Woodturning Schools and Classes

[Chris Roades]

Hello AAW friends. I wanted to see what the group's thoughts were on good woodturning schools, classes, seminars, etc. I'm in California but I figured I'd have to travel some for some education. I have seen week long intensive classes but I don't know which might be best for a self taught beginner/intermediate turner such as myself. Any input would be welcome!

 

[hockenbery]

don't know which might be best for a self taught beginner/intermediate turner such as myself

Most week long classes have some central focus in the description. You might find one that focuses on object or techniques that moves you in a direction you want go.

A class with Trent Bosch in Ft Collins CO you can get individualized instruction. Fix what you don’t do well technique wise then Trent is a master of many directions carving, coloring, sand blasting hollowing, bowls, chain sawing, and much more.. Trent occasionally has other instructors in his shop.

Some local clubs set up classes

What do you turn now, what do you want to turn next year, what do you do well, what do you wish you could do better?

 

[Stan Pressner]

I did 5 days w Stu Batty and Mike Mahoney at Stu's shop in Colorado, well worth it!

 

[Earl McLain]

The week i spent at our local club's "fundamentals" class was much more than i spent. We live 90+ minutes from the club, but i was able to stay with my son & DIL--really a bonus to have dinner with our grandkids each night!!. For me, the local club fundamentals class set me up well to invest in more specific schooling.

 

[Odie]

For years, I wanted to go to a woodturning class.....but, things didn't work out that way. As a result, for years I struggled with my self-taught concepts until all the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.

To this day, I haven't had one minute of instruction.....other than a few books and early VHS videos.

For those who want some individual instruction....great.....go for it!

All I'm saying is there is another way to consider......"self-taught" is what it's called.......and, it's the most likely way to produce something that is yours, and yours alone, in a world of woodturners whose turning skills are not distinguishable from one another!

=o=

 

[Richard Coers]

To get your best bang for the buck, find a skilled local turner that will be willing to be your mentor. Emphasis on skilled!!!! You learn faster when you work together, practice by yourself for a few days, then have another meeting and spend time on your issues before moving on. Any kind of hands on with someone skilled will cut your learning time in half. You don’t waste money on housing and travel. Classes are mostly good for inspiration and learning a couple of skills to work on at home, If there are people with less skill than you in the class, they get all the attention. Seminars are inspirational as well. When us old timers learn 35 years ago, classes and seminars were invaluable. No internet, no local clubs, so seminars were invaluable. Now you can get all that sitting at home.

 

[Gord Cameron]

If you are aiming to get the most effective instruction at the lowest cost, Richard's approach has to be the best, and joining a local woodturning club, if there is one available, is in the same category and likely to lead you to a local instructor.

But there are lots of ways to do get instruction. An alternative that is expensive overall, but might appeal to some, is to incorporate the woodturning class in a trip. I have done this several times, and the two elements - the travel and the woodturning - somehow combined to make both better: great trips and great woodturning experiences. And the if there is a good vibe among the students and instructor(s), that can be a nice part of the experience even if being in a class means that you are not getting the densely-packed input of one-on-one instruction.

I cannot recommend highly enough Glenn Lucas's Woodturning Study Centre in Ireland, both for the superb instructional experience and the opportunity to the travel in Ireland. Expensive on all fronts, but very much worth it if it fits in your budget.

 

[R Henrickson]

For years, I wanted to go to a woodturning class.....but, things didn't work out that way. As a result, for years I struggled with my self-taught concepts until all the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.
To this day, I haven't had one minute of instruction.....other than a few books and early VHS videos.
For those who want some individual instruction....great.....go for it!
All I'm saying is there is another way to consider......"self-taught" is what it's called.......and, it's the most likely way to produce something that is yours, and yours alone, in a world of woodturners whose turning skills are not distinguishable from one another!

It's not simply how you start or how you may acquire skills, basic or otherwise. It's what you do with with your skills, and, perhaps even more important, what ideas you may decide to pursue and explore. I turned mostly bowls, hollow forms and such for some years, but began following my idiosyncratic interests, some inspired by folk turning traditions. This required developing skills and techniques since often there is little information available. Now at meetings my work is distinctive enough that people can recognize it at a distance. It's not because of embellishment (e.g., paint or carving) of any sort, since all of the work is done on the lathe with the piece spinning.

 

[Odie]

It's not simply how you start or how you may acquire skills, basic or otherwise. It's what you do with with your skills, and, perhaps even more important, what ideas you may decide to pursue and explore. I turned mostly bowls, hollow forms and such for some years, but began following my idiosyncratic interests, some inspired by folk turning traditions. This required developing skills and techniques since often there is little information available. Now at meetings my work is distinctive enough that people can recognize it at a distance. It's not because of embellishment (e.g., paint or carving) of any sort, since all of the work is done on the lathe with the piece spinning.

I fully understand your reasoning, R.....

