Woodturning Orientation | MAY 23
NEXT CLASS Wednesday, May 23
6.00p to 8.00p
$50/person
This orientation clears you for independent access to our Jet Wood Lathe.
Do you want to make wood bowls, candlesticks, or exotic wood pens? Maybe you just need to fabricate a new handle for one of your own tools.
The wood lathe enables you to shape a wide variety of objects as long as your design is symmetrical around an axis of rotation. Modify your parts on other woodshop tools if this symmetry is just a step in your process.
Lathes are deceptively versatile and widely used. They are considered the forerunner of all machine tools and revolutionized our ability to manufacture standardized parts. In this jumpstart class you will learn how to operate the wood lathe and safely perform essential lathe operations including mounting wood for both spindle and bowl turning as well as proper use of turning tools (carbide tipped scrapers, parting tools, skews, and gouges). Learning how to use the lathe is an excellent place to begin your exploration of wood technology. By the end of this 2-hour Safety and Basic Use (SBU) Orientation you will have the knowledge and confidence to independently run basic operations on the lathe to produce parts and prototypes in wood.
There are no prerequisites for this orientation. To register, click on the next available date (highlighted in green below) and check out through the shopping cart.
INSTRUCTOR // Gary Ocher
Gary Ocher is a recently retired research analyst.
He was given a passion for woodworking from his Dad at a young age. More than 10 years ago, Gary began turning wood after taking a three-day class with world-renowned turner and instructor, David Ellsworth.
Gary now pursues wood turning full time, with dual focuses on teaching students in his home studio as well as selling at local markets, museums, and shops.
He is passionate about both turning and teaching.
OVERVIEW
Lathes are ancient tools and provide a notable example of how technological innovation is constantly driven forward by relentless incremental improvement. From the wood lathes used in Assyria to CNC driven lathes used in industry today, the lathe has earned its reputation as the mother of machine tools for the pivotal role they played in the invention of machine technology and the influence of our adoption of machine tools on an industrial scale. Wood lathes enable you to make simple parts for larger assemblies or object whose radial symmetry is the end product you are looking for whether that is a bowl or a pen blank. Your ability to operate a wood lathe correctly and safely is an invaluable addition to your skillset.
Simply put, a lathe rotates a workpiece while a tool is applied to create a finished object with symmetry around the axis of rotation. In this 2-hour class, you will learn how this deceptively unassuming premise enables you to create an amazing variety of parts. You will walk away with the ability to safely process wood and produce your own projects on our Jet Wood Lathe.
Welcome to our Woodshop program. This orientation happens right in the shop where your instructor will explain how the equipment works, familiarize you with essential terminology, and demonstrate appropriate equipment operation. You will learn how to set up appropriate material and run essential operations including turning and tapering. You will develop a working understanding of the benefits and limitations of this tool so you can design to this process. Your instructor will cover best practices including how to set up your work and reset equipment to original conditions for the next user. Along the way you will gain the knowledge and confidence to process appropriate material safely and troubleshoot typical issues.
This is a hands-on training. You will have time during class to create a finished object to your instructor’s specification that demonstrates your understanding of the process and your ability to safely operate this equipment.
ACCESS
Pass this orientation, or a checkout, and you’ll walk away with access privileges to independently operate our Jet Wood Lathe.
HARDWARE
-Jet Wood Lathe
SAFETY
-Eye protection (safety glasses and a face shield)
-No gloves of any kind
-Closed-toed shoes
-Tie back long hair
-No loose-fitting clothing
-Remove rings and all dangling jewelry
NOTE
If this is your first class at The Facility please arrive 15 minutes early for a short safety briefing and some paperwork.
Orientations start promptly at 6.00p.
This Orientation prepares you to safely perform basic operations on supported equipment. It is not intended to cover design concepts or comprehensive operation of this equipment. If you are interested in learning more about design or advanced equipment operation look for additional upcoming classes.
Safety and Basic Use (SBU) Orientations at The Facility are open to anyone over 18 years old. Please feel free to pass this invitation on to others. Minimum enrollment of 4 people is required to hold the orientation.
