Bowl Turning on a Pole Lathe
Workshop Fee: $288.00
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: $20 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 2026 policies before registering for a workshop https://www.sanbornmills.org/workshop-policies/Â