All I'm saying is some people have another concept of what art is, and are not interested in technological advances that enable objects to be produced in a process where all the skills necessary are in the process of setup, and not applied to the finished product. In my experience, what they are looking for are things that are produced by the hands of the maker, and not some machine.

I say that with the notation that whatever motivates a prospective buyer to make a purchase, might not be the same across the board. As I said before, there is a reason why some people are not interested in laser produced art....and that is because of those who have a pre-conceived notion of what "hand-made" is.....and isn't.....


=o=

 

[John Torchick]

For years, I wanted to go to a woodturning class.....but, things didn't work out that way. As a result, for years I struggled with my self-taught concepts until all the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.

To this day, I haven't had one minute of instruction.....other than a few books and early VHS videos.

For those who want some individual instruction....great.....go for it!

All I'm saying is there is another way to consider......"self-taught" is what it's called.......and, it's the most likely way to produce something that is yours, and yours alone, in a world of woodturners whose turning skills are not distinguishable from one another!

=o=

Experience is the best teacher. I did take a bowl turning class at Woodcraft, courtesy of the wife's Christmas present.

 

[Richard Coers]

Experience is the best teacher. I did take a bowl turning class at Woodcraft, courtesy of the wife's Christmas present.

I have to somewhat disagree. There are plenty of turners, 10 years or so into the hobby, that carry a ton of bad techniques. I’ve taught many classes, at Woodcraft and at regional symposiums, and some techniques I’ve seen make me shudder. I spent a weekend with John Jordan. One guy was an industrial arts teacher, and he butted heads with John the whole class. He was not open to making changes, so John being John, he just spent a lot less time with that guy. He would speak loud enough to be heard across the shop, telling him to drop or raise the handle. I found women the easiest to teach. They are open to learn and won’t stick to their bad habits. Sharpening is one place where many turners struggle. They will butcher there tools for decades if no one steps in and shows them some techniques.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

In general, being a workshop mentor appeals to me as another way to stay busy in my not-soon-enough retirement (4ys 7mo!) as a way to pass on my learned knowledge, especially to younger generations. What does not appeal to me is the liability of having an invitee to my workshop getting hurt and suing my insurance company. Our letigious societal attitude sucks.

 

[Jim Reynolds]

You are all very welcome to file this under "Shameless Plug" and get on with your day. The Chicago Woodturners (I am a member) engages professional woodturners to come and demonstrate at our Thursday night monthly meeting and then teach for 3 days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The next edition of this exercise features Pat Carroll, freshly relocated from Ireland to the USA, March 13 - 15. The cost is $30 for club membership plus $400 for the class. Obviously travel, meals, hotel, ... would come on top of that and would very likely be much more that the cost of the class.

 

[Curt Vogt]

Many of us have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on tools (or event thousands of dollars) and can still struggle with techniques. However, some of us can take the oldest grungy rusted tools and make things that are spectacular. The difference? Knowledge and understanding what good looks like. If you have never experienced what a sharp hand saw is, you might think that impulse hardened hand saw from the local chain hardware store is the greatest. If you have never seen what a well sharpened gouge can do compared to a carbide scrape*, how would you know surface quality if you have only watched YouTube** videos or seen photographs? Screens and printed pages can hide a world of bad or even dangerous habits.

While you might find it hard to argue with Odie's spectacular bowls, he has taken a path that probably took years to get those fine results. Certainly, when he posts a new photo, you know instantly who made it. (Odie, I wonder where you would be now if that learning journey had that boost from the classes you wanted to take!)

I think a good instructor, mentor, turning buddy, or club/guild can make a world of difference. It did for me.

The BEST $$$$ I ever spent on woodturning:
1. My Lathe
2. A weekend techniques class with Stuart Batty
3. Membership and participation in my AAW Chapter Front Range Woodturners and Colorado Woodworker's Guild
4. They say time equals money... so I spent time at the lathe. Practice.
5. Getting to a point where you can teach others. You might think you understand it... until you need to explain or show it to someone else.
6. Yes, very expensive to attend for many of us... the AAW Symposium or your regional symposiums.

NOTE * I welcome steel, high speed steel (HSS), carbide, and sandpaper into my shop.
NOTE ** YouTube You gotta watch at least three... Gotta rule out the crazy guy that just ain't killed himself yet.
Oh. And YouTube unboxing videos and "first time did this" videos and "Biggest Baddest, Greatest EVER!" videos all get kicked to the curb.

 

[Don Stephan]

U&nfortunately there are lots of classes and videos on turning things but not necessarily how to turn, including body mechanics, vocabulary and concepts. Also unfortunately, good turners are not necessarily good teachers.

 

[Jaramiah Severns]

Since you’re open to travel, the woodturning school at Craft Supplies in Provo, Utah is a good option. They have great local instructors and bring in top-tier guest instructors several times a year.

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

Sammy Long told me years ago that taking a class would take a year off your learning curve. I’ve taken four now , two embellishment and two turning. The best money I’ve ever spent , next to my lathe.

