• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Gabriel Hoff for "Spalted Beech Round Bottom Box" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 6, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

a place to learn

Where are you located and what are your main interests? There are several good clubs in Ca as well as many mentors that do private and group sessions.
 
Have you looked here?: https://www.woodturner.org/
From the menu on the left side of the page, select AAW Local Chapters, and boink successively as needed. (Works a little better with right click and Open in a New Window to avoid regeneration time). There are about 4 or 5 chapters sort of "central CA."

Joe
 
David Marks is in Santa Rosa, CA

There are other teachers and AAW chapters in California closer to you.

There are local AAW chapters in Fresno (South about an hour.) in Sacramento (North a bit more than an hour.) and in the East Bay (San Ramon, a bit more than an hour) and one in San Jose (South Bay).
 
teachers in your area:

On the AAW site in the Hottest links list, click on the POP, on the POP page, read down to the Professional Directories: and click on the teacher directory.

I put in 95340, 100 miles and
Rich Johnson's Woodturning Center 69 miles away in San Jose, CA came up.

I put in 95340, 200 miles and
James Rodgers is 102 miles away in Martinez, CA 94553
AND Merryll Saylan is 107 miles away in Berkeley, CA 94710
AND Ron Overholtz is 120 miles away in Bishop, CA 93514
AND Jerry Kermode is 150 miles away in Sebastopol, CA 95472
AND Julian Shaw is 150 miles away in Sebastopol, CA 95472 came up.

I have seen Rich, Merryll, Jerry and Julian demo at Winecountry Woodturners (AAW Santa Rosa local) club meetings. All were great. I took most of my beginning turning lessons from Julian, through Woodcraft or Redwood Empire Woodturners (AAW Ukiah local) hands on workshops.

I know both Rich and Jerry offer beginning turning classes at their shops.
 
Hello Russell,

I also live in Merced as do at least one other turner I know.

The closet club I know of is the Sequoia Woodturners who meet in Fresno. http://www.sequoiawoodturners.org/

They have a few demos scheduled that might get you started.

I know at least one member of that Club used to offer classes. He lives in Three Rivers though, so it is a trek from Merced.

I personally feel my work is not quite up to the level where I should be imparting turning knowledge yet, but I did used to teach a collage wood shop course and wood be happy to help out anyway I can.

PM me and we can talk.

Justin
 
This Saturday - November 8 - Bob Rosand is going to do a demo for Bay Area Woodturners - in San Ramon. He does a very good demo. I think part of the demo is free (morning) and the afternoon will cost something like $30. I would check their web site. It would be worth the trip from Merced.

If you do not think Sacramento is too far to travel - Nor Cal Woodturners has a good club - meet on the forth Tuesday at 7 PM. They have a couple of Mentors that can help a bunch.

Just a couple of quick thoughts.
Hugh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top