🎄 Hanging Ornament & Spinning Top Project Session – One to One
Advanced Woodturning Project Session (2 Hours)
 
❓ Why You Might Choose This Project
This session combines two smaller projects that each demand good spindle-turning control, careful shaping and accurate finishing.
 
The Hanging Ornament involves working through both the finial and main ornament body, with a choice of either a natural-grain or coloured finish.
 
The Spinning Top looks simple, but getting the proportions, balance, tip and handle right requires accuracy and a clean sequence of cuts.
 
Because two separate projects are completed during the session, this is a fast-moving advanced project session intended for woodturners who already have solid practical experience.
 
🧰 Why Choose This Session?
This is a focused one-to-one session where I work through both projects alongside you and explain each stage as we go.
 
You will see how I prepare the blanks, establish the main forms, refine the details and carry each piece through its own finishing process.
 
The Hanging Ornament can be completed in either natural grain or colour. The coloured version is more time-sensitive and requires stronger tool control, so it is only suitable for turners with enough previous experience to keep the project moving at the required pace.
 
The Spinning Top introduces a different set of challenges, particularly forming the tip accurately, creating a balanced upper shape and parting the piece cleanly.
 
⚡ Quickfire Advanced Project Session
This is one of the faster-paced Advanced Project Sessions because we are working through two different pieces within the available time.
 
Good basic tool control is essential.
 
A completed pair of projects cannot be guaranteed, particularly if additional help is needed during the session. The priority is always learning the process properly rather than rushing through the final stages.
 
🔧 What We’ll Cover – Hanging Ornament:
• Selecting suitable blanks
• Preparing the blank and creating the dovetail
• Turning the finial
• Sanding and preparing the finial
• Applying colour where the coloured version is chosen
• Turning the main ornament top
• Refining the overall shape and proportions
• Sanding and preparing the surface
• Applying sanding sealer as the base coat
• Cutting back the sealed surface
• Applying gold embellishing wax
• Buffing the embellished surface
• Applying the final top coat
• Buffing to build depth and sheen
• Parting the ornament off cleanly
• Finishing and sanding the top after parting
 
🎨 Natural or Coloured Ornament
A natural-grain ornament is available to all suitable participants.
The coloured version requires stronger previous turning skills because the additional colouring and finishing stages have to be completed within the same two-hour session.
 
🔧 What We’ll Cover – Spinning Top:
• Selecting and preparing the blank
• Cutting the dovetail
• Mounting securely on the final lathe
• Cutting the lower angle
• Forming the spinning tip accurately
• Cutting the upper section to the required depth
• Reducing the top to form the handle
• Refining the proportions and balance
• Sanding the complete piece
• Burnishing the surface
• Adding colour to the upper section
• Parting the Spinning Top off cleanly
• Applying a Danish oil finish
 
💳 Tuition Pricing
Weekdays only:
• 2 hours – €100
 
Two-person sessions may also be available by arrangement for €150 total. Both participants must have sufficient previous woodturning experience for the project.
 
🎁 Gift Vouchers
⚠️ This Advanced Project Session is not available as an individual gift voucher because the participant needs a suitable level of previous woodturning experience.
If you would like to contribute towards tuition for someone else, a Tuition Credit Gift Voucher can be purchased instead. The recipient can then contact me so we can choose a session that suits their current ability.
 
☕ Breaks & Catering
• A short coffee break can be taken during the session if needed.
• The coffee machine is always on.
 
✅ Summary of Benefits:
• Work through two different advanced spindle-turning projects
• Improve accuracy, proportions and fine tool control
• Learn the complete Hanging Ornament process
• Choose between a natural-grain or coloured ornament where suitable
• Learn multi-stage sealing, embellishing and buffing techniques
• Improve accuracy when forming a Spinning Top tip and handle
• Learn how shape and balance affect the performance of a Spinning Top
• One-to-one guidance throughout both projects
• Receive additional help with any turning issues I notice during the session
• Take repeatable techniques back to your own workshop
 
🔨 A fast-moving advanced session combining decorative spindle turning, detailed finishing and the precision needed to make a properly balanced Spinning Top.
 
Looking for more ways to build your skills? See my Advanced Woodturning Skills & Projects page for the full range of project-based sessions.
 
📞 Contacting Me for Bookings
📋 Use the Contact Page for all enquiries — it’s the most reliable way to reach me.
Please include the full session name and a short outline of your previous woodturning experience when contacting me.
If you would like to make the coloured Hanging Ornament, please mention this when enquiring so I can confirm that it is suitable for your current experience level.
📧 I usually reply within 2 hours, but please check your spam or junk folder too.
📝 Why not phone? Calls disrupt workshop work and details can easily get lost. The contact form allows me to respond properly and keep everything organised.
 
Thanks for understanding — I look forward to hearing from you! 😊