 

[Bill Blasic]

For me a bowl is a bowl. No matter how good it looks, how many holes it has in it, no matter how it is decorated, it is a bowl. Art for me is something that has no other use but for to look at and ponder and smile or wonder what was thought at its making. What art is to others is what they see in their eyes and can be very different to what you and I see. I have studied with some of the best turners in the world over the last 20 years and I have surely learned something from each of them. Can I tell you what from each I learned, NO! It's a little of this a little of that and it's all rolled into each thing I do. It's all there but it's just wrapped up into me. But every one of the classes has been worth every penny and I would do it all again. And I am as this summer I'll be doing a couple days hands on with Jason Breach A club, a mentor and classes are the best ways to learn. I myself wouldn't call symposiums the greatest learning experience but I have always enjoyed them for being entertained, meeting folks and for finding and touching the latest gear. One of the best and greatest things woodturning has given to me is friends who I would not know except for woodturning. I guess you can't ask for a bigger plus than that.

 

[John K Jordan]

@Chris Roades

I don't remember if you said earlier - are you a member of a local turning club?
Many clubs have free mentorship programs for members. You can go to the shop of an experience person, or they may come to yours.

I think this is the best way to get started, perhaps better than a class. A teacher in a class may have to provide a broad lesson and might not have much time for individual instruction. And a week-long class may have to move along at a pace to suit the class, not the individual. A class advertised as for beginners might be ok.

But an individual instructor/mentor can evaluate your level of experience and adjust the teaching to your pace.

That said, the well-known schools I have experience with in this area:

• John C Campbell www.folkschool.org/ (click "Find a class")
• Arrowmont arrowmont.org/ (click "Find a workshop", "Medium")
• Appalachian Center for Craft www.tntech.edu/fine-arts/craftcenter/ (click "Workshops)

These are not just wood and woodturning but have courses for many things - carving, fiber arts, pottery, jewelry, papercraft, working with metal, far more.
One advantage of a school is you can visit other areas, meet people, and be inspired by something you never imagined!
People travel from all over to attend - I met someone who traveled from Israel for a week-long class!

There may be other similar schools closer to you.

As someone mentioned, there are many videos out there but none of those can watch and correct how your tools are prepared, how hold and move a tool, your body motion, etc. (And some videos are horrible.)

One-on-one instruction can be so much better. For example, when I teach a beginner in my shop I always start with a skew chisel - I show them how to hold,, how to present the edge to the wood, how to learn to get a good continuous shaving, how to move the legs, etc. I turn the lathe by hand at first until I think they are ready for spinning wood. I watch everything and constantly correct and suggest. I move from planing cuts on a skew to v-grooves, coves with a spindle gouge, and more. Most quickly get the hang of things - I have never had a person get a catch!

My initial session is spindle based but I think that's important even if you really want to turn bowls in the long term - it's been said by many experts that spindle turning can teach you the fine tool control that will let you turn ANYTHING! I know some who can turn beautiful bowls but have trouble with other things which limits what they can do.

There are also pro turners that offer individual instruction!

JKJ

 

[Steve Brisco]

I’m going to answer from the prospective of when I was new to turning and then some.

The best thing I ever did was to take a class. I bought my second lathe at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta 25 years ago, and after having the lathe for a while and making a few more dog dishes I took a one day class from Phil Colson at Highland (great teacher). It made a big difference in my confidence and ability to turn a better piece, in my attitude towards safety, how to sharpen a tool and many other aspects of turning. Dale Larson, another great teacher, who I took a class from at Arrowmont some years ago made a big difference in my overall technique, and it was a great way to exchange ideas with others.

There are many great schools and individuals where you can take a class, but only you know what it is you want to accomplish. Ask yourself a few questions. Is there a specific area that you want to improve upon, I.e.the basics of turning, spindle work, hollow turning, bowl turning etc? What do you enjoy turning? Now go find an instructor who fits that need. Review their instagram, Facebook pages to see if you like their work. How long have they been teaching? Email or call the instructor to discuss what you want to accomplish. You may find out that you are on different tracks with your needs and their class. If they don’t have a few minutes to talk and understand your needs, go find another instructor.

As many have said, join a club. When I lived in the Atlanta there were several great clubs with many highly experienced turners and teachers. Having your work critiqued by more experienced and thoughtful turners can help you improve your techniques. There was nothing better than being able watch John Jordan and others do a demo, then ask questions.

 

[John Torchick]

Only taken the one class. The rest was learned OTJ and YT.

 

[Mike Zip Hamilton]

A class with Trent Bosch in Ft Collins CO you can get individualized instruction. Fix what you don’t do well technique wise then Trent is a master of many directions carving, coloring, sand blasting hollowing, bowls, chain sawing, and much more.. Trent occasionally has other instructors in his shop.

Laurent Niclot and his bride Kailee were always around when I took his class. We had a chance as a class and individually to set our course.