Carl Ford: Studio Woodturner: Demos and Classes

Demos & Classes

I am available for woodturning demonstrations and teaching on weeknights and weekends.

My demonstrations are designed to inspire others, teach new and good techniques, and include good handouts. Demonstrations can be 1-2 hours or all day.

My classes start with a demo and then are hands on in my own studio. They are limited to 2 students and include a good lunch. Beginners are welcome. I am also available to teach classes at any suitable venue.

E-mail Carl at [email protected] for information on available dates.

Any demo listed below can be converted to a class and vice versa.

Demo: Small Hollow Forms and Vases

Turning small vases is a great low stress way to learn how to create hollow forms and experiment with forms and surface decorations.

This demo focuses on turning and decorating a small hollow form vase from start to finish using Ellsworth style Small Hollowing Tools. Topics will include what makes a form easy or hard to hollow, wood selection, hollowing tools, procedure and tips for hollowing, painting on the lathe for dummies( if time premits).

Demo: Painting on the Lathe for Dummies

Adding color via paint and/or stain to your turnings is a great way to spice up boring wood. It allows you to make beautiful pieces out of cheap wood. Painting with the lathe running is easy! Anyone can do it.

This demo focuses on three different easy techniques: • Painting between the lines using Acrylic Paints. • Coloring between the lines using Sharpe Permanent Magic. Markers. • Full coverage color using Woodburst Stains.

Demo: Natural Edge Bowls

I love to turn green wood and I love to turn natural edge bowls.

This demo focuses on turning medium size (10 to 12") natural edge bowls using the versatile David Ellsworth Signature Gouge. A natural edge bowl will be turned from start to finish. Topics will include wood selection, selecting and cutting the raw log, mounting the blank, the David Ellsworth Signature Gouge (cuts and sharpening), keeping the bark on, reverse jam chucking and/or vacuum chucking.

Demo: Vacuum Chucks

What are they? What are they good for? What do I need to set up my own Vacuum Chuck System? How can I keep the cost down?

This demo features a 20+ page handout. The demo starts by showing how to easily center a bowl on a vacuum chuck to finish the foot. It then proceeds into a hands on "show and tell" explaining all of the parts needed to create a complete Vacuum Chuck System. For each of the system parts (vacuum pump, spindle adapter, and chucks), several options that vary from "buy it off the shelf" to "build your own" are discussed, available for inspection and covered in the handout.

Class: Mastering the Detail Gouge

It's easier than you think to master the detail gouge with a Michael Hosaluk grind. Good clean cuts with this versatile tool will be emphasized in a two day class.

Students will learn that a detail gouge is the only tool they need for spindle turning. It is easy to use, easy to learn tool that produces clean cuts like a spindle gouge or skew without the nasty catches. Students will explore all of the detail gouge cuts while creating a small 8 to 10 building "Fantasy City" project. See photos.

Each student should complete there own project by the end of class.