The pole lathe, often known as the bodger’s lathe, is one of the oldest machines ever created by man. Evidence of pole lathe use in the UK dates back to the Bronze Age, while examples of wood turning have been found in Egypt from over 4,000 years ago.
Join us in our woodland workshop and discover this fascinating heritage craft for yourself.
Our Pole Lathe Turning Course is designed to introduce beginners to the skills and techniques of traditional green woodworking. Using a traditional foot-powered pole lathe and hand tools, you’ll learn how generations of craftsmen transformed freshly cut timber into useful everyday items.
Each course is tailored to the experience and ability of those attending, with plenty of one-to-one tuition throughout the day.
By the end of the course, you’ll have created and taken home your own hand-turned wooden item.
Basic tool safety
How to care for and maintain your tools
Selecting suitable timber for turning
Preparing a billet for the lathe
Safe and effective pole lathe techniques
Turning your own finished item
Our aim is simple: to keep traditional woodland crafts alive by sharing the knowledge and skills we have gained through nearly two decades of working in the woods and making a living from them.
Answer: £120
Answer: No. This course is designed for complete beginners, and all tuition is provided on a one-to-one basis where needed.
Answer: Pole lathes are foot-powered, so some physical effort is required. However, the course is generally suitable for most people with a reasonable level of mobility.
Answer: The exact project will depend on your experience and the progress made during the day, but most participants leave with a completed turned item such as a dibber, door wedge, or similar turned item.
Answer:Â A pole lathe is a traditional foot-powered woodworking lathe that has been used for centuries to turn green wood into useful objects. It uses a spring pole and treadle system rather than electricity.
Answer:Â You will use a range of traditional pole lathe turning tools, including roughing and finishing gouges, alongside other green woodworking tools used to prepare your timber.
Answer: Yes. All tools, equipment, safety equipment, and timber required for the course are included.
Answer: You are welcome to bring your own tools if you wish, although all necessary equipment will be provided.
Answer:Â Outdoors - the course takes place in our woodland. While we can run this course under some shelter, it is an outdoor environment, so it may be cancelled due to weather conditions
Answer: Please contact us before booking if you wish to bring a young person. Minimum height requirement applies to this course due to the height of the pole lathe. Under 18s require an adult be in attendanceÂ
Answer:Â Yes. Everyone should leave with a hand-turned item they have made themselves during the course.
Answer:Â We normally run this course as a 1 to 1 but can run it with up to 2 people if they are happy, this works well for families to ensure everyone receives plenty of individual tuition and hands-on experience.
Answer: All of our woodland based courses are run in our own piece of ancient woodland, nr the village of Clanfield in Hampshire close to the A3 and A272.
Answer: No, we do not provide food; however, tea and coffee are available throughout the day.
Answer:Â Â Yes, all our courses are beginner friendly, we aim to tailor our course to the person joining us to make it a truly unique experience
Answer:Â Â No, we always aim to teach from the ground up, so no previous experience is needed on any of our courses
yes, we aim to carter for all ages. Some of our more physical course may require some adaptation but with notice this can be catered for. While we try and make access for all possible this has to be tempered with the natural state of the woodland so it may not be ideal for manual wheelchairs or mobility scooters. We can arrange disable accessible course space for our leather work courses by prior arrangement.
Answer: Yes, although those under 18 require an adult to attend for insurance and safeguarding purposes
Answer: While we try to carry on as much as possible sadly sometimes rain and wind do stop play for safety reasons, because our woodland causes are run in the great outdoors the weather can affect how and if we are able to run, gale force winds and trees are not a good combination, if we have to postpone a course we will try and give as much notice as possible and arrange an alternative date.
Answer: Yes, we regularly send out gift vouchers to participants where a relative wishes to give a gift. Please use our contact us page to ask for more details.
Answer: yes, generally park course attendees in an area just of the road as access to our work and training area is by 4x4 only.
For our leather work course over road parking is available
Answer: yes, we encourage our participants to take photo’s and share the love on social media, the only time this may change is if there are safeguarding issues with under 18’s present.
Answer: Yes, we provide all tools and materials for our courses although if you have you own tools you are welcome to bring them along.
Answer: There are a good number of local hotels and b and b’s in the area for which we can give you detail on application.
Answer: Please wear sturdy outdoor clothing suitable for the weather and strong footwear. Avoid loose clothing, jewellery, or anything that could become caught in machinery.
Food and refreshments
There will be an ample supply of tea/coffee on tap but no other food is provided, we can of course set up the bbq if requested.
location
Unless otherwise stated all of our woodland courses are run in our own woodland in the heart of the Southdowns between Petersfield and Portsmouth just off the A3 , A3m and A272.
Accommodation
There are a good number of local hotels and b and b’s in the area for which we can give you detail on application.
CostsÂ
£120 per day