CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Course Name:  Wood Turning Intensive - 3 Days

Duration: 3 days, 6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    This session is similar to the five day seminar but focuses only on spindle, bowl and box turning..

You will Learn:

• see above

Pre-requisites:

             None

Tools/Materials:

     Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encourages to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.  

Course Name:  Introduction to Spindle Turning

Duration:6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    This one-day hands-on class is an introduction to the tools and techniques of spindle turning (e.g., table legs, candle sticks, etc.) using the roughing gouge, skew, spindle gouge and the parting tool.  Skills-building projects will be introduced.

You will Learn:

• Four basic spindle turning tools;  

• The ABCs of wood turning; 

• How to cut with each tool (“V”s, Beads, Coves, Contours);  

• How to sharpen each tool.

Pre-requisites:

             None

Tools/Materials:

     Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.  

Course Name: Duplicate Spindle Turning

Duration: 6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    We often wish to turn several items that are identical.  Yet, this is often very difficult.  This one-day hands-on class will teach you techniques to do this job. We will cover the tools and techniques of duplicate spindle turning by doing at least one skills-building project. (e.g., table legs, candle sticks, etc.).  Students may bring their own project or one will be provided.

You will Learn:  

• Design considerations;

• How to “read” a spindle;   

• Creating a Story Stick;    

•  Using diameter calipers;  

• Review of specialized spindle tools;

• Decorative techniques (spiraling, fluting and barley twists - time permitting).

Pre-requisites:

    This is an intermediate-level class.  You should have taken a Spindle Turning class (e.g., Introduction to Spindle Turning) or have recent spindle turning experience before enrolling.

Tools/Materials required:

    Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.  

Course Name:  Introduction to Bowl Turning

Duration: 6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    This one-day hands-on class is an introduction to the tools and techniques of wooden bowl turning.   The emphasis will be and proper tool technique rather than creating a finished product.  The objective of the class is that each student be able to cut with minimal tear-out on both the outside and the inside of a bowl.  We will also review techniques for finishing the bottoms of bowls. 

You will Learn:

• What are the tools for bowl turning;

• How to mount a rough blank;

• How to make outside cuts without tear out;

• How to prepare a spigot for mounting in a scroll chuck;

• How to make inside cuts without tear out;

• How to sharpen bowl gouges.

Pre-requisites:

             None

Tools/Materials:

    Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times. .

Course Name:  Introduction to Hollow-Form Turning

Duration: 6-8 hours

Class Size: max 6 

Description:

      Turning hollow forms is challenging but rewarding.  It requires a unique set of turning tools and techniques.  This hands-on class will take students through all the steps of creating a small hollow form as well as examining the various tools used for hollowing and several innovations to make hollowing easier. 

You will Learn:  

    How to select appropriate stock;

    Design considerations for hollow forms;

    The various hollowing tools and how to use them;

    Assisting tools.

Pre-requisites:

            Introduction to Spindle Turning or Introduction to Bowl Turning or permission from the instructor.  Permission will be granted to anyone who has done 10 or more turning projects in the last 2 years.

Tools/Materials:

    Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times. .

Course Name:  Turning End-grain Boxes

Duration: 6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    Turned end-grain wooden boxes are fun to make and can range from practical storage containers to highly decorative works of art.  This course will lead students through the steps to create a “pop” lid box.  We will also discuss tool selection and techniques, design considerations and some on-the-lathe finishing alternatives. 

You will Learn:

     Differences between side and end-grain turning;

     How to select appropriate stock;

     Some useful tools (square and round nose scrapers, bedan, thin parting tool, etc.)

     Design considerations

     Basic sanding techniques

     Some quick on-the-lathe finishes

Pre-requisites:

            Introduction to Spindle Turning or permission from the instructor.  Permission will be granted to anyone who has done 10 or more turning projects in the last 2 years.

Tools/Materials:

    Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times. .

Course Name:  Managing Green Wood

Duration: 6-8 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    Trees are constantly being felled and we are often offered the wood free of charge.   However, if the wood is not treated properly it will often check (crack) until it is unusable for turning.  This class will explore how to prepare, treat, and store green wood to reduce waste and minimize cracking.

You will Learn:

     How to mount and rough out green blanks;

     The 10% rule;

     Use of Center Savers;

     Treating green blanks;     

     Chucking up dried blanks for re-turning.

Pre-requisites:

            Students should have completed at least 10 bowl.

Materials/Tools:

      Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times. . 

Course Name:  Special Topics in Wood Turning

Duration: TBD

Class Size: Max 6

Description:

    There are a wide variety of topics in wood turning that are not covered by the basic curriculum.  However, we will create a custom class when there is sufficient interest. Sample topics include:

         - Chasing Threads

         - Natural-edge Bowls

         - etc.

 Please call us at 604-525-1031 (toll free 1-800-663-1101) for details.

You will Learn:

             TBD

Pre-requisites:

            TBD

Tools/Materials:

              TBD

Course Name:  Turning with Project Kits

Duration: 6-8 hrs

Class Size: Max 6 

Description:

    Many attractive items can be turned from "project" kits. The most widely known kit is a pen kit but many others are also available.  In this class students will turn one or more projects using the kits provided.

You will Learn:

• what is a project kit;  

• what kinds of kits are available;

• how to select wood for use in a kit;

• how to prepare the project for turning;

• how to turn and finish the project;

• how to assemble the final project.

Pre-requisites:

             None

Tools/Materials:

    Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.  

Course Name:  Turning Wooden Platters

Duration: 12-16 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description: 

This hands-on class will explore techniques and design considerations in making wooden platters. 

You will Learn:

• Elements of a platter;  

• Design considerations of a platter;

• Techniques specific to platter turning;

• Techniques that are useful when turning "figured" wood; .

Pre-requisites:

This is a mid-level class.  Students should have recent turning experience (10 or more turning projects in the last year) before enrolling.

Tools/Materials:

   Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.

Course Name:  Texturing and Colouring

Duration: 12-16 hours

Class Size: Max 6 

Description: 

This hands-on class will explore various methods of decorating turned objects both on and off the lathe. Techniques include wire brushing, pyrography (wood burning), painting, hand and power carving, airbrushing, hammering, bleaching, sand blasting and so on.  You will turn and decorate several pieces over the two days. 

You will Learn:

• How to do a number of texturing and colouring techniques;

• How to keep lines crisp and avoid “bleeding”;

• How to explore options without actually doing them;

• The impact of colour and texture on the visual character of a piece.

Pre-requisites:

This is an advance-level class.  Students should have recent turning experience (20 or more turning projects in the last year) before enrolling.

Tools/Materials:

   Materials will be provided. Tools are available but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them.  You must wear appropriate eye protection at all times.