About
Learn the basics of wood turning in this three-part class, during which you will make a series of progressively more challenging items.
In Session 1, you will make a bottle stopper as you learning about a wood lathe, safety in turning, and how to use the tools with good body mechanics — all important to building a foundation to launch your turning skills. Tools you will use: spindle roughing gouge, spindle gouge, parting tool, Jacobs chuck, scroll chuck.
Session 2 will focus on spindle turning as you make a goblet or a candlestick. You will learn about design elements and balance, and how to use a template or story stick and calipers. In preparation for bowl turning, you will also begin learning how to hollow wood on the lathe. Tools: same as class #1, adding skew chisel, negative rake scraper, template, calipers.
In the final session, you will turn a bowl. This will begin with a short explanation about selecting wood and cutting a bowl blank on a bandsaw. You will receive a pre-cut blank, which you will mount on a lathe, rough turn the outside and tenon, then mount in scroll chuck and hollow the interior. You will learn how different bevel angles work in different parts of the bowl and experience how grain (face- and end-grain) react differently to the cutting tools. Tools: bowl gouges (three types, usually), spindle gouge, parting tool, negative rake scraper.
Details:
- All tools and materials provided.
- Clothing: Short-sleeve or tight-cuff tops; closed and comfortable shoes. No jewelry other than "button-type" earrings for women (no rings, bracelets, necklaces). Long hair must be tied back.
Instructor: Jamie Straw has been turning wood for about two years, but she has enjoyed teaching since she was 14 years old. She is currently Vice President for Education and Training for the local chapter of the American Woodturners Association. Her focus is on helping students, especially new turners, build skills progressively as they design and create fun woodturning projects.
