Advanced Woodturning Skills & Projects

If you already have some woodturning experience and want to improve your skills, refine your technique, or work through a more advanced project, these focused sessions are designed to help you move forward.

The Skills Clinics concentrate on specific areas such as sharpening, sanding, finishing and problem solving, while the Advanced Project Sessions give experienced turners the opportunity to work through one of my established projects under direct guidance.

These are not beginner sessions. A reasonable level of confidence with basic woodturning tools is required, particularly for the project-based sessions, as each one has its own technical challenges.

Because experience levels vary and some projects require stronger tool control than others, I handle bookings personally to make sure the session you choose is suitable for your current ability and what you want to improve.

If you’re newer to woodturning or still building confidence with the basic tools and cuts, my Beginner Woodturning Tuition page may be a better place to start.

Please note: I am currently designing the 4 Project listings and they should be live by the 19th August.

👉 Jump straight to the available Skills Clinics and Advanced Project Sessions, or keep reading below.

Held in my fully equipped woodturning workshop in Tralee, these sessions are designed for people who already have some practical turning experience and want to improve particular skills, correct problems, or work through a more demanding project.

These sessions are:

● Focused on improving specific woodturning skills

● One-to-one, allowing the session to be adapted around your own strengths and weaknesses

● Suitable for turners who have moved beyond the beginner stage

● Designed to tackle areas such as sharpening, sanding, finishing, problem solving and more advanced project work

● Available as either a focused Skills Clinic or a structured Advanced Project Session

These are not beginner sessions. You should already be reasonably comfortable using basic woodturning tools before booking, particularly for the Advanced Project Sessions.

If you are completely new to woodturning, my Beginner Woodturning Tuition page will be the better place to start.

🎯 Skills Clinics & Advanced Project Sessions

Choose from a range of focused two-hour sessions depending on what you want to improve or make.

Skills Clinics are designed around a particular area of your turning, giving us time to identify problems, improve technique and work directly on the areas holding you back.

Advanced Project Sessions are more structured and involve working through one of my established woodturning projects under direct guidance. Each project has its own technical challenges and requires a suitable level of previous turning experience.

Because ability levels vary, I handle bookings personally and may recommend a different session if I feel another option would suit your current level better.

Why Book an Advanced Session?

These sessions are designed for turners who want to improve specific areas of their technique, solve recurring problems, or work through a more demanding project with direct one-to-one guidance.

✍️ Check Dates & Book Your Session

✨ How to Book Your Skills Clinic or Advanced Project Session

● Browse the Skills Clinics and Advanced Project Sessions above and choose the session that best matches what you want to improve or make.

● Check the Calendar above for availability:
🟢 Green Dot = Available 🔴 Red Dot = Booked

● 📋 Use the Contact Page to request a booking or ask any questions.

📝 Please include the full session name so I know exactly which clinic or project you are interested in.

● For Advanced Project Sessions, please also give me a brief outline of your previous woodturning experience and the type of work you currently turn. This helps me make sure the project is suitable for your present skill level.

📧 Watch for my reply—it usually arrives within 2 hours.
(✔️ And don’t forget to check your spam/junk folder just in case!)

● Once confirmed, I’ll book you in and send the workshop address and directions.

🕙 Please arrive 10 minutes early to get the most from your session. All sessions begin at 10am sharp.

🔁 See my Cancellation Policies if you need to cancel or reschedule.

🎁 Advanced Project Sessions are not available as individual gift vouchers. If you would like to contribute towards tuition for someone else, a Tuition Credit Gift Voucher can be purchased instead.

🌟 Real Feedback From Real People

As these Skills Clinics and Advanced Project Sessions are new, I don’t have specific feedback for them just yet. I’ll add genuine student reviews here as the sessions begin and feedback comes in.

🌟 Want to see what others think?

👉 Read reviews from my other woodturning tuition sessions & customers here or check out my Google Reviews.

While these particular Skills Clinics and Advanced Project Sessions are new, the reviews will give you a good idea of what previous students have thought of my teaching, workshop and approach to tuition.

(And yes—most people don’t leave reviews, so I truly appreciate it when they do!)

🎯 Focused Two-Hour Woodturning Sessions

Although each Skills Clinic or Advanced Project Session lasts approximately two hours, there is additional preparation involved before and after every booking.

Tools, materials and equipment need to be prepared in advance, the workshop has to be set up for the particular session, and everything needs to be cleaned down again afterwards.

The aim is to make the most of the two hours at the lathe, concentrating on the specific skills, problems or project you have booked rather than trying to cover too much at once.

🎓 Hands-On, One-to-One Teaching

These are practical teaching sessions rather than demonstrations.

