Turn a Walnut Bud Vase - Beginner Woodturning Class

A one-day beginner-level group class at Main Street Studio, Charlton NY

Spend a full day at the lathe learning the craft of woodturning from the ground up — and leave with a finished, hand-turned bud vase of your own.

This class is built for beginners, but if you have some experience, you'll still get a lot out of the class as we share tips and techniques to take your turning to the next level. You'll get hands-on time at your own lathe while working alongside three other students, with plenty of individual guidance from instructor Jason Nemec throughout the day.

What we'll cover:

• The anatomy of the wood lathe, and how it works
• Lathe hazards, and the safety practices that protect you
• The essential spindle-turning cuts — peeling, slicing, and scraping
• Lathe tools: using the roughing gouge, spindle gouge, and parting tool
• Work-holding: how your piece is safely mounted and supported on the lathe
• Shaping your piece into a finished bud vase form
• Drilling the vase's flower-tube cavity
• Sanding and a food-safe, all-natural tung oil finish
• Time permitting: an overview of surface decoration options — including wire-burned accent line and woodburning (pyrography) demonstrations

You'll take home: a finished black walnut bud vase, made entirely by your own hand from local hardwood.

This class is open to ages 16 and up. Students under 18 must have a parent or guardian present for the full class.

Instructor: Jason Nemec
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Main Street Studio, 786 Charlton Road, Charlton NY 12019
Class size: Limited to 4 students

Class Cost: $195 non-members / $175.50 members
All materials included — use of a lathe and tools, project wood, glass flower tube, safety equipment, finishing supplies, and lunch from one of our favorite local restaurants!

Members receive a 10% discount — use your discount code at checkout! Not a member yet? Sign up here and receive your discount code!

About your instructor

Jason Nemec has been turning wood for almost 20 years and teaches woodworking at Main Street Studio, his converted-firehouse gallery and teaching space in Charlton, NY. His turned work — much of it finished with detailed carved and colored surfaces — has been shown, and sits in private collections across the US and Canada.