HomeLearn to Turn Wood

Beginning Woodturners

Learn to turn wood on a lathe.

It’s not that difficult. You can learn to creatively, safely make beautiful turned objects from wood. The instructors and fellow members of Wilmington Area Woodturners Association can show you how and support you every step of the way. As avid turners ourselves, we love to share what we love — woodturning.

Woodturning 1-2-3

1. Learn the basics.

Sign up for our series of beginner classes and take a turn at turning, with our experienced instructors serving as your teacher and guide. Basic training will explain the fundamentals of turning wood on a lathe, safety essentials, basic handling of tools, and an understanding of how wood behaves on a lathe.

2. Try turning.

Sign up for our series of beginner classes and take a turn at turning, with our experienced instructors serving as your teacher and guide. You’ll turn the basic lessons into realities. And most important, you will start making some sawdust. Once your first creation is revealed by your cutting, you’ll be hooked. This craft really is that gratifying, that amazing.

3. Increase your knowledge.

Learn about other techniques, tools and finishes. Expose yourself to uncommon wood stocks. Tap into the knowledge of a WAWA mentor, take part in our focused-topic clinics, and become active in our group. Your skills and confidence will grow and the results of your efforts will be amazing.

How to Learn Woodturning . . . three ways!

1. WAWA Basic Woodturning Class

WAWA offers a basic adult woodturning class in both the spring and fall.

A seven-session, in-depth, adult basic woodturning course.

Our Adult Basic Woodturning Course will meet each Thursday for seven straight weeks. Each runs four hours from 6–10 p.m. at our training facility on 4853 Masonboro Loop Road (behind Harbor United Methodist Church) in the Monkey Junction area of Wilmington.

Students will learn basic turning skills, safety practices, proper tool techniques and create a project each week including a honey dipper, candle stick, bowl, platter, goblet, lidded box, etc. or some variation thereof.

Each of the seven weekly sessions lasts four hours, meeting from 6-10 p.m. for seven consecutive Thursday evenings. Each week has a different instructor from WAWA teaching the class. Everything is provided for in the registration cost, including an in-depth handbook, use of all equipment and tools in our classroom and all turning wood blanks.

Class size is limited to 12 students so each student has their own lathe, not shared with another student, and ample personal attention from the instructor(s). Classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis by payment received. When the class fills, a waiting list is maintained for the next offering and last-minute openings.

The cost includes the instruction, use of machinery, and all materials needed.

The lead instructor is Frank Miller, with other WAWA members teaching/assisting.

This is a great opportunity for new woodturners as well as those wanting to firm up their foundation turning skills.

See the club calendar for class dates, cost and more info. These classes always sell out early!

WAWA Fall '24 Intro to Woodturning Course

WAWA Events Calendar

2. Brunswick Community College woodturning classes

We work with Brunswick Community College's Southport campus; they offer the same basic class as WAWA, but with a slightly different structure, as well as intermediate woodturning classes. The basic cost for the class is less, but students need to purchase their own wood blanks (approximately $70), plus provide their own face shield and turning tools ($100-200 or more). These classes generally have the same instructor each week and meet during the day. Visit the BCC website for more information, or better yet call or visit the Southport campus office at 910-755-6500.

BCC Website

BCC Southport Center Facebook Page

3. Join WAWA and take part in monthly demonstrations, clinics, more

Another way to be exposed to classes is to join WAWA and participate in our monthly meetings, demonstrations and clinics.

WAWA Events Calendar

How to Join WAWA

Here’s a look at some of the opportunities that membership in WAWA offers . . .

Monthly Membership Meetings with Demonstrations

Each monthly meeting of Wilmington Area Woodturners Association includes an in-depth masterclass from an experienced — often world-renowned — woodturners. At first these lessons might seem daunting, but osmosis happens and select techniques “stick.” Hang in there.

Networking and Social Activities

Whether it’s striking up a conversation with the woodturner sitting nearby at a meeting, meeting other turners in a class or clinic, or through our annual summer picnic or holiday luncheon, the friendships you make with kindred spirits are most valuable part of your membership.

Frequent Email Updates

Weekly emails keep members in the loop on upcoming events and happenings. Learn about tool sales, news of fellow members, and more. Don’t worry; we won’t fill your in box with junk mail . . . just quick updates of useful information.

In-depth Lessons for People New to Woodturning

WAWA has a dedicated classroom outfitted with 10 solid, modern Rikon midi-lathes for student use, along with all of the tools you’ll need to start turning wood. Our training program — refined over many years with hundreds of students — takes you through each process of woodturning. You’ll go home with several completed projects.

Focused-topic Clinics Fill in the Gaps

Taking on subjects a step up from the fundamentals course, these half-day clinics — available only to members and free — cover such topics as finishing, tool sharpening, lathe care and maintenance, and more. With just a few students this is a place to have your specific questions answered.

Mentorships

Many of the experienced woodturners of WAWA offer themselves as mentors to instruct other members in some of the fine points of woodturning. This is done in one-on-one tutorials and is offered from their own generosity toward other members from a desire to teach and share.

WAWA Newsletter and Frequent Email Updates

News of remote demonstrations from around the world, links to instructional documents, photos of turnings by other members . . . each bi-monthly issue of WAWA Turnings is certain to instruct and inspire.

New Member Sponsorship

The last thing we want is for a new member to feel lost or confused. What’s the difference between a demo and a clinic? How do you sign up? What training is available? The answers to these questions and more will help you learn woodturning. We will pair you off with a Sponsor so that you may call, text, email and/or visit to get answers to your questions and to help you move onward in your quest to be a better woodturner.

New Turner Orientation / Safety Course

The Wilmington Area Woodturners Association offers an Orientation/Safety Course to members who are new to woodturning. It is a 4- to 5-hour course aimed at familiarizing you to lathe and woodturning terminology, nomenclature, types of tools and how to turn safely. About 80% of the course is hands-on turning and is usually conducted with just one or two students per instructor.

Training Opportunities

Starting with the sponsor each new member is assigned, we’ll help make sure you are off to a solid, safe, enjoyable start. Your sponsor will guide you through the many learning opportunities WAWA offers and make certain you don’t fall between the cracks. We are committed to your success and growth. And as you grow and learn we’ll be there to guide and inspire you to new heights in woodturning.

How to Join WAWA