WOODTURNING COURSES

with

TONY WITHAM

There are three types of courses available a Beginners Course, Intermediate Course and Advanced Course.

These short courses are designed to help woodturners of all ages and levels of ability, to improve their skills at this most satisfying of traditional crafts. In a relaxed and informal environment you can learn professional turning techniques through a combination of hands on experience and individual tuition.

Beginners Course

On the first day we concentrate on sharpening turning tools and methods of turning between lathe centres. We also cover all the ways of holding wood on to the lathe e.g. faceplate, chucks and other gripping devices. Drilling ,long hole boring and polishing.

Health and safety precautions are especially important in the home workshop and we can show you how to rig up a dust extraction system of your own that is both simple and effective.

A sharp tool is a safe tool so you will be shown how to sharpen all types of turning tools. Sharpening tools correctly is a vital skill to successful turning and as well as showing you how to achieve the best results we will be happy to sharpen all of your own tools if you care to bring them along.

You will make a large bowl, which will teach you the basic principles of gouge control. This is not an especially difficult skill to acquire but it is one which needs understanding and concentration. We will also look at some basic design techniques and shapes that are pleasing to the eye.

The intermediate course is for those with more experience in woodturning who wish to broaden their horizons with something a little more adventurous and the course can be designed to your requirements. We can have an in depth look at design, shape and form as well as surface decoration.

This course covers the latest techniques for making natural edge bowls and deep hollow vessels, but is flexible enough to allow pupils to try their hand at any project that appeals to them. Such tutorials can help solve problems and encourage you to develop techniques, whether traditional or innovative, that particularly interest you.

All the above courses are of two day duration and can be arranged to suit you.

Each day runs from 9 am to 5 pm with a break for lunch. The cost of each course is just £150 which includes all materials, use of equipment, refreshments and lunch.

To book a place on a course just telephone (01255 671697)  and have your diary in front of you, we will normally be able to fit you in a few weeks in advance or Email:- tony@awitham.freeserve.co.uk. We will then ask you to send a letter of confirmation and a deposit of £30, payable to A.A.Witham.