Classes

Course Descriptions

Turning Lidded Vessels and Containers
5 days:
Students are guided through different projects, acquiring the skills to turn a variety of boxes and thin-walled vessels with lids and finials. Emphasis will be on the fundamentals of good design and precise technique. We will be shaping, sharpening, and using a variety of different tools to achieve fine details and a pleasing form with a flawless finish top to bottom, inside and out. Discussions and demonstrations may also include powdered metal and stone inlay, gilding with gold leaf, combining different woods, fitting parts together, and multi axis spindle turning. Students should have good basic turning skills.

Finial Box
1-3 days
The subject of this class is my "signature" style of lidded container with a finial; my most popular demonstration topic. Students are guided through the techniques involved in this project with the complexity of the box(es) and finial varied according to the length of the class. In a single day class, most of the participants will complete their piece.

Basic Boxmaking
1-3 days
Designed as an introduction to Boxmaking, this class focuses on cutting techniques and the mechanics of making small turned Boxes. A beginner Boxmaker with basic turning skills can expect to complete a piece on the first day.

Triangular Box and other Multi-Axis spindle projects
1-2 days
Using multiple centers, a triangular shape is created on the lathe. This class covers the layout technique and some ways to use it to enhance turned projects. We will create a Triangular Box, using both the multi-axis technique and basic box-making techniques.

Vessels with Lids
2-3 days
Form and finish are the most important qualities in a hollow vessel. In this class we will learn the fundamentals of both design and technique as we explore the shaping of vessel forms, and create a lid and finial for the vessel. A demonstration of hollowing techniques will be done on the last day of the 3-day class, and the students will have an opportunity to try my captured bar hollowing system with the laser measuring attachment.

Finial Turning
1 day

Fundamentals of Cutting and Sharpening
1 day