Jimmy Clewes class in Las Vegas

[Alan Weinberg]

I spent last weekend in Vegas with Jimmy Clewes. Great teacher. He recommends you stay at Palace Station since it’s about 0.6 miles from his home where he teaches. Great breakfast there by the way and rooms are clean and not expensive. Don’t expect the Wynn, though.

His 2 car garage is his shop, teaches up to 4 at a time, and customizes the class to what you want. You pick the agenda. While he’s known for colorizing, I stayed out of that though a couple of the others went in that direction.

Class is from 8-4 with a 1 hour lunch in his home—home made food by his lovely wife Mary who really puts on a great spread. Ice water and soda in the fridge in the shop all day—questions answered and techniques shown 1 on 1 throughout the day. And he’s hilarious, so down to earth. Just a guy you love hanging out with. And what a turner!

Cost $750, I think, for 4 days, including the meal, sodas, coffee, tea. Great selection of wood blanks, Powermatic and other lathes, any gouge or scraper you want in addition to his customized tools.

I’m so happy I went. And I’m already looking at returning.

 

[Jim Reynolds]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm looking forward to my class with Jimmy in October at Marc Adams School of Woodworking. I am a strong proponent of professional instruction. Every class I have taken (with other instructors) has been beneficial.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Thanks for posting your experience. Jimmy is a wonderful teacher. He was at our club several years ago for a week of instruction and I really enjoyed the class.

 

[Larry Mercier]

Jimmy is a wonderful teacher. He was at our club several years ago for a week of instruction and I really enjoyed the class.

He came to our club too. He did a very interesting demo. Then he stayed two more days to conduct two one day classes. So 16 of us had a wonderful experience. He likes fast turning and he was having us turn a square bowl. The sound of 8 powermatics turning at a high speed was very frightening but we all survived. I found him very personable and very helpful.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

He likes fast turning

Yes! I was turning at 800-1200 and he kept turning me up to 2300. Was like being in a race car on the track. Had never gone that fast.

 

[Rick Doganiero]

I did a 4 day course with members from our local club a few years ago. We had a great time. Learned a lot, made many items and had a lot of laughs. We still are sharing the stories. I'd go back again in a heart beat.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Yes! I was turning at 800-1200 and he kept turning me up to 2300. Was like being in a race car on the track. Had never gone that fast.

I get nosebleed if I turn with the lathe going faster than 600 RPM.

 

[Rick Doganiero]

Ha Ha! I can still here him yelling at me to turn the lathe speed up.