Introduction to Hollowing, Woodturning Course Hampshire
turning The Unseen
£185 per person | Fridays or Saturdays | Maximum 4 students
There's something different about hollowing. Unlike bowls or platters, where you can see your progress with every pass, hollow forms ask you to work with what you can't see. You shape the invisible. And that's where it gets interesting and intuitive.
We'll turn one practice piece to experience the tools in use and then work towards completing a piece roughly 4x5” in size. The aim is to get it finished, but in reality, it is more likely we will finish the day with a mostly completed piece you can take home to finish in your own time. There’s no sense rushing something you have worked hard on all day!
Who is this Class for?
This class is for turners who already have some experience at the lathe.
You should be comfortable with basic bowl turning and confident using a spindle gouge and bowl gouge and holding work between centres.
If you've completed our Two Day Beginners class or have equivalent experience in your own workshop, you're ready for this.
It's also ideal if you've tried hollowing at home and found yourself going through walls, struggling with tool control, or simply wanting someone to watch over your shoulder and offer guidance. Sometimes having a second pair of eyes makes all the difference
This is not a beginners class.
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 and refreshments. Just bring yourself and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a bit dusty although smocks are available to wear.
Tools Used
-Spindle Roughing Gouge - 3/8″ Bowl Gouge - 3/8″ Spindle Gouge - Drill and Jacobs Chuck -
- Diamond Parting Tool - Les Thorne Multi Purpose Tool - Simon Hope Carbide Hollowing Tools -
- Sanding Sealer - Finishing Wax - Finishing Oils -
What You'll Learn
Morning: a practice piece. Before you commit to anything you care about, you spend time getting the feel of the hollowing tools with the wood in front of you. You learn where the tool wants to sit, what the cut sounds like, and how the piece answers back.
Afternoon: your hollow form, roughly 4 by 5 inches. You drill a pilot hole to set your depth, work from the top down, and learn to judge wall thickness by sound and feel rather than by measuring constantly.
Most people leave with a piece that is nearly finished rather than finished, and that is fine. The day is about the technique. To complete it at home you will need a set of 2 inch chuck jaws.
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
12.00pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
12.30pm: Workshop continues
2.00pm: Coffee break
4pm: Finish and tidy.
Included: All timber, tools, consumables, safety equipment, lunch, refreshments, your hollowed pieces to take home.
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.