Finewood - Tuition

Woodturning Tuition in Suffolk

Notice

Instead of retiring completely, as I had indicated, and disappointing traders and students, I hope to continue both on a reduced scale. I so enjoy meeting new customers and easing students into the absorbing and challenging pastime of woodturning. Just phone or e-mail me to discuss how I can help.

Happy turning to you all.

Albert

One day of 1-1 Wood turning tuition, available 7 days a week. Primarily devoted to practical experience with the aim for the student to complete a number of turned products. Along the way, covering safety, characteristics of different timbers and choice of tools, machines and sources of supply.

Tutor

Albert Lain; experienced and qualified teacher keen to impart his enthusiasm and skills.

Courses Available

Introduction
A days introduction. Learning how to safely apply the tools to rotating timber. Included will be working between centres, use of Roughing Gouge, Spindle Gouge, and parting tool. After lunch, the use of self-centring chucks, boring on lathes and Jam fitting. Suitable for someone considering the hobby, just starting to turn, or just interested and looking for an absorbing day.
Intermediate
A logical progression from course A but focused on Headstock work and increasing the diameter of the material to be turned. Use of screw chuck to turn a shallow bowl, and then a deeper small bowl with either a turned top edge or natural edge. Method of removing all indication of how it was secured to the lathe.
Experienced
In development at present, but either increasing diameter and/or depth of product, or experience in successfully turning freshly cut timber. Awareness of other methods such as split turning, duplicate turning, coopered work, long hole boring, lattice work, off centre turning. Just where do we stop? This can easily get out of hand...

The Workshop

A heated wood turning workshop with many lathes and good dust extraction. Always some interesting other work in progress. Attached to our home and looking out to the garden and across fields.

The Cost

Courses A and B: £175 9am-4pm, all materials and tools included
Course C: £225 9am-4pm, all materials and tools included

Preparation

Discussion before the day about experience so far and what you would like to achieve. Guidance on what to wear. Invitation to bring any existing tools and safety equipment to wear.

What Next?

Phone or email to discuss how I can help, and if you wish, to determine a mutually convenient date.

I will need your postal address to enable me to send a pre-course preparation document and to include a brief questionnaire about your experience, if any, so far.
If you would like to make a days tuition as a gift to a friend or partner, request a copy of our Gift Voucher. Warn me if you wish it to be conveyed confidentially for a birthday or Christmas surprise.

If you have been on one or more of these day courses, I would appreciate any comments you may have to help me improve and refine how and what I do. Please use the comments page on my site or let me know by phone, email, or letter.

64 comments

Laura Warren - 25th May 2021

I had a wonderful day with Albert in his amazing workshops and also got to peak inside Sheila's workshop too. They made me feel so comfortable from the moment I arrived.
I received a lathe for Christmas and had done some spindle work many years ago. After practising my spindle work I decided to attempt a bowl but found it very uncomfortable and was very unsure about my techniques. So my fiancee treated me to a days tuition.
In the morning Albert taught me many new techniques and I successfully turned a deeper bowl which I was very pleased with. He went through the whole process from start to finish including sanding and spraying it.

In the afternoon I started a live edge bowl which I also got to take home to finish.

Throughout the day he also taught me about sharpening methods and alternative methods of securing blanks on the lathe. I took along my tools and my chucks and Albert advised me what they are best used for.

I had such a great day and took home a wealth of new knowledge along with the items I had turned on the day. I would definitely recommend a day with Albert and I hope I am lucky enough to spend another day learning soon.
Mervyn Sore - 25th May 2021

Well what a day, I was met by Albert who was in his front garden and with a cheery smile, a hand shake I knew we were going to get on well together. We made our way though to his workshop, having my temperature taken and hand sanitizer on route. The workshop was amazing with every piece of machinery needed for woodturning and more ! Albert's skills and knowledge along with his enthusiastic teaching made learning enjoyable and 'comfortable' I learnt about and how to use different lathes, tools, chucks, and polishing techniques, but wish I was younger (I'm72) as I would now take up woodturning as a new hobby. Leaving that afternoon with my finished pieces left me with a real feeling of self satisfaction and achievement and I hope I will be able to return one day soon
Darren Wood - 24th May 2021

If you are an experienced wood turner, just starting out or just fancy a go at something different then Albert is the person to book a wood turning course with. His knowledge of wood turning, the way he teaches, his patience and listening to who he has made pieces for over a cup of tea, some biscuits and cake is amazing. Last weekend was my second course with Albert and it didn’t disappoint. After a H&S talk, and a walk around his amazing workshop which has to be seen, it’s overalls and PPE on then a full day, hands on on the lathe being guided by Albert in the different ways to shape a piece using a variety of different tools and techniques and surprisingly for me at the end of the day I walked away with two lovely bowls so I could not have been happier. Thank you Albert for another amazing day and I’ll be back for course three soon.
Ramunas - 15th May 2021

I’ve completed an Introduction course on the 13th of May 2021.
It was a great day full of knowledge and very useful practical advises. It gave me a good understanding about tools, timber and sources. Albert is a great teacher, full of knowledge, experience and tips. The workshop, surroundings, lathes and tools – a must see! As one of the reviewers said – a wood workers heaven!
Plenty cups of coffee and a delicious cake made by his wife. Albert is a most welcoming host and his workshop facilities are superb.
I’ve also come away with a couple lovely pieces of work and an inspiration to keep practicing!
I will be definitely booking another day when I will practice what I have been taught so far.
I would encourage anybody looking for a wood turning course to not miss out on this brilliant experience.
Thank you, Albert.

Ray
Sean Duggan - 12th May 2021

How to make a day go by so fast? A day in Albert’s amazing workshop fits the bill nicely. The last time I used a wood turning lathe was at school in the early 70’s.
What a great experience, being shown how by such a good teacher. I will definitely be going back for a second day if and when Albert can fit me in.
Thank you so much for your time, I enjoyed myself immensely both in the workshop and in conversation with you and Sheila. All the best till next time.
Sean
Terry Brazier - 5th May 2021

What an amazing experience!
Having retired from running my own furniture restoration business I am keen to get to know my lathe again which has sadly been mostly idle over the years as demands on running a business have kept me behind a desk or on the road.
A day with Albert in his 'to die for' workshop allowed me to loose myself in wood shavings and re learn correct techniques and good practice from an amazing teacher, With his many years of knowledge he is happy to share trade secrets and tips while making the day most enjoyable and productive. Great conversations throughout the day, sharing lunch and cups of tea. A woodworkers heaven.
My only complaint is that I'm sure he must have moved the clock forward while I was busy turning as the day was over far too quickly, I intend to return for another day when he can book me in and will be keeping a closer eye on him!
Thank you Albert.
Terry.
Tom Hargreave - 3rd November 2020

Well what a great day that was and what’s more I now have a splendid coopered bird box fit for the most regal if bird visitors. Albert is a superb instructor and it’s fair to say he has a tool or machine to answer most questions! Never did I think so many lathes could be concealed in one room. I can only aspire to such tool and machinery ownership! The tuition was perfectly tailored to fix my untutored errors and take me further forwards in techniques and procedures. It was great to us an electronic speed control lathe with good dust extraction too. Thanks again Albert !

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