Bowl Turning Experience Day
A Day Dedicated to Bowls
£180 per person | Mainly Saturdays | Maximum 5 students
If it's bowls that interest you, spend the whole day focused on them. No pens, no spindles. Just you, the lathe, and a piece of wood that will become a bowl by 4pm.
There's something particularly satisfying about bowl turning. You start with a rough chunk of timber and gradually reveal the form hidden inside. Shape the outside curve, hollow the inside, learn to feel the wall thickness become even under your fingertips. It's a conversation between you and the wood, and by the end of the day you'll understand what that actually means.
Who Is This Class For?
Anyone who wants their first turning experience to be all about bowls. If you've seen bowl turning and thought 'that's what I want to do', this is your day. No distractions, just bowls.
Spindle turners who want to explore faceplate work. If you've been making pens and spindles but haven't tried bowl turning, this class gives you dedicated time to learn without having to work through projects you've already mastered.
A focused alternative to the general Experience Day. The Woodturning Experience Day covers both spindle and faceplate work. This day goes deeper into one area. Choose the one that matches what you want to learn.
Gift voucher recipients who love the idea of making a bowl. A bowl is a meaningful thing to make. It holds fruit, catches keys, sits on a table and gets used. If someone has given you a voucher, this is a memorable way to spend it.
No experience required. I'll show you everything, step by step.
“Just completed the 1 day introduction to bowl turning. Martin’s reassurance, encouragement and assistance were top class. He enabled me to complete the tasks set and I enjoyed every minute.”
Your Tutor - Martin Saban-Smith RPT
Martin has been teaching woodturning since 2018, bringing a photographer's eye for proportion and form to the lathe. He teaches patiently, leaves room for questions, and treats mistakes as part of learning rather than a failure of it.
What You'll Learn
You'll work through the complete bowl-making process from start to finish. Mounting timber safely on a faceplate, roughing to round, refining the outside curve, hollowing to consistent walls, sanding through the grits, and finishing with oil or wax.
Along the way, you'll learn how bowl turning differs from spindle work. The grain runs across the piece rather than along it, which changes how the tools behave. You'll understand why cuts that work beautifully in one direction can tear the wood in another, and how to read the grain to get clean results.
You'll also start to develop the feel for wall thickness. Experienced turners can tell how thick a wall is just by touching it. That skill takes time, but this day is where it begins.
What's Included
Everything you need for the day: all timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments, and your finished bowl to take home. Just bring yourself and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty. Smocks are provided though.
Tools Used
- Spindle Roughing - 3/8″ Bowl Gouge - 3/8″ Spindle Gouge - Diamond Parting Tool -
- French Curve Scraper - Multi-Purpose Tool - Carbide Hollowing Tools -
- Inertia Bowl Sanders - Sanding Sealer - Finishing Wax - Finishing Oils -
“I experienced a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day. Martin was a perfect tutor, just the right amount of instruction, knowledge and humour.”
What To Expect On the Day of Your Lesson at The Woodturning School
If you have queries, please check the FAQs
The day
9am: Meet at the Garden Centre Coffeeshop
9.30am: Workshop begins with the outside of the bowl
12.00pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
12.30pm: Continue with the inside of the bowl
2.00pm: Coffee break
4pm: Finish and tidy.
Included: All timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments.
Book Your Place
Booking your place is simple. You can book up to 9 months ahead, and the calendar opens on the next class, so click through it to see later dates and how many places are left. Click the date, then the time, fill in your details and pay the 30 per cent deposit. We’ll look after the rest for you.
If a date is fully booked, click ‘JOIN WAITLIST’. It’s free, and if a place comes up we’ll text you a link to book it. As places aren’t guaranteed, you may want to book the next available date as well and move your booking if a waitlist place comes up. Find out how the waitlist works, HERE
Payments
A deposit of 30% is required to secure your booking. This deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation by the client. It covers buying materials and advertising your space in the event of cancellation. Amendments can be made up to 14 days before the date for a £10 admin fee. Cancelling within 14 days will forfeit all monies paid. Click HERE for full terms and conditions.