I will show you the techniques involved, explain what I am doing and then work alongside you as you apply them yourself.

Because the sessions are one-to-one, I can also pick up on other areas that may be holding your turning back, such as tool presentation, stance, bevel control, sharpening, sanding or finishing.

Where possible, I will work on a piece alongside you so that you can see each stage before attempting it yourself.

🔍 More Than Just the Main Topic

Even when a session is focused on one particular skill or project, other issues often become obvious once you start turning.

If I notice something that could improve your results, I will point it out and help you work on it during the session where time allows.

That might be a small adjustment to tool angle, how you approach a cut, the way you sharpen a tool or how you prepare a surface before finishing.

The goal is not simply to complete the booked session. It is to help you leave with practical improvements that you can apply to your own woodturning afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

🎓 Advanced Woodturning Skills & Project Sessions – FAQ

Q: How much experience do I need before booking one of these sessions?
A: These sessions are aimed at woodturners who already have practical experience and are reasonably comfortable using standard woodturning tools.

They are not suitable for complete beginners. You should already understand the basics of mounting work safely, using the tool rest, presenting a tool to the timber and making controlled cuts.

If you are unsure whether your current experience is suitable, contact me before booking and tell me a little about the type of turning you already do.

Q: Are the Advanced Project Sessions suitable for every experienced woodturner?
A: Not necessarily.

Each project has its own difficulties and requires a reasonable level of tool control. Experience can vary enormously from one turner to another, so I may ask a few questions about your current ability before confirming a project session.

The aim is to choose something that will challenge you without putting you into a project that is beyond your present level.

Q: What happens if I struggle with the project during the session?
A: That is part of the reason these sessions are taught one-to-one.

I will demonstrate the stages involved, help correct problems as they appear and step in where necessary. The main purpose is to improve your turning, not simply to rush towards a finished piece.

Depending on your experience and how the session progresses, you may or may not complete the entire project yourself within the two hours.

Q: Will I definitely leave with a finished piece?
A: A finished piece cannot be guaranteed.

The Advanced Project Sessions are teaching sessions rather than a simple make-and-take experience. How far you get will depend on your existing skills, speed and tool control.

I will normally work on a demonstration piece alongside you, so you can see how each stage is approached before attempting it yourself.

Q: What is the difference between a Skills Clinic and an Advanced Project Session?
A: Skills Clinics concentrate on improving a particular area of your woodturning, such as sharpening, sanding, finishing or solving specific problems.

Advanced Project Sessions use one of my established projects as the basis for the tuition. You work through the project under guidance while I also help with any weaknesses or technique issues I notice along the way.

Q: Can I bring my own woodturning problems or questions?
A: Yes.

Even when you book a specific clinic or project, you are welcome to bring questions about your own turning. If I notice other areas that could be improved while you are working, I will point them out and help where time allows.

Q: How do I book a Skills Clinic or Advanced Project Session?
A: Please use the Contact Page rather than booking through an automated calendar.

Tell me the full name of the session you are interested in and, particularly for an Advanced Project Session, give me a short outline of your previous woodturning experience.

I handle bookings personally so that I can make sure the session is appropriate before confirming a date.

Q: How do I pay for the session?
A: Once your booking has been confirmed, I will explain the payment options available for that session.

The price shown on each listing is the session price, with no separate cheaper cash rate.

💌 Gift Vouchers

Q: Can I buy one of the Advanced Project Sessions as a gift voucher?
A: I do not offer gift vouchers for specific Advanced Project Sessions because the recipient needs to have a suitable level of previous woodturning experience.

If you would like to contribute towards tuition for someone else, a Tuition Credit Gift Voucher is the better option. The recipient can then contact me afterwards and we can decide which session best suits their experience and what they would like to improve.

Q: I have turned for years but have never had formal tuition. Are these sessions still suitable?
A: Quite possibly.

You do not need to have attended formal tuition before. Many self-taught turners develop perfectly good practical skills but also pick up habits or techniques that can be improved.

These sessions can be particularly useful if you have reached a point where your turning has stopped progressing, you are struggling with certain cuts or finishes, or you simply want another experienced turner to look at how you work.

Q: Can I bring my own tools?
A: Yes, particularly if there is a tool you regularly use and would like help with.

I have the tools and equipment needed for the sessions, but working with your own tools can sometimes make it easier to identify sharpening, setup or technique problems that you are experiencing in your own workshop.

Q: I'm a woodworker or woodturner too—can I visit your workshop or buy products directly from you?
A: Yes, but please arrange your visit in advance through the Contact Page.

This is a working workshop rather than a walk-in shop, so advance notice gives me time to make sure I am available and to have anything you are interested in ready.

More FAQ can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page.