4th-6th June 2022 Professional Steam Bending Course - Cumbria

The ultimate steam-bending course. 

In its 12th year this course now runs over 4 days - the Friday is our 1 day Beginners Course which some participants may have already done so do not need to repeat unless wanted - and Saturday to Monday enjoy three creative days learning everything else we know about steam-bending to date.  

All you need to start work on your own straight away, different species, 2D & 3D bends, advanced free bending, four types of compression strap, advanced jig making, making batches, multi-plane bends, hot-laminating, big bends and more…!  As part of the learning process you will design and make your own product and chair, and there is an option to make a steam-chamber and jigs to take home.  New to the course in 2022 there is also an optional visit a local samill to cut some perfect Ash to take home if wanted.  Attending the professional course gives you a new insight into what wood actually is and gives you a new ‘tool in the box’ to achieve new and beautiful eco-friendly works from repeatable elements to impossible looking one-off sculptural creations.

There is a bespoke element to each professional course as a few weeks before the course we will ask if there are any aspects to the process you are especially interested in so we can be sure to include it in the mix of fun and technical processes.

This course is taught in the Lake District workshop of Charlie Whinney Studio.  The building is an ancient stone barn right nestled under SSSI Whitbarrow Scar in the UNESCO World Heritage Lake District National Park.  This venue allows for some of the course to be taught in the woods adjacent to the wood where we may even cut down a small tree for use during the day (weather permitting), and you can also see Charlie’s studio where many of the projects over the past eight years have been created.

All materials and most meals are included in the price.  We reserve all 5 rooms at the beautiful Witherslack Hall Farm B&B for this course which are availiable too when you book.

Friday

Beginners Course 10am - 5pm, please book this separately with the Student Discount, or if you have done it already you don't need to repeat it unless wanted.

7.30pm Meal at Witherslack Hall B&B (optional)

Saturday

10am Start at Charlie Whinney Studio, Top Barn, Beck Head, CUMBRIA LA11 6SH

Course introduction - looking deeper into 'what wood is'

BREAK

Sculptural Steam Bending

Steam Bent Joints

LUNCH

Batch Production Processes

Jigs Part One

5pm Finish

EVENING – Dinner in the Derby Arms (optional)

Sunday

10am Start

Design and make a product for batch production

BREAK

Jigs Part Two

Bending larger sections, bench bends and more.

LUNCH

Make a ‘Chair-in-an-afternoon’!  We will be making at least three different designs in groups to fully explore different options and potential for furniture.

6.30pm finish

EVENING – BBQ at the workshop (optional)

Monday

10am Start

Hot-laminating and green bending (no steam)

BREAK

Jigs Part Three

Making compression straps, steel, woven and composite, adjustable endstops

Drying wood, theory and practice, different drying chambers and methods.

LUNCH

The afternoon is optional, it is set aside for your own experiments, looking at individual projects and making jigs and steam-chambers.  Stay busy in the studio or join us for an hour at our local sawmill to learn about sawmills and also re-saw some perfect Ash to take home if wanted.

5pm Finish

* Workshop cancellations by you*

We try our best to price our workshops as fairly as possible and offer good value for money. We therefore have to have a clear cancellation policy to ensure that we cover our costs and the ongoing viability of the workshop.

We urge you to carefully check your diary to ensure that you are available to attend any workshops you are booking with us.

If circumstances change, or something pops up and you are unable to attend, unfortunately all our workshops and classes are non-refundable and transfers can only be arranged under the circumstances outlined below:

If you give more than 45 working days notice to cancel a place on a three day workshop your options are as follows:

• We will be happy to transfer you to another workshop but only if the original place is successfully resold. If the place does not resell then unfortunately we cannot supply you with another place on a future course date.

• You can of course send someone in your place at any time, but please note that this is your responsibility to find a replacement person and you must let us know in advance who will be attending.

We will do our best to fill the place within this time. Please be aware that in our experience it can be difficult to fill places on workshops at short notice.

* Events postponed due to Lock Down  *

•       In the event that national or regional lock down rules are active at the time of the the event, the course shall be postponed to a new date. Students may select the new date offered, or transfer to any available 3 Day Pro course within 2 years of their original course date.