NWWT upcoming events

Sharpening Lathe Tools Class - Q4-2026 (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Sharpening Class

Saturday, September 19th, 2026

9:00am - 3:00pm

Dave Wood's Shop
24250 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin OR 97062.

Course Objective:

Requirements and general information:

Students must be members of NWWT.
Class will be limited to 6 students.
Each student will have a fully equipped sharpening station.
Instructors are experienced NWWT members.
Students bring their own tools and PPE (face shields, dust protection) Note: Students may use NWWT tool sets if needed.
Coffee and snacks will be provided, but bring your own lunch.

Class Agenda:

The advantages and disadvantages of different tool steels
Overview of the common methods of sharpening: grinders, grinding wheels, sharpening systems, and accessories
Explain sharpening bowl gouges, spindle gouges, parting tools, scrapers, and skews
Sharpening time at your grinders - Sharpen your tools with help from instructors and coaches

NWWT General Meeting - October (01 Oct 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:00:00 GMT

October 1, 2026 Meeting

Presenter: Dan Tilden

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Hybrid Meeting - live at the MAC and on Zoom

HERE

Dan Tilden, an Oregon native and accomplished wood artist based in Ashland, will come to Portland and show us how he makes his popular "Crater Bowls" (sometimes called "Volcano" bowls) out of local hardwoods. His work is unique and he is an excellent demonstrator in addition to being a true artist who sees the potential in a piece of wood.

Come to the meeting and meet Dan and learn!

Spindle Turning Basics Class -Q4-2026 (03 Oct 2026)

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Spindle Turning Basics Class

Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

8:30am - 3:30pm

Dave Wood's Shop
24250 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin OR 97062.

Requirements and general information

Students must be members of NWWT
Class will be limited to 7 students - one per lathe
Instructors are experienced NWWT members
4 Sharpening systems will be available
All wood will be supplied
Students bring their own PPE (face shields, dust protection)
Coffee and snacks will be provided, but bring your own lunch.

Course Objective
The primary objective of this course is to walk beginners through making basic spindle pieces such as a candle stick, honey dipper or simple toy. This course is targeted at people who have never turned wood, or who want to take a refresher course before advancing to the next level of spindle turning expertise.

7 lathes available for students plus the instructor's lathe.
Class binder with notes and reference materials for all
Prerequisite woodturning skills: none required

Agenda

Morning

Sharpening the tools required for class with help from the instruction staff.
Mount a blank on the lathe and turn to a cylinder
Demonstrations and practice making coves and beads

Lunch Hour – Demonstrations and Q&A session during lunch

Afternoon

Continue practicing while making a basic spindle form.
Pick a second simple spindle project and turn.

Tools you need

Note: If you do not have any tools yet, loaner tools are available. We recommend you wait until after the class to buy tools so you know what to buy, and what not to buy.

Spindle Roughing Gouge.
Spindle Gouge
Parting Tool

Bowl Turning Basics Class - Q4-2026 (04 Oct 2026)

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Bowl Turning Basics Class

Sunday, October 4th, 2026

8:30am - 3:30pm

Dave Wood's Shop
24250 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin OR 97062.

Requirements and general information

Students must be members of NWWT
Class will be limited to 7 students - one per lathe
Instructors are experienced NWWT members
4 Sharpening systems will be available
All wood will be supplied
Students bring their own PPE (face shields, dust protection)
Coffee and snacks will be provided, but bring your own lunch.

Course Objective

The primary objective of this course is to walk beginners through making a wooden bowl. This course is targeted at people who have never turned wood, or who want to take a refresher course before advancing on to the next level of bowl turning expertise.

Prerequisite woodturning skills: None required,

Agenda

Morning

Sharpening the tools required for class with help from the instruction staff.
Mount a green blank between centers; flatten bowl bottom surface; cut a tenon
Mount blank in a chuck

Lunch Hour – Demonstrations and Q&A session during lunch

Afternoon

Instruction on the basic push-cut and pull-cut techniques
Cut the exterior shape and interior surface, and smooth with scraper
Reverse the bowl and finish cut the bottom
Start a second bowl (time permitting) to finish at home
Each student will take home one bowl and one blank for practice.

Tools you need

Note: If you do not have any tools yet, loaner tools are available. We recommend you wait until after the class to buy tools so you know what to buy and what not to buy.

Bowl Gouge: ½” or 5/8”
Scraper: left-hand French curve style for inside bowl surface. A round-nose scraper is acceptable.
Parting tool or Skew – for touching up tenons and recesses for bowl mounting

NWWT Open Shop -- Dave Wood's Shop (10 Oct 2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Open Shop is directed toward the new turner but all are welcome. Bring a project you want help finishing. Bring questions about methods, tools, designs or any other woodturning question. There are seven lathes available for use. Bring your own tools and wood or buy wood at the shop.

We will have three sharpening stations to help you perfect your sharpening technique. There is no more important topic for the new turner (or the old ones for that matter) than sharpening.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER FOR OPEN SHOP

Registration guarantees you use of a lathe, and others can use one when one becomes available.

There will always be three or more advanced turners there to help, sharpen tools, and answer any questions.

Open Shop is free, but the rental Portable Rest Room and our coffee and doughnuts cost money. A $20 donation would help defray expenses.

