Bite-Size Workshop

A short introduction from Martin about this series of videos.

Above all else in the workshop, your health and safety is most important. Get a grasp of the basics in this video.

Learn a simple but effective approach to the first five minutes before you start to turn.

Find out about turning between centres and how to prepare a spindle blank for turning using a live and drive centre.

Overview of Martin’s Vicmarc VL300 lathe that he uses at the workshop.

Having a common-sense approach to lathe speed is important! Get some advice here.

Martin demonstrates his practice of how he positions the tool rest for various tools.

Learn the importance (and a method) of turning the right size and shape tenon of the jaws you are using.

A 60 second guide on setting the height of your lathe for the most comfortable turning session in the workshop.

Not knowing an individual’s budget for turning kit, this lessons provides some advice on buying your workshop set-up.

Explore the standard set of six tools with Martin and learn what to look for and what to expect.

In this video, Martin explains the parts of the tools - particularly the business end!

Every student asks this question, and I’ve afraid the answer isn’t too clear cut, but I do have an answer!

Find out how Martin sharpens his Bowl Gouges.

Learn about the Spindle Gouges Martin uses, and how they are sharpened.

Watch Les Thorne explaining the good use of a spindle roughing gouge.

Les Thorne explains the method of turning a V-Cut with a spindle gouge.

Beads are a fun shape to turn. In this video, Les Thorne shows you how.

Coves are the mirror technique of beads. Learn from production turner Les Thorne the method.

This practice piece is a great item to turn into a foot massager.

Short introduction to the bowl turning series.

Learn The Woodturning School’s method of turning the outside of a bowl.

Using superb onscreen graphics, see how the inside of a bowl is turned.

To complete a bowl perfectly, learn Martin’s excellent techniques for sanding and finishing.

A mushroom is a super project to play with for improving your spindle gouge work.

To add some precision to your turning (and to make a super gift), a cork bottle stopper is an excellent choice.

In this video, we take a look at turning a slimline pen using just a Spindle Roughing Gouge

This is a great question to answer quickly!

A great question that can be answered quickly . . .

Poor tool presentation can leave nasty marks on a piece. In this video, Martin runs through troubleshooting methods.

Discover the technique for hollowing end grain with a spindle gouge.

After reverse mounting the lid on the base, here’s how to finish lid with a little flourish.

Another look at end grain hollowing with a spindle gouge and finishing the cut with a multi purpose tool.

Discover the technique for fitting the box lid perfectly and reverse mounting the base on a jam chuck.

Getting your Curly Box blank round and turning the tenons.

Use a spindle gouge to hollow the lid and use a scraper to finish the surface perfectly.

Fitting the lid in same way as in the Basic Box.

Les shows how he uses a half inch spindle gouge to turn and elegant shape before texturing.

Add the surface texture now with a rotary cutter and Dremel-like tool before lacquering and colouring.

Finish off the box well by removing the tenon from the base of the box and complete with lacquer.