Class description
A lidded box is a small piece that asks a lot. The body and lid have to be sized to each other, the end grain has to be hollowed cleanly, and the lid has to seat properly every time it goes on. Get those right and you have a piece that is satisfying to make and genuinely useful to own.
This two-day workshop is built for turners who already have the fundamentals. On day one you will turn cross grain boxes. On day two you will move to end grain hollowing and the suction fit lid, where the lid fits closely enough to hold with a gentle pull of air. Along the way you will cover box design, timber selection, cutting suitable blanks, methods of holding the work, fitting lids, tool selection and sharpening.
This is an intermediate class. It is not a first class on the lathe. Before booking, you should already be comfortable at the lathe: setting it up, mounting work between centres and in a chuck, and controlling a roughing gouge, spindle gouge and parting tool through the key cuts. That is the ground our Introductory Woodturning Workshop covers. If you are new to turning, start there or with Five Days of Turning first, then come back to this one.
Why You’ll Love This Class
Two kinds of box, two techniques. Cross grain and end grain timber behave differently on the lathe, and you will turn both.
Lids that fit. You will learn to size and fit a lid so it seats properly, rather than rattling or jamming.
End grain hollowing, step by step. One of the trickier skills in turning, broken down and practised on a real project.
Design that holds up. Proportion, lid shape and where the joint line sits all get attention before the first cut.
Plenty of lathe time. Most of the two days is spent turning, with direct feedback as you cut.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the two days, you will be able to:
- Plan a lidded box, including proportions, lid shape and the joint line
- Select timber and cut suitable blanks for cross grain and end grain boxes
- Choose a method of holding the work for each stage of the box
- Turn and fit lids on cross grain boxes
- Hollow end grain using techniques suited to box work
- Turn and fit a suction fit lid
- Select the right tool for each cut and keep it sharp
Course Content and Structure
Day one is all about cross grain boxes. You will start with design and timber selection, then cut your blanks, work out how to hold the piece at each stage, and turn the box and lid before fitting the two together.
Day two moves to end grain. You will work through end grain hollowing techniques and the tools suited to them, then turn and fit a suction fit lid. The cuts build on what you practised on day one, but end grain asks for cleaner tool presentation and a closer fit.
Throughout, the focus is on understanding why each step works, not just getting through the project. Tool selection, sharpening and good safety habits run through both days, and they carry over to every box you turn after this.
Hands-On Experience
This is a hands-on workshop from the first session. You are at the lathe turning real timber, with your instructor moving between stations giving direct feedback as you cut. A good lid fit comes down to fractions of a millimetre, so that personal guidance makes the difference.
Join Us and Refine Your Craft
If you have turned a few pieces and want a project that tests your accuracy, lidded boxes are a great next step. Bring the fundamentals you already have and walk out with your boxes and a real handle on fitting lids. Book your spot now.
