Autumn 2026: Wood Turning

Course Outline

Learn how to turn wood on a lathe using a range of tools. You’ll start with learning how to make a piece of wood into a round cylinder and then how to shape it using gouges before making several items, including a pen, an egg cup, and a small bowl. All equipment, tools and wood is provided. This course is great for anyone wanting to work creatively with wood – no previous experience is needed.

Session 1

• Lathe parts and safety
• Mounting wood on the lathe
• Turning wood to round
• How to shape wood with beads and coves
• Make an egg cup or small pot
• Make a pen
• Finishing your projects with sanding and sealers and wax

Session 2

• Introducing the bowl gouge and how it cuts
• Bowl cutting techniques
• Making your first bowl
• Adding decoration to your bowl using acrylic paint (optional)

The course will enable you to learn how to:

• Use the spindle roughing gouge
• Use spindle and bowl gouges
• Design your own projects
• Sand and finish your projects with sealers and waxes

Transferable Skills and Future Careers

TCDT workshops give a chance to develop a range of transferable skills and valuable insight to possible career paths. Some of the career choices our alumni have pursued include; Architecture, Engineering, Fine Art, Jewellery Making, Art Conservation, Glass Working, Theatre Design, Fashion Design, Costume Design – the list is growing!

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible to apply you will need to be 16 – 19 years old during the dates of the workshop.

You should be creative and have good hand-eye co-ordination. In your application you should demonstrate a passion for working with your hands.

You must be able to attend every day of the workshop.

Please be sure that you have read our Eligibility Criteria and Applications section at the bottom of the Workshop page before applying.

Course Funding

Our workshops are fully-funded by generous sponsors.  Places are limited, therefore, we recommend you submit your application as early as possible.

There are only 3 spaces available on this workshop. If the workshop becomes oversubscribed, we will close the application process early.