We have two upcoming complex turning classes this winter!
Introduction to Complex Turning
Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1
This is our classic introduction class which goes through all the basics of rose engine and complex turning lathe functions. We will use a range of apparatuses, chucks, and cutting frames to make different ornamental bottle stoppers. Each form of the bottle stopper is designed to teach different techniques. Students will be taught the different variables that go into a complex turned pattern and form. This includes the different functions of the rose engine, using both rocking and pumping motions and understanding amplitude, frequency, and basic rosette principles. Students will also get the opportunity to use our Victorian Holtzapffel complex turning lathes with both the reciprocator and spiral attachments—learning the history of the craft along the way.
This class will be taught by two experienced students of complex turning, Spencer Hamann and Kelsey Watson.
The class will run from 9-6 Friday and Saturday, with Sunday morning as extra shop time to finish up projects and explore what was learned.
Is there a better way to spend a winter weekend than learning with likeminded peers in our complex turning studio?
The cost of this class is $800 for nonmembers and $750 for members.This includes all materials and lunch on Friday and Saturday.
Please email Jackie to register: jackie@plumier.org
Make sure to read to the end of this page for information on accommodations.
Due to its success and popular demand, our second class will be a repeat of our last Intermediate Complex Turning Class.
Before You Make the Cut: Foundations of Accurate Setups
Monday, March 23 to Friday, March 27
As the name suggests, this class is targeted at the real work of complex turning that cannot be covered in an introductory course. Though it can sometimes be a painstaking process, an accurate setup is essential for any success in complex turning.
The class will center around three standard apparatuses: the elliptical chuck, the eccentric chuck, and the curvilinear slide rest. Students will learn the proper approach to these setups with the use of dial-indicators, and gain a full understanding of the relationship between the workpiece and the rotation of the spindle before a cut is made. Each student will go from bare lathe to ready to make chips with each of these apparatuses, and then use their setup to complete a pattern in order to see how each decision in setup and the degree of care taken in executing these decisions affect the final result. The patterns will also require precise adjustments of the apparatus between cuts in order to develop a confident understanding of the tool and an appreciation for its range of capabilities. This a foundational lesson in accurate complex turning that will focus on processes, not finished projects. These lessons in accuracy are not limited to the setups covered in this class and can be applied to the whole toolbox of complex turning apparatuses.
This class will only be open to students who have either taken our “Introduction to Complex Turning” or who have reached sufficient experience on their own to meet that requirement. We will not be covering basic principles, and this curriculum will not be particularly helpful or enjoyable without this prerequisite understanding.
Students should bring with them a pencil and notebook, a pocket calculator, and a small pocket flashlight or penlight. Safety glasses are required but a pair will be provided if you do not bring your own.
This class will be taught by Christian and David Lindow. It will run from 9-6 Monday-Friday with some bonus shop time on Saturday morning available for those who want it.
The cost of this class is $1900 for nonmembers and $1750 for members. This includes all materials and lunches for the week.
Space in this class is very limited!Please email Jackie to register: jackie@plumier.org
Plumier has accommodations in Saltsburg available for both classes at a first come, first served basis. Rooms range in price from $100-$150 a night for members and $125-$175 a night for nonmembers. Email David at david@plumier.org for more information and instructions on how to make a reservation.
Take advantage of these discounts by becoming a member before you register.