Requirements

Open for NWWT members only or potential members to talk
No charge for the session (donations for operating costs are appreciated)
Bring your tools
Bring your PPE (face shields, dust protection, ear protection)
NWWT follows the current COVID guidelines -- details HERE
If you have any COVID related symptoms, please stay home

Spindle Turning 201 -Lidded Box - Q4-2026 (24 Oct 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Spindle Turning 201 - "Lidded Box" Class

Saturday, October 24th, 2026

8:30am - 4:00pm

Dave Wood's Shop

24250 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin OR 97062

Requirements and general information

Students must be members of NWWT
Class will be limited to 7 students - one per lathe
Instructors are experienced NWWT members
4 Sharpening systems will be available
All wood will be supplied
Students bring their own PPE (face shields, dust protection)
Coffee and snacks will be provided, but bring your own lunch

Course Objectives
The primary objective of this class is to teach additional spindle turning skills. There are a variety of techniques learned in this class that are applicable to many other types of turning projects.

We will introduce you to use of the skew in this class.

Prerequisite Skills: If you have not developed the skills described below or are unsure, attend an open shop session and discuss it with one of the helpers before registering for this course. Skills required are:

Use of a rouging gouge to round square stock.
Use of a spindle gouge to make beads and coves
Use of a parting tool.

Agenda

Sharpen all tools used for the class with help from the instruction staff.
Practice beads and coves with the spindle gouge as a warm-up exercise
Discussion of pepper mill designs from simple to more complex, hollowing techniques and tools

Tools you need to bring

Spindle Roughing Gouge 1” or larger is ideal. ¾” is ok.
Spindle gouge: ½” or 3/8”. Bring both if you have them
Parting tool: 1/8” diamond profile is very versatile, but thin kerf (1/16”) is also useful.
Small round-nose scraper or box scrapper
Skew: 1” or larger

Bowl Turning 201 -"Viking" Bowl - Q4-2026 (07 Nov 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Bowl Turning 201 - "Viking" Bowl

Course description coming soon!

Saturday, November 7th, 2026

8:30am - 4:00pm

Dave Wood's Shop
24250 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin OR 97062

Requirements and general information

Students must be members of NWWT
Class will be limited to 7 students - one per lathe
Instructors are experienced NWWT members
4 Sharpening systems will be available

All wood will be supplied
Students bring their own PPE (face shields, dust protection)
Coffee and snacks will be provided, but bring your own lunch

Course Objectives:

The primary objective of this course is to refine and expand your skills in the finer details of bowl turning. When you look at a bowl, your eye is very discerning. You will learn optimal bowl shapes, rim designs, and base options. Skills learned here will help you advance to the next level of expertise.

Each student should complete one piece in class. Sanding and finish application included, time permitting.

Prerequisite Skills

If you have not yet developed the skills below or are unsure, please attend an open shop and talk with one of the helpers before registering for this course.

Ability to prepare and mount a bowl blank between centers, and in a chuck using a tenon or a recess
Ability to shape the outside and inside of a bowl using a bowl gouge
Ability to use a scraper for finishing the inside of a bowl
Ability to complete a basic bowl except for sanding and applying finish

Agenda:

Morning

Tune-up/sharpen tools for the class with help from the staff.
Presentation on advanced design and form concepts, shape, rims, and bottoms as relates to a Calabash bowl
Review of bowl gouge grinds: 40/40, traditional (50°), bottom (65°-75°), Ellsworth, etc
Mounting options: when to use a tenon or recess
Turn Calabash bowl through the exterior finish-cutting stage with a green blank

Lunch Hour:
Additional Demonstrations and Q&A session during lunch

Afternoon

Turn a jam chuck to cut and finish the round bottom
Learn methods of cutting thinner wall thickness
Learn methods of scraping thin-walled bowls
Sanding and finishing as time permits

Tools to bring

Bowl gouge(s) – ½” or 5/8” are good sizes. If you have several with different grinds, bring them all.
Bowl scraper – left hand French curve style is ideal for inside, but a round-nose scraper also works
Skew for exterior scraping
Parting tool

NWWT Open Shop -- Dave Wood's Shop (14 Nov 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We will have three sharpening stations to help you perfect your sharpening technique. There is no more important topic for the new turner (or the old ones for that matter) than sharpening.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER FOR OPEN SHOP

Registration guarantees you use of a lathe, and others can use one when one becomes available.

There will always be three or more advanced turners there to help, sharpen tools, and answer any questions.

Open Shop is free, but the rental Portable Rest Room and our coffee and doughnuts cost money. A $20 donation would help defray expenses.

Requirements

Open for NWWT members only or potential members to talk
No charge for the session (donations for operating costs are appreciated)
Bring your tools
Bring your PPE (face shields, dust protection, ear protection)
NWWT follows the current COVID guidelines -- details HERE
If you have any COVID related symptoms, please stay home

NWWT Open Shop -- Dave Wood's Shop (12 Dec 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We will have three sharpening stations to help you perfect your sharpening technique. There is no more important topic for the new turner (or the old ones for that matter) than sharpening.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER FOR OPEN SHOP

Registration guarantees you use of a lathe, and others can use one when one becomes available.

There will always be three or more advanced turners there to help, sharpen tools, and answer any questions.

Open Shop is free, but the rental Portable Rest Room and our coffee and doughnuts cost money. A $20 donation would help defray expenses.

Requirements

Open for NWWT members only or potential members to talk
No charge for the session (donations for operating costs are appreciated)
Bring your tools
Bring your PPE (face shields, dust protection, ear protection)
NWWT follows the current COVID guidelines -- details HERE
If you have any COVID related symptoms, please stay home