Having moved from Dartington Cider Press Centre after nearly ten years, renowned wood turner Nick Agar now works from an outstanding and spacious riverside workshop and studio with breathtaking scenery of the River Dart and the surrounding South Hams.
It is from this inspiring location that he now offers a range of wood turning courses, in response to demand that has been growing over the last few years. These popular courses are tailored to suit the individual, and are fitted in around Nick's demonstration dates. The well equipped workshop includes 2x VB36, 1x Vicmarc, and 2x Powermatic variable speed lathes, as well as Microclene dust filtration.
Arriving at 9:30 for a cuppa, we start at around 10:00am, with half an hour for lunch, finishing around 5:00pm, allowing time for a brush down and a round up of the day.
Health and safety will be covered and you will receive a free safety pack containing goggles and a dust mask. All courses are non-residential, but accommodation can be provided for around 45.00 dinner, bed and breakfast, per night at nearby Coombe Farm Studios, who also run pottery and watercolour courses ( perhaps ? ) for your partner. Alternatively, visit www.dartmouth.org.uk for other accommodation in the area.
All materials are included in course fees. However, should you wish to use woods such as burrs or exotics ( subject to availability ), these will incur an additional charge. A £50 non-refundable deposit is required. If none of the courses outlined below are quite what you are looking for, please feel free to contact Nick to discuss your particular requirements.
To book a course or enquire about available dates, please click here to view the availability calendar, or click here to contact Nick. Please note that your email may get lost in spam so please try again until you get a reply.
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Just For Fun - Come and make a bowl
This course is designed for those who want to take their first step into wood turning with the wish to create something on the lathe. No fuss, just fun !
You will learn how to mount a piece of wood on the lathe using a faceplate and a chuck. How to cut and shape the wood using gouges, abrasives, finishing techniques, and if you wish and there is time a little carving . You should leave at the end of the day with your masterpiece to show to all !
Price: £ 120.00 per person
Maximum 2 students.
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Beginners Course - at a pace to suit you
This course covers sharpening, some spindlework ( between centres ), faceplate and chuck work, sanding and finishing. You will use tools such as the roughing gouge, spindle gouge, parting tool, bowl gouge, swept back or long grind gouges.
On this course you can expect to make items such as bottle stoppers, a small bowl, , a planting dibber or a toadstool. Unbiased advice can be given to those wishing to purchase equipment, tools and timber.
Price: £135 .00 per day per person
Max two students
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Beginners and Beyond
A great course for those of you who have developed a sound understanding of the basics and principles but who wish to explore further. Tailored to your own requirements, this course offers the choice of green/wet turning, hollow forms, bowls, platters, incorporating surface decoration using power carvers, colouring, burning, grinding and texturing. Study shape and form and where to look for inspiration.
You are encouraged to bring your own tools and will be given advice on any tools, especially ones that you might be having trouble with. Special tools provided include Sorby, RS 2000 hollowing system, Hamlet hollowing tools eg Little Brother, Big Brother and Goliath amongst others.
Price: £135 .00 per day
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Specialist - Large Diameter or one to one tuition requested for any course
Price: From £150 per day
Maximum 1 student. one to one tuition. Just let me know what you would like to make and we will see if it is possible ...benefit from all the carving , texture and enhancement tools in the workshop to transform your work from the norm to the eye catching.....Usually it outways expectations and you leave inspired and amazed at what can be achieved in a day or two.
Specialist timber at cost .
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Specialist - Wall Sculpture - not for the faint hearted !
One to one tuition in multi axis turning, surface decoration, colouring, carving, burning etc
Price: From £195 per day, Maximum 1 student.
This is my most popular course .weather you turn wood or not this course offers a window to the artistic aproach that I use for my work , covering inspiration , colouring , many carving aplications , design , finish and the use of many specialist tools .
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