Bowl & Platter Turning: Shape, Sharpen, and Create:
December 6, 2025
9:30-5:30
Unleash your inner artisan in this full day, hands-on class designed for aspiring bowl and platter makers. This course focuses on the fundamentals of transforming raw wood into beautiful, functional pieces for your home or to gift.
What You'll Learn
- Bowl Turning Techniques: Master the essential steps for securely mounting wood blanks, roughing out the shape, and achieving the smooth, curved interior and exterior of a classic bowl.
- Platter Creation: Explore the distinct techniques required for turning a wide, shallow platter, focusing on stability and creating an appealing profile and rim.
- Essential Bowl Turning Tools: Get familiar with the core tools of the trade, including various gouges (like the bowl gouge and spindle gouge), scrapers, and parting tools. We'll discuss their proper use, grip, and how to select the right tool for the job.
- Sharpening Made Simple: A dull tool is a dangerous tool! A significant portion of the class is dedicated to demystifying tool sharpening. Learn efficient methods and the correct bevel angles for your bowl and platter gouges to keep them cutting cleanly and safely.
- Wood Selection and Preparation: Understand the characteristics of different woods suitable for turning and the importance of grain orientation.
Who Should Attend?
This class is perfect for beginners with little to no experience on a lathe, as well as those looking to refine their foundational turning and sharpening skills specifically for bowls and platters. Safety procedures and lathe operation will be thoroughly covered.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, you'll have the confidence and skills to:
- Safely operate a wood lathe.
- Turn a completed small bowl and a platter.
- Independently sharpen your turning tools to maintain peak performance.
- Understand the basic design principles for aesthetically pleasing turned ware.
Join us and start making shavings—and stunning wood pieces—today!
*lunch will be provided