A day with Jenni

A few weeks ago Jenni contacted me and booked in to do some woodturning as part of her UNI course.In her Email she said she needed to make a small bowl and three handles.I thought that will be OK until a couple of days ago I got the Drawings for this project and it was not going to be anything like as simple as I first thought.I have never seen such detailed drawings and as I never work to drawings for woodturning I was more than a bit concerned.There was no way a complete novice was going to work to such exacting standards.I pointed this out to Jenni in a telephone conversation and to be honest I felt even more concerned afterwords as I did not think she grasped how difficult it would be.
Waiting for her to turn up in the morning my tummy was tied up in knots because i was sure this was going to be one of the worst teaching experiences of my life.
When Jenni turned up she was a 22 year old with the most engaging personality and I immediately relaxed.We sat down to discuss our way forward and Jenni explained that she was on a design course at UNI and the design and drawing element was more important than the turning part. So that we could work exactly to the dimensions of the drawing she said she would be happy for me to have a big input in the turning.Because it was critical that we work strictly to the drawing and it exacting dimensions Jenni did all the roughing out and a lot of the sanding.It turned out to be one of the most pleasant days I have ever had in my workshop we worked as a team on this project and got the desired result.
Basically the project was a pestle and Mortar with handles as per the drawings below.
There is an extra handle because there is a grinding mechanism to go on the top.

Jenni took some pictures throuhgt the day that I will add as soon as I have them.

If you left click on the drawings they will become clearer

Leeand Helen 2nd Day

lee and Helen were her for the second day of their Bowl turning course and turned two lovely Bowls.
Today Lee turned a Spalted beech Bowl and Helen turned a super Sycamore Platter with a coloured rim.
They intend taking up turning for a hobby and will be getting all the equiptment soon.
I am sure we will be seeing them again and we will be looking forward to it .

A lovely couple and dont they look pleased with themselves and so they should.

Lee and Helen

Today Lee and Helen were here for part of a two day Bowl turning course.Helen bought the course as a Birthdat present for Lee and he did not know until yesterday that he was comming here.
Today they turned a couple of nice bowls Lee's is Sycamore with a coloured rim and Helen's is a lovely Spalted Beech Bowl.
I am looking forward to them comming back tommorow for another enjoyable days turning.

Martin's second visit

My Student today was Martin from South Wales on his second visit.
Martin was here about a year ago and has been practicing and improving greatly but wants to progress his turning into colouring and texturing.
Martin needed to sort out a few issues which is only to be expected so we spent a day sorting out his issues and playing with colouring and texturing.
I was very pleased to see Martin because we got on so well together last time he was here.
As before we had lots of laughs and also got through a lot of work.
Here are some pics from our day.
We had a great day and I am now looking forward to Martins next visit.


Using Martin Saban Smiths Intrinsic water based stains to colour an Ash Bowl

 Some colouring andtexturing on a Sycamore blank

 This is an Ash Bowl that Martin brought with him and we scorchedit to remove the soft grain then coloured it black with spirit stain then added Chestnut Gold Gilt cream followed by two coats of sealer and Lacquer

 Thi is the finished Ash bowl coloured with the Intrinsic stains.

Turning with Tony

My Student today was Tony.
Tony's Wife bought him a days Bowl turning Tuition as a present.
Tony has a Lathe and equiptment and is ready to start turning.
With todays tuition under his belt I would expect him to make some good work.
The pic below shows the lovely Beech Bowl Tony is taking home for his Wife Kerry .

Ashley and Emma

Yesterday my Student was Ashley.
Ashley is a carpenter and works for himeself as a kitchen fitter so he is already familier with working with wood
Emma treated Ashley to a days woodturning tuition as a Birthday present because it is something he always wanted to have a go at.
I feel sure that Ashley will take up Woodturning at some time as he is obviously very comfortable working with wood.
We had a great day very easy for me and Ashley turned a beutiful Beech Bowl for Emma and as you can see she is very pleased with the result.

George my Student for the day

My Student today was George and he was here as a days Woodturning tuition as a Birthday present from his Wife Sheila.
George was great company and we had a lot of laughs .
George got on very well with his Turning and took to it like a duck to water making it an easy day for me.
The picture below shows a very happy George with the lovely Sycamore Bowl he turned.