North House Folk School - Courses, Classes, Workshops

Artistic Bark Edged Wooden Bowls

Woodworking & Furniture Craft

Lou Pignolet

This course is intended for students already familiar with bowl turning on an electric lathe, and who want to learn more advanced woodturning methods. We will explore turning asymmetrical forms from bark edged bowls to unusual end-grain pieces. The course will include selection of wood, cutting of bowl blanks, choice of form, and techniques of mounting and turning amazing bark edged bowls. We will also cover the details of drying and finishing (sanding and oiling) of a turned bowl. Each student will turn several bark edged bowls suitable for artistic display and learn many tricks of the trade. This class is most suitable for students who have some prior turning experience.

We will first discuss wood selection and planning the bowl form using diagrams and examples of completed bowls. A bowl blank will next be cut and mounted on the head-stock of the lathe. Various mounting and reverse mounting techniques will be discussed and used. Lathe operation and cutting methods with gouges will be reviewed and practiced to get everyone up-to-speed. Two students will share a variable speed lathe and work together, but each will turn at least one of their own bark edged bowls. All materials including wood, gouges, scrapers, sharpening supplies, and safety equipment will be available, but students are encouraged to bring their own turning tools and safety equipment (goggles, face shield). In addition to bowl turning, you will learn about the use of cyanoacrylate glue to stabilize wood, oils to increase wood translucence, drying methods to minimize cracking/checking, and sanding methods and oil finishes. You will receive information on where to purchase tools and materials, and gain a future source for help and information from your instructor. This class takes place at the instructor's home studio,located in Hovland, a 20 minute drive east of Grand Marais. Students will meet at North House on the first day of class and can arrange to carpool if they wish.

Dates

Sat, Mar 03, 2012 - Sun, Mar 04, 2012 Nearly Full

(Early bird tuition deadline: 01/21/12)

Fri, Jul 06, 2012 - Sat, Jul 07, 2012

(Early bird tuition deadline: 05/25/12)

Course Details

Length in days:

Hours:

9am-5pm

Tuition:

$180.00 per student (Regular rate)
$160.00 per student (Early-bird rate)

Materials:

$100.00

Levels:

Intermediate to Advanced

Making it happen:

When should I enroll?
We can't hold classes without students! Decisions regarding course cancellations (as related to minimum enrollment) are made three weeks before the class starts--so if you've got a course in mind, plan ahead and sign up at least three weeks in advance! That way we'll know you're coming, courses are more likely to meet minimum enrollment numbers, and then they'll actually take place.
Also watch for the words "nearly full" next to course dates. When that notation appears it means there are only one or two spots left--so sign up soon!
Do you take last minute registrations?
Of course! Although it's important that courses meet minimum enrollment three weeks before their scheduled start dates, we know that life doesn't always allow for prior planning. As long as there are still spots left in a course we're happy to accept your registration last minute.
When will new course dates be posted?
New course dates are posted both in the spring and fall to coordinate with our course catalog release dates. All the new dates are opened for enrollment on the same day and at the same time, so that everyone gets a fair crack at a spot in the courses they're interested in. As that time rolls around we announce when the new dates will "go live" in our e-newsletter. (sign up here!)