Bowl Turning on a Pole Lathe

Come learn to turn a wooden bowl on a foot-powered pole lathe. For a thousand years these simple, hand-built machines were used to turn all sorts of wooden products. This course will teach you how to prepare a bowl blank with an ax, how to turn that blank into a bowl using turning hooks and various techniques, and how to finish the bowl with drying oils, paint, and other finishes. Successfully using a pole lathe requires a certain amount of stamina and coordination, so students should be prepared for a physically demanding class.

Skills and Techniques:

• Safe and efficient ax technique
• Turning on a Pole Lathe
• Sharpening turning hooks
• Using a hook knife to clean the “nubs” of the bowl

Materials Fee: $10 to cover wood is paid directly to the instructor.

Special Tools or Equipment: No tools required, though students who have axes, sloyd knives, or hook knives should bring them. Students should wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing, dressing in layers.

Please be sure to read our policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies