Intermediate Comprehensive Woodturning

Dates: Monday, May 18 - Friday, May 22 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Rick Angus

Students will review fundamental chisel and gouge spindle-cutting techniques and develop an eye for making the desired shape. Using these techniques, turners will cut wood efficiently and leave a smooth, accurate surface in their work. Review how to use the bevel gracefully to guide the knife edge along a smooth curve, and why this technique allows such smooth tool control. 

After reviewing the fundamental cuts of both spindle and bowl, we will discuss what items can be made for your new repertoire, such as a candlestick, mallet, cooking flipper, bud vase, spurtle, and a variety of platter and bowl shapes. We will then choose a project for you to make—each student makes items of their own design, so think of a couple of ideas for items that you would like to make. 

This class offers the opportunity to go beyond simple spindles and bowls and express yourself with sculpting artistic pieces. Your project may include multiple pieces designed to fit together to complete your expression. Bring some sketches, and we will begin there.

Learn:

• From a 30-year woodturner who has been teaching for 25 years
• To use traditional tools, using the tradition of the apprentice woodturner, and more modern methods
• A fundamental understanding of how tools cut wood
• Card-scraper applications to woodturning
• Tool control methods that guide the tool in the direction that you see
• How to shape tool profiles to suit your style of work
• The practical power of making every cut as if it were preparing your final surface
• The value of an elegant, simple shape and to begin to build your own unique design aesthetic by embellishing simple forms

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $50 material fee due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash or checks. All other tools and supplies will be provided for this class.

Optional: Please bring any of your own tools that you would like to use during class; we can sharpen or adjust the profile as desired.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Fundamental Techniques in Bowl Turning or equivalent experience (at instructor's discretion). You should be comfortable using most woodturning tools. If you have questions about prerequisite requirements, please email ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.