Tuition in Gloucestershire
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Introduction
Woodturning can be a very rewarding pastime but as with any craft, some tuition and guidance can put you on the right track. Paul can accommodate up to three people if you and a friend (or two!) wanted to learn woodturning together. You can book together or you can book individually. Woodturning lessons from absolute beginner to advanced can be arranged and can be tailored to suit your requirements. Below are some of the general areas covered in the beginners woodturning course and some topics for intermediate and advanced levels when you feel ready to progress further.
Courses are held at Paul’s workshop in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire but if you would prefer tuition on your own equipment in your own workshop, that can be arranged.
Paul is a member of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain (AWGB) and is an AWGB approved instructor.
Remote Workshops
Paul is able to offer remote tuition using Zoom for those who are too far away to travel. I can show you techniques, look over your shoulder as you turn to give advice or work with you in ironing out any problems you may have. These sessions could be one to one or for small groups. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.
Woodturning Beginners Course
A one day course covering all the basics needed to get started.
- Safety: Woodturning is not without its hazards and awareness of what can go wrong and adopting a safe approach will ensure you don’t come to any harm.
- Turning Tools And Terminology: The plethora of woodturning tools that confront a newcomer to the craft may seem daunting at first but once you are familiar with the different groups of tools and what they do, there will be nothing left to fear!
- Parts Of The Lathe: Woodturning lathes may be one of the oldest machines known to man but there are still those strange names for the main parts to understand!
- How To Cut Wood on the lathe: Wood is (or was) a living material and needs to be treated the right way to get the best results. Grain, direction of cut and types of cut are all explained here.
- Sharpening woodturning Tools: Using blunt tools won’t give good results and can be dangerous. Learn how to create a good edge and how to keep it sharp.
- Holding Wood On The Lathe: Different methods of attaching a piece of wood to the lathe to enable you to tackle any task you may encounter.
- Spindle Turning: Parallel grain woodturning and it’s implications and uses.
Beginners Bowl Turning
A separate course which builds on the beginner’s course by adding side grain woodturning for bowls and platters. How to mount the blank on the lathe, shaping the bowl, mounting in a chuck and finishing the bowl. This can be a half day or one day.
Intermediate / Advanced Courses
Thin wall and natural edge bowl turning
Wood selection for thin and natural edge bowls. Advanced bowl turning techniques.
Hollow Forms
Wood selection for hollow forms and vases. Hollowing tools and hollowing techniques.
Boxes And Thread Cutting
Hand thread chasing and box making
Colouring And Texturing Intermediate
Some colouring and texturing techniques using basic equipment including scorching, texturing tools, spirit dyes, grain filling media, paint techniques and airbrushing.
Colouring and Texturing Advanced
Use of power tools and air tools for carving and texturing; pyrography and texturing medium.
Pewter Casting with Wood
Combining cast pewter with turned wood.
Goblet Turning
How to turn a goblet and how to cut twist stems.
Anything Else
Each of the above are suggestions for woodturning course sessions. However, as woodturning courses are generally one to one, we can tailor a session to suit your requirements. Contact Paul to discuss your plans.
Prices
Woodturning course sessions can usually be held to fit in with your schedule. Weekday, weekend and evening sessions are available.
Prices
- One day £ 150
- Half day £ 80
- Two hours £ 60
If you would like to purchase a voucher to give as a gift, these can be bought from my Creative Woodturning website. The recipient can contact me to arrange a date after they receive the voucher. Vouchers are issued with a 12 month expiry date. They can still be redeemed after the expiry date but if the cost of the course has increased, the bearer would need to pay the increase.