Lessons & Training
I have been woodturning for about 40 years and teaching students and giving demonstrations for about 14 years. I provide both private lessons, club demonstrations and teach hands on classes. Venues have included Peters Valley Craft Center, Totally Turning Symposium, New Jersey Woodturners, Del Valley Woodturners, Central New York Woodturners, Atlantic Shore Woodturners, Cape Atlantic Woodturners, Watergap Woodturners, First State Woodturners, and AWA Woodturners.
Private Lessons
These are help at my studio in Erwinna, Pennsylvania and run at $45 per hours and include all the shop materials. The student takes home whatever is created (sometimes lots of shavings, sometimes a priceless artistic piece and every time some great memories).
Demonstrations
These range from beginner to advance and fees are provided on request. Examples of each topic below can be found in my website gallery. Some of the best topics are:
“Decorative Platters and Finishes On Turn Items”
Platter design and the many techniques used to decorate them, including, pewter, copper, egg shell, pyrography and carving. How to read the wood, cut the platter, come up with creative new ideas, mark out the platter and finish it with at least 10 different techniques including mix media like, metal egg shell and spackle.
“Deep Hollow Vessels from the Bottom Up”
Designs that are best accomplished from the bottom up and great ideas to try from artists in other media like glass and pottery. How to accomplish the hollowing and re-plugging of the hole so that it is impossible to see where the entry was made. Attendees will learn about deep hollow vessels that can be made from the bottom up. The sequence of cuts to make, the tools to use, the correct way to use the tools, the decoration of the vessels and how to hide the entry hole.
“How To Say I Love You from a Lathe”
Lots of great ideas and items to make for your spouse to say how much you love them. Attendees will learn about 10 different ideas on quick items to make to show their appreciation to their significant other. During the demo about 3 items will be made including a jewelry heart, non-cheese eating mice and a worry donut or heart shaped box.
“From Tree to Lathe: Focus on the Perfect Bowl”
Learn to turn the “Perfect Bowl” by learning how to identify the most common trees in the North East and the best ways to use them. Beginning with rough logs, topics covered will include: green wood turning, grain orientation, design, proper use of tools and finishing and decorative techniques. I will share my 40 years of turning experience with a focus on how to bring out the beauty in any piece of wood.
“Deep Hollow Vessels”
Designs that are best for deep hollow vessels and great ideas to try from artists in other media like glass and pottery. How to accomplish the hollowing by using about 7 different tools, some homemade and some purchased. Attendees will learn about deep hollow vessels that can be made from very classical to multi-level wonders. The sequence of cuts to make, the tools to use, the correct way to use the tools, the decoration of the vessels and how to hide the entry hole.