Ages 13 and older
In this 10 hour course spread over an evening and a full day, students will complete a spindle project (a wooden carving mallet, stirring spurtle, or garden dibble - student’s choice) and a small bowl, both of which they’ll take home after the class.
Friday evening will be devoted to safety, and lathe and tool orientation, followed by completion of the student’s choice of a spindle project. Saturday will be devoted to completing Friday’s project if needed, and completion of a small bowl, including finishing.
This introductory course will cover basic lathe operation, safety, proper use of lathe tools, tool sharpening, how to prepare wood for turning, mounting techniques, and finishing. Specifically, the focus will be on the basics and will cover the following:
- Lathe safety
- Difference between end grain and side grain
- Preparing the turning blank - laying out the log and rough sawing, and rounding out the blank (band saw, chain saw)
- Mounting techniques and the pros/cons and demonstration of each (face plate, screw chuck, scroll chuck, between centers, jam chucks, pressure chucking, and vacuum chucking)
- Tool use - when and how to use, with hands-on coaching (bowl gouge, spindle gouge, and scrappers)
- Tool sharpening
- Turning - demostration and hands-on coaching (roughing, bowls, design using different tools)
- Finishing
For students interested in acquiring their own lathe or tools, the instructor will provide a catalog and go over different lathe options and tips on how to acquire equipment and tools at reduced cost.
This course takes place at the instructor, Larry Miller's, shop: 4621 John Luhr Road NE, Olympia, WA 98516
Appropriate for All skill levels.
Open to students ages 13 and older.
All materials are included. Students are welcome to bring their own turning tools and safety gear, or use the instructor's. A few days in advance of the class, the instructor will send an e-mail to all students containing a document on woodturning safety and techniques, directions to his shop, what to expect in the class, and what is appropriate attire for safety.
