Since the opening of the new Woodcraft Store in Leesburg, VA, on 30 January 2006, I have been teaching woodturning classes there. I started out teaching an Introduction to Woodturning class, a Bowlmaking class, and a Penmaking class, but two of the employees at the store have taken the pen and intro classes. I am still teaching the bowl class and have now expanded to include a natural edge bowl class. In late Sep 07, there will also be a special class on making a stool, designed to teach the process of duplicating without a duplicator.
In the Intro to Woodturning class, the emphasis is on learning how to use the lathe, woodturning tools, and the sharpening system, all in a safe and effective manner. Students will practice using different tools on a piece of poplar and then transition to the final project, making a candlestick of red oak.
Wood pens are always eye-catchers. Everyone wants to know where you got it. After taking this class, you will be able to say, "I made it myself." This is a short class, taught in the evening, so the instructor will talk about safety as well as a bit on woodturning techniques, and then jump pretty quickly into making a pen. Students will be able to choose their wood, prepare the blanks, and turn the pieces down to final size and shape, then apply a friction polish to the wood while still on the lathe. Assembling the parts will go quickly and all will go home with a new wood pen.
The objective of the Bowl class is for the students to learn how to make a turned wood bowl. We'll start with some basic information about the lathe, woodturning tools, and safety, then move onto practicing some basic woodturning skills on a piece of dry wood, probably cherry or mahogany. If time allows, we will also rough out a bowl from green wood so see the difference from turning dry wood.
The natural edge bowl class is a good step up from the regular bowl class, which is a pre-requisite for the natural edge class. The reason for that is the natural edge bowl making process involves turning the top of the bowl as the natural edge spins around, alternating between wood and air. The bark must also be treated in a special way to keep it intact. This is a good class by which one can improve his or her overall turning skills and produce a really nice product at the same time. What I have found is that this second class is when new woodturners finally really "get it." There are skills needed to be a woodturner and sometimes it takes awhile to really click. I have seen it "click" during this class.
The Woodcraft Store in Leesburg is at 512 East Market Street, and the store phone number is (703) 737-7880. Please call the store or drop in to sign up for a class. Our objective is to have one of each of these classes each month.
Special note for those who have been doing "flat" or "square" woodwork: Finish those projects before you take a woodturning class. Once you try your hand at turning, you will never want to return to square work again! It is great fun.