Beginner Kieran attended a three day course covering general and spindle turning.

I inherited an old Record Power wood turning lathe from my uncle who passed a few years ago. Desperate to do the lathe justice I hit you tube for instruction and started turning basic spindle pieces from some pine I rescued from the tip. After producing a decent rounders bat I tried to reproduce it and tore the next couple of pieces apart.

Instead of just producing more sawdust I decided to get professional instruction. Enter Andy Browne. I settled on the full package of 3 days with the help of a kind birthday present from my family. I did 3 days in a row but Andy is flexible enough to split this up if you want to go away and practice in between sessions.

As per a previous review, Andy balances the day perfectly with the right amount of instruction and leaving you to make your own mistakes. How we learn best I think. Take a notebook, many pearls of wisdom are imparted during the day. One that stuck with me - "ride the bevel". You will get far with this but it doesn't stop there.

The course description you will receive upon enquiring is accurate, everything is covered. Tool sharpening, sanding, safety, which tools fit which jobs, tool makes to avoid, chucks/faceplates etc. Stuff you wouldn't think of.

Andy's workshop is a delight, try to replicate it if you dare, it's vast. Also, don't worry which time of year you do it, it's a very comfortable temperature, even in January when I went (2025). It's fully insulated so I imagine summer would be great too.

Special shout out to Martine's lunches, delicious and an excellent refuel for the pm session. Don't forget to look out the window at lunch, we had a woodpecker visit the bird feeder one day!

Altogether a highly recommended experience, one I will never forget.

Thanks Andy and Martine!