Courses (available to buy in our on line shop)

The courses are held in a our purpose built workshop and are run with a maximum of 4 people per course. The workshop is equipped with Vicmarc VL300 Short Bed lathes, each lathe has fully ducted dust extraction and an angle poise lamp fitted with daylight bulbs, smocks and face visors available at every work station. All the tools needed for the course are provided, however if participants wish to bring their own tools for guidance on sharpening or use they are most welcome to do so.

The workshop has central heating for the winter and airconditioning in the summer (we open all the doors and windows)


Hollow forms

Turning Hollow forms has been Phil's specialist discipline for over ten years, with experience in the use of most of the hollowing tools and methods currently on offer.

Course Details:

This two day course is designed for those turners who want to explore the world of end grain hollow forms using mainly wet wood. The course will start with the selection of timbers from our local timber yard, appropriate lumps will be taken to the workshop for sizing and made ready for the lathe. Once the timber has been selected the focus on the course will be to create a hollow form so that each student can learn the skills and techniques required to produce a quality piece. In order to create a perfect hollow form the following techniques will be instructed throughout the two days:

• Selection of native timbers in the round

• Methods of holding the work piece securely using chucks, jaws and faceplates

• The use of various hollowing tools and there characteristics

• Tool sharpening using jigs

• Using a bowl gouge with an ‘Ellesworth' ground profile

• Emphasis on the importance of proportion, form and shapes

• Control of wall thickness

• Review the use of Rotary sanders and abrasives, both hand held and powered

• Appropriate finishes for decorative or functional pieces

3 Day Colour, Carve, & Texture Workshop

Phil has used texture and colour over the years to enhance the look and feel of work created using pale, light coloured timbers. Some of his best work incorporates these techniques for which he has received many accolades.

Course Details:

The focus of this course is to promote the use of alternative methods of decoration in woodturning. Whether you turn bowls and platters, work with hollow forms or your someone who likes to create something completely different, the aim is to look at ways of changing the approach to your work and furthering your portfolio of techniques.

Key topics covered will be:

• Selection of appropriate timbers for decoration

• Shapes and forms for applying texture and colour

• The use of abrasives and different types of sanders, both powered and rotary

• The use of stains and other materials to discover what's hidden within the wood

• Different methods of carving powered and manual

• Finishing i.e. sanding and polishing, different finishes and their suitability

During the three days you will be encouraged to create your own style of work and be shown how best to incorporate the use of texture and colour. The options are unlimited and as a group you will be able to exchange ideas and thoughts in a pro-active environment.

3 Day Hat Making Course

‘Turn your own wearable hat, cut so thin that the bending to shape becomes easy and the finished hat weighs as little as 6oz'.

Course Details:

Starting with a rough sawn log this course will teach you the techniques required to produce a full size hat from start to finish. Phil will initially demonstrate the making process and integrate the use of jigs to produce the variety of different shapes and form of hats.

You will come away from the course with a full size wearable hat made to fit you and also a ‘mini' hat produced as way of decoration rather than function.

Costs

A two day course costs £125.00 per day.

A three day course costs £110.00 per day.

The fees cover two/three days tuition along with all materials required. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

AWGB members will receive a 10% discount on production of a valid membership card.

Accomodation

We have several B&B's either farm stay or in town we can recommend.

Mrs Rita Meadows

Monk,s Barn Farm,

Shipston Road,

Stratford on Avon

CV37 8NA

01789 293 714

£25.00 per night.

Web:http://www.monksbarnfarm.co.uk/

Excellent breakfast and only a mile from the workshop and three miles from the centre of town.

Mrs Elizabeth James

Whitchurch Farm B&B

Whitchurch Farm

Wimpstone

Stratford on Avon

CV37 8PD

01789 450 359

£30.00 per night

Web: www.whitchurchfarm.co.uk

Excellent Breakfast. Evening meals are available on request. Quiet out of the way working sheep farm two miles from the workshop and four miles from the centre of town.

John & Judy Spencer

The Poplars,

Mansell Farm,

Newbold on Stour

Stratford on Avon

CV37 8BZ

01789 450 540

from £25.00 per night

Web: www.poplars-farmhouse.co.uk

Excellent Breakfast. Evening meals are available on request. Working farm 3 1/2 miles from the workshop and 6 1/2 from the centre of town.