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Wood for Turners

Learn how to find, judge, and prepare wood for different turning projects to ensure success.

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Wood for Turners

Wood for Turners

Learn how to find, judge, and prepare wood for different turning projects to ensure success.

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Registrations Closed

About

Perhaps the most common question woodturners are asked by people new to the craft is: "Where do you get your wood for turning?" Many other questions follow this query!

Learn not only where to find or buy wood, but also how to evaluate wood for different projects — how to cut, preserve, and store it (if it is green); how to lay out bowls, vessels, and spindles on your stock to ensure good project success; and how to maximize the yield from your wood. Much of the wood local turners use is free “found” or “fallen” wood, and there are many details to learn about how, when, and where to obtain these treasures.

Woodturners use bandsaws to prepare much of their stock, and often are challenged by irregular pieces of wood that require special safety tactics. Learn how to determine which approach you should use for a particular piece of wood, be it a log, burl, or a piece of spindle stock.

Details

You're welcome to bring one or two pieces of wood you want to evaluate for turning stock. 

Details

$5 Material fee

Prerequisites

  • While there are no pre-requisites for the class, please note:

Class Policies

  • Ages 14 and up are welcome.
  • You must wear safety glasses (bringing your own is recommended), closed-toe shoes, and avoid loose-fitting clothing and jewelry. Tie back long hair.
Instructor
Jamie Straw

Jamie has been turning wood for many years, working on both spindle and bowl projects, and has taught woodturning at BARN since July 2017. She also serves as coordinator of BARN’s woodturning program. She is a past vice president for education and training for the local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. Her focus is on helping students build skills progressively as they design and create their woodturning projects.

Related Events

Check out other events you might be interested in!

Turning a Hardwood Platter
Turning a Hardwood Platter

Add to your woodturning skills by creating a platter with a graceful ogee edge.

January 12, 2027

Woodturning a Lidded Box
Woodturning a Lidded Box

Expand your woodturning techniques by creating a classic cylindrical box with a fitted lid from a single piece of stock.

January 11, 2027

Woodworking Open Studio
Woodworking Open Studio

Work on projects of your own in an informal setting with a safety monitor and woodworkers of varying skill levels.

December 27, 2026

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