Shaping pieces of beautiful timber to serve as household appliances and tools has occupied humans for thousands of years. As hunter gatherers we originally used stone tools and later the bronze and iron ages allowed the use of more sophisticated methods of shaping our domestic implements and weapons. For a few thousand years we have understood the principle of rotating a piece of wood between centers and shaping it to fulfill our purpose, much in the same way as a potter on a wheel moulds clay into useful utensils. These ancient skills are now being taught at My Grandpas Workshop.
Wood turning is creative and fulfilling – you can do your thing without being too concerned about exact measurements. Very much an expression of your inner artistic self! Items such as pepper grinders, candle sticks, bowls, platters, cups and vases are there for the making. The only limit is your own creativity!
The basic course is all about making a giant pepper grinder from African mahogany, ash or beech. We will teach you these skills over an eight hour course divided into two sessions, either mornings or afternoons. We take a maximum of two students per course and you will be taught basic woodturning, sand papering in the lathe, polishing and assembling the grinder.
The course fee includes the predrilled blank, grinding mechanism, use of tools and finishing materials. Watch the video for more of the action. Contact us on our website to book a place! See price table for further details.