Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
We will video record all instructor class demonstrations for students of that class to view online for at least nine months after the class.
This is unique to our woodturning school because we believe it essential for our students to be able to review what they learned during the class long after the class is over.
ELI'S SPINDLE & PLATTER PROJECT MAKING CLASS
Eli starts his class with sharpening, followed by tool control techniques, emphasizing understanding wood grain to aid in correct cutting. Day one also includes making a tumbler as a warm-up project.
On the second day, students will make spinning tops with Eli’s techniques that create unique features.
Day three combines turning and carving, including multi-axis turning, to make wooden spoons.
Day four is platter turning with carving, texturing, and coloring.
Throughout Eli's class, he will cover design, decoration, carving, and coloring for woodturning, giving the students an insight into numerous ways to make their woodturning more artistic.
Eli is exceptional at imparting his technical skills to students, ensuring they learn how to turn a wide variety of products.
Visit Eli’s website to admire his extensive woodturning style and his ability to work wood to make various other works.
This class is for beginner to advanced students but is unsuitable for someone who has never turned.
Link to Eli’s Website: https://en.eliavisera.com/
LEARN TO CUT WITH EXCEPTIONAL TOOL CONTROL - NO TORN GRAIN - LESS PHYSICAL EFFORT
Stuart's classes are for novice to advanced students. Any level of woodturner with a modest turning experience is welcome, but they are unsuitable for someone who has never turned before.
Stuart offers classes focusing on improving understanding and applying the most effective way to cut wood on a lathe. These classes suit woodturners at every level, from novice to world-class professional. Stuart's woodturning style is a foundational method of turning. It was developed to enable a turner to make any object on a lathe without torn grain and with less physical effort.
After attending one of Stuart's classes, taking any other class complements what they have learned. Our other instructors' project-based classes help students with the numerous processes and steps needed to make more complex turnings.
Stuart's woodturning style is based on what he calls the "Push Cut." As an apprentice, Stuart evolved the British fundamental style of woodturning to be more ergonomic and efficient. His style involves six fundamental cuts used for bowl and spindle turning that require minimal physical effort and eliminate torn grain. Every cut is broken down into comprehensive steps so students can learn and perfect each.
Stuart has developed several grinds and techniques covered in all his classes. These make woodturning more fun and efficient, including the 40/40 Grinding, Bottom Bowl Gouge Grind, and Negative Rake Scraping.
Key Points Taught in Every Class:
A firm grasp of the fundamentals of woodturning enables students to continue exploring woodturning confidently in any direction they choose.
By the end of the course, students can sharpen gouges and chisels on a grinding platform in just a few seconds. This practical skill saves time and ensures students can touch up the edge of their tools when necessary to avoid a dull edge that always tears the wood grain.
Stuart's Class Details:
Stuart will be teaching three different types of classes over the next year, as well as a special class with Mike Mahoney.
In Stuart's classes, the focus is on the fundamentals of woodturning rather than specific projects. Students in Stuart's courses spend more time practicing cutting than in any other class. However, they also get to take home many pieces they have turned but have not finish sanded.
STUART'S 3-DAY BOWL TURNING CLASS
This class is focused on students becoming very efficient at turning bowls using Stuart’s 40/40 and bottom bowl gouge grinds. It also includes understanding when and where to use his negative rake scraping technique.
Day one involves turning the outside of various bowl shapes and sizes, and unlimited bowl blanks are available. Students learn to create and control the 40/40 grind, which is exceptional at finishing the bowl's end grain surfaces without tearing grain while taking volume cuts. Stuart also covers his seven fundamental set-up rules to eliminate unnecessary variables.
Day two is about turning the inside of all the bowls made on the first day. Students can leave them thicker to dry and complete them at another time or turn them thin and let them be. Students learn to create and control the bottom bowl gouge to finish the side grain surfaces at the rim and inner bottom bowl surfaces.
On day three, students start from the beginning again by turning the outside of a variety of bowls until noon. In the afternoon, students complete the same bowls. Repeating the two stages required to make bowls reinforces what students have learned and ensures they leave with the skills and knowledge to continue turning at a higher level.
Throughout the three days, other essential processes are covered: jam chucking, returning rough-turned bowls, sanding techniques, and workpiece form & function.
STUART'S 5-DAY BOWL TURNING CLASS
This class starts the same as Stuart’s three-day class. However, students work on more advanced bowls, such as natural edge, thin artist, and winged bowls on days four and five.
The extra two days of working with the 40/40 and bowl bottom grinds, supported by negative rake scraping, which is exceptional on broken surfaces like the winged bowl, really cement students’ turning skills.
