Joaz Hill ~ Stonington, Maine ~ 207-367-5816 ~

Learn To Turn On The Beautiful Coast Of Maine

My turning studio is located on Deer Isle in the town of Stonington. This town is one of the last working waterfronts in the state. Surrounded by beautiful ocean vistas and dotted with large and tiny islands in the bay, it is reputed to be one of the most spectacular areas of the Maine coast.

Deer Isle is also the home of the famous haystack School of Crafts and is the year-round home of many well known artists and craftsmen.

Deer Isle is located south of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, one of the most visited parks in the country. Stonington and Deer Isle offers many recreational opportunities for the entire family, including sailing, kayaking, cycling, antiquing and gallery touring.

A great selection of motels and B&B's can be found locally and in the surrounding areas. Please visit the links area at the bottom of this page where you can find more information about this wonderful area of the Maine coast.

ShapeShifter Woodturning Class

Because each turner is at a different level, I try to gear my instruction to the individual. Someone may be a novice, intermediate or advanced turner or a turner looking for a class in a particular skill or technique.

The following is a list of areas that you as a turner might be interested in learning. This is by no means a complete list and can be added to by the individual.

If you decide to take a class, a questionnaire will be sent to you via email. You will be asked questions that will help me determine how to structure your particular needs and at what level you are currently turning.

I conduct one and two day classes for one turner at a time. Full eight hour days.

Please

your questions and comments.

Sharpening the Tools-Grinder Techniques

Spindle and Bowl Gouges
Scrapers
Skew Chisels
How to create and sharpen the Irish grind.(side grind)
Jigs

Bowl Turning

Lathe Safety
Design and Execution
Mounting the bowl(chucks,faceplate,roughing between centers)
Tool technique
Body language
Lathe speed
Processing bowl blanks, from the stump to the lathe
Natural edge vessels(my specialty)
Drying blanks
Power sanding
How to remove bottoms

Hollow Turning

Using the Kelton Hollowing rig
Reading the caliper for wall thickness
Design and execution

Sanding and Finishing

Hand Sanding
Safety concerns
Preparation for Finishing
Using shellac and other finishes

ShapeShifter Students Speak:
Referrals and Testimonials

"I spent two happy days working with Joaz. He is an excellent teacher - knowledgeable, patient, observant, clear, and flexible. Because of my handicap (a shortened weak right arm) he had to make a number of adjustments to his normal instruction which he did with ease, grace and humor. Starting the class as an absolute novice I felt I came away with a great respect for the care of the tools, the safety procedures that needed to be followed, and a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of turning. Mastery may take a few more years or decades (if ever). I would certainly return to stand with Joaz at his lathe to help me achieve that next level of proficiency."

Steve Lorch

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"Hi Bill, My name is Bruce Buchanan and I live in Bangor. Joaz emailed me to inquire if I would contact you and verify my experience with him as an instructor.

I called Joaz after seeing a spot about him on the evening news in Bangor. I had an interest in turning bowls and took a one hour course through the Woodcraft Store in New Hampshire. The course provided a hint about how to turn a bowl, but I really did not know what I was doing. Joaz agreed to provide some instruction and within a relatively short period of time I realized how much I didn't know about turning bowls. However, with his patience and a wealth of knowledge I learned alot and have turned a number of bowls that I am proud of and that I would not have been able to do with out his help. If you have seen any of his work you're aware of what he can do with a chunk of wood. I am certain that your experience with him will be as rewarding as mine."

Bruce Buchanan, Bangor, ME

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"This past summer, in August 2005, I spent two full days working one-on-one with bowl turner and teacher, Joaz Hill. I am happy to comment on that experience.

First, it was a privilege to have this kind of individualized tutorial. For the duration of the approximately ten hours we were together, I enjoyed Joaz’ full attention and individualized instruction. He prepared for the sessions by introducing me to the shop, outlining the correct use and safety features of each piece of equipment, and describing his own work, both the production of the pieces and their finishing. He emphasized the potential hazards of working with lathes and the importance of mounting wood correctly and treating the equipment with respect.

The tutorial consisted of my turning a bowl from start to near finish. Joaz demonstrated different techniques on various pieces of wood and helped me to practice them. He explained the uses, assets and limits of different cutting tools, and had me try each one. Throughout the experience, Joaz was patient, encouraging and supportive.

I came away from the tutorial with a much more developed sense of what’s involved in bowl-turning. Having returned from the experience to a 50-60 hour-a-week job, I’ve had little time to practice what I learned; but much of what Joaz taught me will stay with me, and I look forward to this coming summer when I’ll have more time to recall what I learned and put it to use."

(The Rev.) Peter W. Sipple, Rector, Bryn Mawr, PA

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"Having spent an evening in the shop of Joaz sharpening gouges on the granite outcrop of picturesque Stonington, Maine I was ready for my day turning a natural edge bowl from a cherry burl. Having spent many hours in my own wood shop in Michigan, Joaz was quick to assess my skill level and comfort zone and proceed from there. For me it was more about the tips and sharpening tools and the concentrated time turning than it was about beginners techniques but he was quick to fill the many holes I had in these areas as well.

Just a very relaxed, informative, pleasant learning experience. And, if one believes in the 6 degrees of separation - his mother in law lives in the same rural area of Michigan (pop. 500) as I came from.

The bowl looks great by the way! Thanks Joaz."

Mike Bolton DVM, Michigan

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"Joaz Hill was very patient and thorough with me as a self taught woodworker. He helped me to unlearn some work patterns I had developed over thirty plus years of woodworking. He started with side grinds for bowl gouges. I was amazed at the difference in cutting and handling that I experienced with my own tools when they were really sharp. My unlearning went on from there. He showed me better grips and my rigid posture soon began to change as I started to experience a smoother motion and closer stance in making my cuts.

As we progressed through the two day session, it was obvious that he was making adjustments to his program to address my strengths and weaknesses. I felt that he took a personal interest in me as we shared our love for woodworking. He suggested some equipment for sharpening and a couple of tools that I might want to pick up. He left me with instructions to work on the techniques that I had practiced under his careful supervision. I left with greater confidence and a desire to continue to hone my wood turning skills. In another year, I may come back for a more advanced session.

In conclusion, working with Joaz Hill was a rewarding experience that was well worth the time and the money. Not only is he a skilled artist; but he is also a capable teacher. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me at jsands@stny.rr.com"

John W. Sands , Corning, NY

Maine Coast Links:
www.acadianationalpark.com
www.deerislemaine.com
www.maine-web.com
www.map-quest.com