Fundamentals of Woodturning Workshop
A Woodturning learning five-day Workshop.
September 23 through 27, 2024. 9 AM to 5 PM daily
For Members of the West Michigan Woodturners Club
Kalamazoo, Michigan
You can become a member by following the instructions on our website
The workshop is for folks that are new to woodturning, and, the person that has been turning
wood and wants to learn how to achieve better tool control, reduce “catches”, and become a
“safe Woodturner”. The Fundamentals of Woodturning Workshop is a Woodturning Tools &
Techniques skill based learning workshop focused on traditional steel tool usage, tool control,
sharpening and SAFETY while operating a lathe. If there is time, we will discuss the use of
Carbide tools for woodturning.
You will take home some useful objects that include bowls, a tray, and a carver’s mallet,
depending on your productivity. Most importantly, the real take away is the knowledge to
produce almost any wood turning of your design.
For safety reasons be prepared to wear short sleeve shirts while operating the lathes
Topics covered in Fundamentals of Woodturning Workshop are:
Lathe operation, selection, and tuning.
Sharpening and conditioning of all your turning tools.
Spindle turning of common objects ranging from knobs to table and chair legs.
Wood selection, preparation, and the use of green wood to turn bowls.
Turning of bowls from green and seasoned wood.
Faceplate turning of flat surfaces such as making a serving tray.
Chucking methods from shop built to commercial chucks.
Sanding and finishing.
You do a lot of turning each day. You will have time to practice newly learned skills; thereby,
having them become habit and develop your muscle memory. You will leave with some nice
projects to put finish on and wow the folks at home. But most importantly, you will be able to
tackle spindle and furniture parts and turn bowls that will please all.
To register, email Bruce Dannenhauer, westmichiganwoodturners@comcast.net to be sure
there is space available in the workshop for you. After confirming your place in the
workshop, send your payment of $585.00 (check made out to the West Michigan
Woodturners Club) to our Treasurer, Peter Keith, 2516 Lakeshore Drive, Fennville
Michigan 49408. Please note, refunds for cancelations can be offered only if your place in
the workshop is taken by another member.
The workshop tuition includes:
- Five full days of instruction. 9am to 5pm. Including materials. $350.00
- Robust 5/8” Bowl Gouge new with parabolic flute, yours to take home. $89.00
- Robust 1/2” New Spindle Detail Gouge, ours to take home $69.00
- Sorby 3/4” Jaw and Collet tool, new, yours to take home $60.00
- Tool Shipping cost $17.00
- Total tuition cost for the workshop and tools. $585.00
Required items to bring and the Tool List:
- Lunch for each day* and your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. There will be plenty of
water, coffee and tea available all day
- Face Shield. Suggested: Uvex Bionic Face Shield with Clear Polycarbonate Visor and Anti-
Fog/Hard Coat (S8510) - Dust mask or respirator.
- Parting tool, sometimes called a cutoff tool.
- Spindle roughing gouge, 3/4” to 1-1/4”, the bigger the better.
- 1/2” scraper, round nose
- Sandpaper, one sheet of each grit 100 up to 220 grit will be fine. We don’t do a lot of
sanding since we will be using mostly wet wood. - Calipers, 4” to 6”.
- Dividers, 4” to 6”.
- Ruler, 12” steel or folding. (not a tape measure).
- Notebook and pencil. You’ll need to take lots and lots of notes!
Nice to have but not required for the workshop.
1-1/2”round negative rake scraper, *Note, this tool is optional but VERY USEFUL for face
plate turning such as bowls. You will be glad you own one.
West Michigan Woodturners 