a solid foundation and a great understanding of how the standard set of tools works for every woodturner and most items they create.
spindle drills
Start the day with basic spindle drills, where you’ll experience the use of a spindle roughing gouge followed by a standard spindle gouge for turning v-cuts, beads, and coves. Done perfectly, this piece could become a wonderful foot massager!
This fun exercise helps you grasp the fundamental mechanics of gouges and highlights just how crucial bevel contact with the work is – Presenting your tool well is effective and ensures safety!
Ring Stand
This is a great project to showcase the techniques learned in your spindle drills. Using V-cuts, beads, and coves, you will create a beautiful and functional ring stand perfect for use at home. If you received this course as a gift, this piece would make an excellent thank-you gift!
Basic Bowl
Discover the use of the bowl gouge to create your very first wooden bowl! With expert guidance, you’ll master the correct and safe use of the tool, along with essential mounting methods.
By the end of your session, you’ll perfect the sanding and finishing techniques, crafting a beautiful piece ready to take pride of place in your home.
lidded Pot (Box)
Spend most of day two excitedly delving into technical turning. You’ll experience precision cutting, end-grain hollowing, and jam chucking, helping you to create intricate, lidded items, like the beautiful pot you’ll be crafting.
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A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the booking total is due at the time of booking unless you are booking within 14 days of the course in which case, the full balance is due. After deposit payment has been made, an invoice for the balance will be sent which will be due no less than 14 days prior to the course. See our Terms and Conditions for full details.
What next?
After payment, we will send you all the information you need to join the course on the date you booked.
*Minimum Numbers.
In the rare occurrence that there are fewer than three students enrolled on the course 7 days prior to the booked date, we may not run the course. If this is the case, will contact you and offer you an alternative date or a full refund.
More Information
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Your Day Includes:
- A place on a group of up to 5 students
- Timber
- Use of machinery
- Use of Tools (You can bring your own)
- Use of any consumables or other
- Lunch at the onsite coffee shop
- Refreshments
- PPE and Insurance -
Timings
Day One:
9.00am: Meet for a meet and greet coffee at the Tree House Coffee Shop at the Garden Centre.
- 9.30am: Start to make shavings!
- 12.30pm: Back to the coffee shop for lunch
- 1.00pm: More shavings to complete the project pieces
- 4.00pm: End of the day. Be prepared for the day to overrun to give everyone time to finish their pieces.Day Two:
9.00am: Meet back at the workshop to begin finishing the bowl.
11.00am: With the bowl finished, it is time to move on the more advanced lidded pot.
12.30pm: Lunch time.
1.00pm: Continue to turn and finish the lidded pot.
4.00pm: End of the day! Be prepared for the day to overrun to give everyone time to finish their pieces. -
Tools Used
- Spindle Roughing Gouge
- 3/8″ Bowl Gouge
- 3/8″ Spindle Gouge
- Diamond Parting Tool
- French Curve Scraper
- Hollowing Tool
- Les Thorne Multi-Purpose Tool
- Inertia and Powered Bowl Sanders
- Sanding Sealer
- Finishing Wax
- Finishing Oils
We recommend you bring your own freshly sharpened tools if you have them.