STUART'S 5-DAY BOWL & SPINDLE TURNING CLASS
This class focuses on students becoming very efficient at tool control for both bowl and spindle turning.
Students start day one learning to create correct spindle roughing, spindle, and 40/40 bowl gouge grinds on a platform. They then use these tools to practice the six fundamental cuts that make all the shapes in spindle turning and broken surface pommel cuts.
On day two, students move to bowl turning, where they practice the same six fundamental cuts to turn the outsides of bowls for the day, including a broken surface cut used to take irregular shape bowl blanks down to the round easily.
Day three is about turning the inside of all the bowls made on the second day. Students can leave them thicker to dry and complete them at another time or turn them thin and let them be. Students learn to create and control the bottom bowl gouge to finish the side grain surfaces at the rim and inner bottom bowl surfaces.
On day four, students start from the beginning again by turning the outside of a variety of bowls until noon. In the afternoon, students complete the same bowls. Repeating the two stages required to make bowls reinforces what students have learned and ensures they leave with the skills and knowledge to continue turning at a higher level.
On day five, students can turn more bowls using the skills and knowledge from the previous days. Alternatively, students can learn more spindle techniques, such as chisel use, end grain hollowing, and negative rake scraping for end grain finish.
STUART'S 3-DAY SPINDLE TURNING CLASS
This class focuses solely on tool control and techniques for spindle turning. However, this class would benefit even those who primarily only want to bowl turn. The skills and knowledge obtained from this class elevate a woodturner's understanding and motor skills for all forms of woodturning.
Students start day one learning to create correct spindle roughing, spindle, and 40/40 bowl gouge grinds on a platform. They then use these tools to practice the six fundamental cuts that make all the shapes in spindle turning and broken surface pommel cuts.
On day two, we introduce when and where to use skew chisels, beading & parting tools, and the vortex tool to complement gouges. Using gouges and chisels together for spindle turning
On day three, students will start using the spindle-turning skills they have learned to do copy work. They can choose from several spindle projects and make one, then repeat and copy that piece. Students will be guided at each stage to ensure they make a successful copy.
STUART'S & MIKE'S 5-DAY BOWL TURNING CLASS
Some of you may have seen Stu and Mike do their dual bowl race at a woodturning symposium. It’s a light-hearted, fun demonstration, but behind the scenes, their two styles of bowl turning can complement each other. This is why they have decided to teach a class together for the first time.
Mike has nearly four decades of woodturning experience, has been a full-time production bowl turner for almost 30 years, and has likely turned more utilitarian bowls than any other turner in history.
Stu has been both a production spindle and bowl turner and now specializes in improving other turners’ technical skills and understanding. And has demonstrated and taught woodturning to more people than any other in history.
Stu and Mike have 87 years of combined turning experience, making their joint class an incredible wealth of knowledge for spindle and bowl turning.
In this class, students will learn Stu’s “Push Cut” and Mike’s “Pull Cut” used to form the outside of bowls. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages. However, you can combine the two styles to aid in bowl-making and use one or the other to make any outside-shaped bowl.
For the inside of bowls, students will learn to master the 40/40 and bottom bowl gouge grinds.
Stuart will teach his negative rake scraping technique, and Mike will show how to apply his shear scraping technique best.
Stuart and Mike both use freehand sharpening on a grinding platform. This will be covered in detail to ensure students gain the skills to sharpen correctly and efficiently.
Stuart’s seven fundamental setup rules will be covered in the class to eliminate the variables, as these rules apply to all woodturning.
Mike will share his immense knowledge of rough-turning and drying bowls. His insight into the world of selling woodturning products is invaluable.
Other Vital Points Covered in this Class:
CHALLENGE YOUR TURNING SKILLS WITH CINDY’S TURNED BOX AND FINIAL CLASS!
In Cindy’s class, you learn the fundamentals of turned boxes, skills that can be applied to numerous different box shapes, sizes, designs, and other turning projects.
Box makers of any experience will improve their skills and learn new techniques! Cindy is an exceptional turner, teacher, and demonstrator with very similar cutting techniques as Stuart Batty.
Students with any box-making experience will learn to refine their cutting and hollowing techniques. Cindy will elaborate on her design philosophy, giving students an insight into what makes an exceptional turned box.
Students make four different types of turned boxes, with and without finals. One box will use burl wood and coloring techniques to emphasize the burl's grain structure.
Cindy’s Class Covers the Following Subjects:
This class is for beginner to advanced students but is unsuitable for someone who has never turned.
Link to Cindy Drozda’s Website: https://www.cindydrozda.com/
BOWL AND SPINDLE PROJECTS WITH KEITH GOTSCHALL
Keith’s class teaches the basics of woodturning, delving into traditional woodturning techniques and work methods.
