Stewart Furini
Getting Started with Power Carving Classes
£180 per person | Saturday 20th March and Friday 11th June 2027 | Maximum 5 students
Are you ready to move onto adding textures and patterns to your woodturning? Then give power carving a go. This day long course will introduce you to a range of power tools you can use to add decorative effects to your woodturning, bringing it into the world of carving. And if you fancy adding colour to the textures, we’ll cover that as well.
Spend the morning trying out different tools and cutters, including rotary tools, angle grinders and die grinders. Learn how carbide rasps cut a surface and how this compares to surfaces cut with carbide tips. Explore the subtle textures you can create with end mills and dental burrs. Try out wide-sweeping textures with large rasp blades, giving your work undulating curves and ripples; step in with finer-tipped tools to add more detail; and experiment with different colouring methods.
After lunch, it will be project time. Take all you have learned from the morning session and create your own textured project to take home at the end of the course.
Who is this Class for?
Anyone curious and excited about adding decoration and embellishment to their woodturning.
Anyone who’d like to try out power tools and cutters before committing to purchases.
It’s a great follow on from my Introduction to Airbrushing Course, but you don’t have to have done that course to sign on for this one.
Woodturners who think, ‘I’m not artistic’: let me prove you wrong!
You will have some turning experience and be able to turn a simple shallow bowl with minimal support.
This is not a beginners class.
Your Tutor - Stewart Furini RPT
Stewart has been teaching woodturning and decorative techniques for nearly 10 years, as well as demonstrating regularly at woodturning clubs and events in the UK, Europe and USA.
A thirty year career as a school teacher in a comprehensive school has proved to have many transferable skills to teaching woodturning, including not just patience, but also gentle encouragement, cajoling and confidence building.
Perhaps most importantly, the expectation is that it is Stewart’s responsibility for you to enjoy the course and learn new things – he’ll love it if you find yourself asking a question that starts with, ‘What if…’ as that is what the day is about: a playful, exploratory foray for your imagination and creativity.
What's Included?
All wood and carving tools are provided, but feel free to bring your own carving tools if you already have some. You’ll have access to rotary tools, an Arbortech Mini Carver, Proxxon Long Neck Mini Angle Grinders, and die grinders. A range of burrs from Saburrtooth and Kutzall are available, as well as carbon steel jewellery burrs. You’ll also get to use several Manpa Carving Cutters.
All finishing supplies and stains and paints, should you wish to add colour, are provided. Airbrushing equipment is available if you’d like to add this to your texturing work. Turning tools are provided, but feel free to bring your own. A face shield, gloves, ear-plugs and a mask will be provided. Bring a smock if you have one, or at least clothing you don’t mind getting dusty and that can take the odd drop or two of paint! No open-toed footwear..
Tools Used
Bowl Gouge - Parting Tool - Skew or Recess Cutting Tool - Angle Grinders - Die Grinders -
- Rotary Tools - Airbrushes - Inertia Sanders - Power Sanders - Stains - Paints - Sealer - Lacquer
What You'll Learn
By the end of the day, you will have used a wide range of power tools and learnt a variety of textures and patterns that you can add to wide rimmed shallow bowls. You’ll have experience of how the different cutters interact with the wood and how you can improve the surface finish with sanding techniques.
If you choose to include colour, you’ll have used a range of application methods and different colouring media. And I hope you’ll have discovered the enjoyment and extra creative possibilities that power carving can bring to your woodturning.
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 (up to 9 months in advance).
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
12.30pm: Lunch at the Coffeeshop (included)
1.00pm: Workshop continues
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.