Woodturning on a pole lathe is a challenging and empowering experience which relies on your own power to operate a wonderfully simple machine. Your whole body must work in concert with the lathe and the tools. Over three days, we will axe out blanks from green wood and turn bowls with pole lathes. We will cover the basics of turning, cutting techniques, and bowl design. Experienced students can move to more challenging projects like truncated bowls, lidded containers, or nesting. We will also discuss handling and storing green wood, sharpening, axe skills, and how to dry and finish your bowls with oil, paint, and decorative carving. Students should be prepared for a very physically demanding class that requires a certain level of stamina, coordination, and physical strength as well as the ability to follow precise instructions with regard to safety. Students must be able to stand on one leg for extended periods of time and have the hand strength to open a sealed jar or swing an axe or hammer repeatedly. If there are questions about this or if students have injuries or physical limitations, please contact the school before registering. Ages 16+ may register for this course independently.

Required Tools

• All tools will be provided

Optional Tools

• Turning hooks
• Hook knife
• Axe