Monday, December 2nd, 2024
 

Woodturning Classes With FredFred Hill working on the lathe during a class

I have been turning wood for over 3 decades. Most of my initial learning was from trial and error. More recently I have been more reliant on the use of the knowledge base in a variety of woodturning books and attendance at a number of symposia (Ohio Valley Woodturners Guild, American Association of Woodturners, etc.) and various classes, one of which was a multi-day workshop with David Ellsworth in his studio. Had I known the significance of taking classes and going to seminars in my formative years I would have taken classes MUCH earlier! Lesson learned!

After retiring as a university professor I opened a woodworking business (Fred’s Creative Woodworking www.FrederickCHill.com) which focuses on woodturning. As a production turner I have created very successful products for quilters that I make and sell through my business. I also create one-of-a-kind turnings and teach a variety of subjects. I also write articles on woodturning, etc.

I am presently offering my background knowledge and teaching skills in woodturning for students interested in either learning from scratch or honing their woodturning skills. If you are just getting started in woodturning or have done some woodturning, I can get you past all of the 30 years of mistakes that I have made (and learned from) in a one-day session! Why waste all of the time with trial and error when you can come to my studio and in one day get past most of the stumbling blocks to successful woodturning?

My studio is located at my home near Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. It is well equipped and includes two large lathes, a Robust American Beauty and a General 260. Both of these lathes have variable speed drives and state of the art quality. I have a vacuum chuck system and innumerable other chucks, etc. with which to work.

Classes are focused on specific needs of students. Class size is limited to two students so each student is able to work on a lathe during the entire class. Cost of instruction is $240 per day for one student for each 8-hour session or, if there are two students in a session, the cost is $210 each per 8-hour session. Or, if you just need a brief “tune-up”, I offer hourly instruction at $35 per hour per person or $30 per hour each for two people.  

My specialty is in doing creative woodturning. I can help you not only to develop your tool-handling skills but to come up with interesting, creative turnings.

If you are interested in staying the night, I can give you a list of hotels/motels in the area and suggestions for restaurants. If you are here for the day, I supply a home-cooked lunch with the price of the classes.

 

SOME OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CLASSES

Safety:
Dust control, Face and body protection, Noise, Fumes, Wood toxicity

Wood:
Locating and utilizing sources of wood. You found wood, now what do you do with it?
Preventing checking and cracking in wood. Or, if you get cracks, what to do about them.
How to locate or produce your own spalted wood.
Turning green wood vs. dry wood: advantages and disadvantages of each.
Advantages of air-dried wood vs. kiln dried.
Drying wood.

Tools:
Keep your lathe clean and the ways lubricated every day. Sharpening techniques. Sharpening jigs and how to use them. Tools and how to use them- Skew chisel, gouges, scrapers, parting, etc. Vacuum chucks (including how to make your own system for very little money), jaw chucks, friction holding, jam chucks, various centers, faceplates, etc.

Various types of turning:
Bowls , Hollow forms, Spindles, Spheres, etc.

Finishing:
Various types of glue. Sanding. Various wood finishes with advantages and problems of each.
Surface enhancements- dyeing, ebonizing, buffing, abrading, carving, patterning tools, etc.

WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR CLASS

I supply all of the lathes, chucks, hand-tools, wood and sanding materials that you will need in class.  Please bring a face-shield or safety glasses. Please bring any lathe chisels (not a requirement however) with you that you normally use. We can talk about how to best use each of them and sharpening techniques for each.

We will generally use green wood in my classes so dust isn't an issue but, if you have a dust-control unit (mask, etc.), bring it along. By the way, I use the Resp-O-Rator for dust control as it is very convenient, works very well, and has two HEPA filters for excellent dust control.

Wear comfortable shoes and no baggy clothes (we don't want you spinning on the lathe).  I keep my studio heated so a short-sleeved shirt is adequate on top.

Contact me to enquire about classes by snail mail, e-mail or phone

Frederick C. Hill

532 Herrickville Rd. Wyalusing, PA. 18853

570-746-3304

fredhill@epix.net

www.FrederickCHill.com