Woodturning Experience Day
Your First Day at The Lathe
£180 per person | Saturdays | Maximum 5 students
A full day discovering what woodturning is really about. You'll try both spindle and faceplate work, make two pieces to take home, and find out whether this is a craft you want to pursue.
The morning starts with a slimline pen to get us off to a satisfying start before lunch. There's something deeply rewarding about turning a piece of wood into a functional, beautiful object in just a couple of hours. The afternoon moves to a shallow bowl, shaping a gentle curve and learning to understand the wood's grain. By 4pm, you'll have two finished pieces and a genuine understanding of what this craft involves.
The essence of this class is to have fun rather than in-depth learning. That said, you'll pick up more than you might expect. Hands-on experience has a way of teaching things that watching videos simply can't.
Who is this Class for?
Anyone curious about woodturning. Perhaps you've watched a video and wondered what it actually feels like to shape wood on a lathe. Perhaps someone mentioned it and you thought: why not? Curiosity is the only qualification you need.
Gift voucher recipients looking for a hands-on experience. If someone has given you a voucher and you're not sure what to expect, this is the perfect introduction. You'll leave with two things you've made yourself, and a clear sense of whether you want to go further.
People who want to try before committing. The Two Day Beginners Class is a bigger investment of time and money. This day lets you test the water first. If you love it, you'll know. If it's not for you, you've still had a good day and made something with your hands.
No experience needed. 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's Included?
Everything you need for the day: all timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments, and your pen and platter to take home. Just bring yourself and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a bit dusty.
Tools Used
-Spindle Roughing Gouge - 3/8″ Bowl Gouge - 3/8″ Spindle Gouge -
- Diamond Parting Tool - French Curve Scraper - Les Thorne Multi Purpose Tool - Inertia and Powered Bowl Sanders - Sanding Sealer - Finishing Wax - Finishing Oils
What You'll Learn
You'll get hands-on experience with the core tools and discover how different cuts produce different results. You'll begin to understand why the wood behaves the way it does, and start to feel the feedback through the tool. These are the foundations that everything else builds on.
By the end of the day, you'll have turned a pen and a shallow bowl. Neither will be perfect. That's not the point. The point is that you made them, you understand how, and you know whether this is something you want to pursue.
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 — pen turning
12.30pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
1.00pm: Bowl turning and finishing
2.30pm: Coffee break
4pm: Finish and tidy.
Included: All timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments, your pen and platter to take home.
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.