Hollow form workshop complete

Another successful hollow form course was completed this past weekend by myself and Mark Sanger, the weather was great apart from a few showers which did not effect us as much as it would have the Glastonbury festival not far away.

The format for the two day hollow form courses that we run covers all that is needed for students to turn an end grain open form from unseasoned wood on the first day and a small holed cross grain form on the second.

The courses are always relaxed and fun with everyone being encourage to work progressively at their own pace for the two days.
Every student on this course takes away a fifteen page Aide memoire

Each course is £80/day/person so for £160 you get two days of tuition, all the materials, loan of tools and safety equipment. or bring your own,
Food and refreshments are included, all this with two tutors giving the correct amount of personal tuition, why pay more for less.

Mark caught off guard as he relaxes for the first cuppa of the day when we all sit down and get to know each other.  

In the workshop, first and most importantly health and safety is covered and maintained throughout the two days, woodturning is fun but can be inherently dangerous so it should be at the forefront at all times.

Wood selection for an unseasoned end grain form is covered, what to look for and what to discard and how this is orientated on the lathe for turning.

Once the wood is safely mounted on the lathe Mark covers form taking into account the 'Rule of Thirds' which is one of the methods discussed and shown through various examples of pieces Mark brought as examples. Through-out students are encouraged to ask questions and get involved in open discussion about shape, form and methods of turning. 

Then it is onto making shavings at which point each student uses their own tools if they want to or the one provided. The different grinds and tooling methods such as push and pull cuts are demonstrated my Mark and myself using both long and standard grinds. Mark demonstrates the method for turning the outside of a form and then each student starts their own project with Mark and myself helping with the tooling techniques along the way.

Many types/makes of hollowing tools are available for the students to try but they are encouraged if they already own a hollow tool to bring it along so they can work with it and refine any issues they may have.

Sue starting to rough down her form

John who had made a 200 mile trip for the course shaping the outside. 

Pete facing off with a push cut

John starting to hollow out using the Rolly Munro

Mark showing how to measure out prior to Sue drilling to depth prior to hollowing.

Pete refining the outside form

Finally all the finished forms were oiled with the subject of seasoning being covered after which we had a final cuppa and debrief/discussion to cover any questions etc.

Day two and we are onto producing a squat cross grain hollow form from seasoned sycamore. 

Sue hollowing out with the Revolution

John hollowing out under the shoulder using his Keltons

Mark enjoying the day

Chris and Sue finishing the outside of their forms using an inertia sanding arbours and hand finishing.

Jon, Pete and Sue with the two forms they produced during the course.

Each day we were treated to a lovely lunch prepared by Susan my wife who also looked after us with refreshments when needed. 

Mark and I are running courses in the coming months on, box making, natural edge and thin wall turning, spindle turning, bowl turning an others so check back in from time to time for details. Or if you prefer email me for details. 

All ready for Hollow form workshop

Just made sure my workshop is clean and all equipment ready for tomorrow and Saturday's Hollow form course that Mark Sanger and myself are running  for four students .
Note to myself  Don't forget to take pics

Keiths late Christmas Present.

At Christmas Keith's wife bought him a surprise present, one of my gift vouchers for a days one to one woodturning tuition.Today was the first opportunity Keith had to come here for his days tuition.
Keith enjoyed his day and made a super bowl from some nicely figured  Sycamore.
Keith and his wife own a property in Spain where they burn Olive wood and he has promised to bring me some after his next trip.
I have never had any Olive wood so I am looking forward to receiving it.
Well done Keith.

Pete and his bowls

Yesterday Pete came here for a days tuition.
Although Pete has been turning for a number of years he wanted to make sure his tools were properly sharpened and profiled and to check he was using them properly.
We had to iron out a few small things which is only to be expected and generly he was doing OK.
In the course of the day Pete made two nice bowls the large one is Ash that has been Ebonised and guilded and the smaller one is limed Oak.
Well done Pete keep up the good work.

Roger and Dick

My latest two students Roger and Dick.
Bothe wanted to do bowl turning , Roger was here for two days and made three nice bowls and Dick was here for one day and made a nice Oak bowl.
Very well done bothe of you.

Well done Ross

Ross my student for today made himself a very nice bowl out of Olive Ash.
Ross has decided to cut down on his work load and semi retire after a lifetime of stress as an Arcitect.
As he will now have time on his hands he is exploring different crafts with a view to taking something up as a hobby.He has done very well today and hopefully he will take up woodturning.
Very well done Ross.

A few pics from today.

Don White Woodturner

Yesterday my Wife Sue and I returned from a short break in North Devon and while we were ther we popped in to see Don White and his lovely Wife Carol.
Considering we dropped in unannounced we could not have been made more welcome.
 Carol insisted on us staying for lunch and we were treated to a beautiful spread of assorted cheeses and pickles.
The last time I saw Don and Carol was in March 2006 and January 2007 when I had tuition from Don.
At the time I had not been turning for long and I was looking for a professional turner to give me tuition on basic tooling  I believed then as I do now if you get the basics right then you then have the right foundation to progress to be a good turner.
At the time I telephoned Done and after a lengthy discusion I booked two days tuition in March 2006 and again in Jan 2007.
I found Don to be a very patient teacher and of all the tuition I have received this was probably the best because Don instilled in me the importance of getting the basics right.
When I was With Don for tuition I stayed with them in their bungalow as they do bed and breakfast .
I have managed to scrounge a beautiful small Cocobollo box from Don to join my collection of works from Professional turners.I will be making something to give Don in return.
Don still gives tuition and if you are looking for a break in North Devon with good tuition thrown in you could do a lot worse than stay with Don and Carol for a couple of days.
Click on the link below for more info. 
Don White Woodturner