Woodturning offers a lifetime of possibilities. This craft is as useful to artists as it is to furniture makers. It’s a compelling craft full of as many challenges as it has rewards. A good start is to have a mentor early on who can teach you the best ways to approach woodturning. What to avoid is as important as what works best. Your progress, satisfaction and indeed your safety can depend on it. Many who are self taught habitually repeat easily avoided mistakes. Lessons with an experienced woodturner can guide the novice turner through the thorny process of coaxing pleasant forms from common woods.
Instructors Clint Stevens, Andy Kuby, Al Miotke and Graham McLachlan are experienced woodturners and instructors who emphasize a hassle free, safe and encouraging learning atmosphere in their classes. These carefully designed classes are perfect for inexperienced turners. You will learn about the lathe, its accessories and the tools used to shape wood. Students will watch demonstrations, then apply what they have learned to independent work overseen and guided by the instructor.
Choose a class:
Turning 1
- 9 weeks
- Fee: $525
- Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm, July 30 – Sept 24, 2025
- Thursdays, 12:00-2:30 pm, July 31 – Sept 24, 2025
Turning 1 assumes that you have limited woodturning experience or you need a refresher on the proper use of turning tools and the basic techniques utilized. The class will start by discussing how to safely use a wood lathe and the tools used to create the various shapes that that are common to all turning projects. These basic skills will be learned and reinforced through a series of independent projects on the lathe which includes a basic turned box and a bowl.
Turning 2
- 9 weeks
- Fee: $525
- Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm, July 29 – Sept 23, 2025
- Prerequisite: Turning 1 or equivalent experience and approval of instructor.
This class will continue your woodturning journey with a minimum of three intermediate projects that will advance your understanding of techniques and tool control. Projects will include making a small hollow form with a delicate finial which will test your tool control skills. The next project will be an intermediate box that introduces off-center turning techniques. The final project will vary for each class but will be selected to further test your turning skills .
Turning 3
- 9 weeks
- Fee: $525
- Mondays, 6:30 -9:00 pm, July 28 – Sept 22, 2025.
- Prerequisite: Beginning and Intermediate Turning plus approval of instructor
This class is designed for individuals who wish to expand their turning skills by tackling more advanced turning projects. we’ll take a deeper dive into the skills required for turning more intricate projects such as, bowls, lidded boxes, hollow forms and multi-axis work. We’ll go over sharpening in greater detail, discussing the different grinds for different purposes.
Through demonstrations and independent work, you will develop more precise tool control, cleaner cuts, and an excellent finish on your projects. If you have your own tools, feel free to bring them.
- Students will be given access to all tools needed for this course and all materials will be provided.
- It is recommended that you dress expecting to get some sawdust on your clothing.
- You must notify us one week before the start of your class if you need to cancel in order to receive a partial refund. The $50 registration fee is non-refundable. After the start of your class, no refunds are given.
In this class, we’ll take a deeper dive into the skills involved in turning bowls, lidded boxes, segmenting, hollow forms and multi-axis work. We’ll go over sharpening in greater detail, discussing the different grinds for different purposes.
Through demonstrations and independent work, you will develop more precise tool control, cleaner cuts and excellent finish work on bowls and boxes. If you have your own tools, feel free to bring them.
