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.
“We’ve just attended the one day beginner’s course, neither of us had any prior experience. We walked away with useable pens and bowls.”
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's Included?
Everything you need for the day: all timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments, and your pen and bowl 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.
“I had a great day learning an ancient skill. Martin is a brilliant teacher. Lunch was lovely. I would thoroughly recommend the 1 day class.”
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 — pen turning
12.00pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
12.30pm: Bowl turning and finishing
2.00pm: Coffee break
4pm: Finish and tidy.
Included: All timber, tools, pen kit, consumables, safety equipment.
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.