Students will turn a wide range of projects over Keith’s 5-Day class, gaining the confidence to approach their projects at home.
Keith focuses on correct cutting techniques and includes various exercises that improve tool control. This enables students to make defined, detailed projects, from functional pieces to gallery-quality work.
Day One: Keith starts with teaching freehand platform sharpening so students can practice over the 5-day class. Students then practice a series of spindle turning exercises, which help familiarize them with all the shapes that can be created on a lathe. These skills are then used to create simple projects, including a solid carving mallet, egg with jamb chuck, muddle, and swizzle stick.
Day Two: Students move on to green bowl turning, focusing on correct techniques and form. Keith gives students insight into how subtle variations can make a big difference in a bowl's elegance.
Day Three: Using the skills and knowledge gained, Keith teaches how to create perfect platters with defined detail, using correct cutting techniques supported by negative raking scraping. Students will also have the option to make a lidded bowl suitable for food use.
Day Four: Students make a small three-legged stool. This project combines spindle and bowl turning, helping cement the skills gained earlier. Keith guides students on how to turn multiples of the same piece by replicating three identical legs.
Day Five: Students move on to box-making, where Keith teaches the art of end grain hollowing, precise lid fits, and how to make functional salt shakers.
This class is for beginner to advanced students but is unsuitable for someone who has never turned.
Link to Keith Gotschall’s Website: https://keithgotschall.com/
EXPLORATION OF DESIGN IN WOODTURNING WITH MICHAEL HOSALUK
Michael’s Class Covers the Following Subjects:
Michael teaches fundamental turning techniques and sharpening. He then follows up with his approach to making unique, well-balanced turned objects.
He specializes in various surface finishes and textures, cutting and orientating the turned pieces to make one-of-a-kind or a series of turned unique objects.
Michael’s Class Covers the Following Subjects:
This class is for beginner to advanced students but is unsuitable for someone who has never turned.
Link to Michael Hosaluk’s Website: https://michaelhosaluk.com/
STUART'S & MIKE'S 5-DAY BOWL TURNING CLASS
Some of you may have seen Stu and Mike do their dual bowl race at a woodturning symposium. It’s a light-hearted, fun demonstration, but behind the scenes, their two styles of bowl turning can complement each other. This is why they have decided to teach a class together for the first time.
Mike has nearly four decades of woodturning experience, has been a full-time production bowl turner for almost 30 years, and has likely turned more utilitarian bowls than any other turner in history.
Stu has been both a production spindle and bowl turner and now specializes in improving other turners’ technical skills and understanding. And has demonstrated and taught woodturning to more people than any other in history.
Stu and Mike have 87 years of combined turning experience, making their joint class an incredible wealth of knowledge for spindle and bowl turning.
In this class, students will learn Stu’s “Push Cut” and Mike’s “Pull Cut” used to form the outside of bowls. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages. However, you can combine the two styles to aid in bowl-making and use one or the other to make any outside-shaped bowl.
For the inside of bowls, students will learn to master the 40/40 and bottom bowl gouge grinds.
Stuart will teach his negative rake scraping technique, and Mike will show how to apply his shear scraping technique best.
Stuart and Mike both use freehand sharpening on a grinding platform. This will be covered in detail to ensure students gain the skills to sharpen correctly and efficiently.
Stuart’s seven fundamental setup rules will be covered in the class to eliminate the variables, as these rules apply to all woodturning.
Mike will share his immense knowledge of rough-turning and drying bowls. His insight into the world of selling woodturning products is invaluable.
Other Vital Points Covered in this Class:
This class is for novice to advanced students: Any level of woodturner with modest turning experience is welcome but unsuitable for someone who has never turned before.
Link to Mike Mahoney’s Website: https://bowlmakerinc.com/
Details on Mike's 5-Day Class (December 1st-5th, 2025) to Follow Soon
TURN PERFECT PLATTERS USING TOM'S TWO-STEP PROCESS
In Tom’s class, students will learn to turn platters using his two-step turning process.
Tom's Class Covers the Following Subjects:
The Anatomy of a Well-Turned Platter - Form and Function Considerations:
Two-Step Turning Process:
Tools of the Trade:
Sharpening:
Sanding and Finishing:
Gallery Quality Finishes:
- Lacquer
- Shellac
- Varnish/oil blends
- Other Options
Utility Finishes:
- Oils
- Wax
- Other Options
This Class is for Intermediate to Advanced Students.
Link to Tom Wirsing’s Website: https://thomaswirsing.com/