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.
Your Tutor - Martin Saban-Smith RPT
Martin has been teaching turning wood since 2018, bringing a photographer's eye for proportion and form to the lathe. Martin’s teaching approach is patient, with room for questions, the understanding that mistakes are steps towards skill, and that learning is more process over perfection, community over competition.
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 -
What To Expect On the Day of Your Lesson at The Woodturning School
If you have queries, please check the FAQs
Book Your Place
Booking your place is simple. The calendar shows the next available date.
Click the date, then click the time. Then fill in some details and pay the deposit. We’ll look after the rest for you.
The day
9am: Meet at the Garden Centre Coffeeshop
9.30am: Workshop begins with the outside of the bowl
12.30pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
1.00pm: Continue with the inside of the bowl
2.30pm: Coffee break
4pm: Finish and tidy.
Included: All timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments.
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 date for £10 admin fee. Cancelling within 14 days will forfeit all monies paid. Click HERE for full terms and conditions.
Queries?
Before contacting us, please take a moment to check our FAQs. You'll often find the answer you're looking for is already there.