Adrian Lloyd reviews

24 Jul 18'

Peter Hoare reviewed: Build a Bowl Lathe & Learn to Turn

"I had a great five days with one to one tuition. The first day was spent forging two bowl hooks, a new and very satisfying experience. The next three days were spent constructing a very sturdy bowl lathe, the bed and poppets being of kiln dried three inch thick ash. The tenons for the legs and uprights were shaped with 1 3/4 and 1 1/2 Veritas tenon formers in a cordless drill, another new experience for me. The matching round mortices were drilled with hand augers, strenuous exercise. The last day was particularly satisfying, turning a bowl with the newly constructed lathe and the newly forged bowl hooks. The work was sustained with deliceous lunches and cake for tea. The instruction was excellent."

15 Jun 18'

Liz Orr reviewed: An Introduction to Spoon Carving

"A really rewarding day. Clear instructions, lots of information and support to create a spoon. Would really recommend it. The catering throughout the day was really good and kept one going."

8 Jun 18'

Dave Pickering reviewed: An Introduction to Spoon Carving

"This was an excellent day, Ade certainly knows his stuff and was able to explain and show techniques very clearly. The day was relaxing and informative, refreshments and lunch was top notch too. I will be back at some point in the future to raise my game once I have mastered what I was shown on this intro day."

30 May 18'

Andrew Byham reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Ade is an excellent teacher! I've turned a handful of bowls before with little success, but this workshop answers so many of the questions I would have taken months to figure out myself. Very very worth while and thoroughly enjoyed it."

20 May 18'

Alan Shuttleworth reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"At the Bodger’s Ball I was very lucky to get a last minute place bowl turning with Ade. He has a calm and thorough approach taking you through all the stages from log to bowl. Regular pauses to demonstrate the next stage or answer questions helped split up the physical activities in the bowl production. Not only did I come away with my first bowl and the basic knowledge to have a go on my own lathe but I also had a nice bag of wood shavings to use for smoking food, an excellent bonus day at the Ball."

17 May 18'

Mike Sweeney reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Well taught, well organised, well demonstrated, well done!"

17 May 18'

Ian Dickinson reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I did Ade's intro bowl-turning course at the Bodgers Ball in 2018, and it was excellent. Ade was a very capable teacher, and by the end of the day everyone in our group had a product they were pleased with, and had had a great time doing it. Some standouts for me: * Ade was very adaptable at helping people who needed a bit of extra attention, while giving others space to "get on with it" when they were in their flow, and issuing challenges and stretch goals to people who were ready for it. * great attention to health and safety, which is really important when you're handling super-sharp tools * clear process for everyone to follow from "log" to "bowl" * excellent tools and equipment. No wobbly lathes or blunt tools here! In summary, I was really happy with my day, and would heartily recommend Ade's course."

17 May 18'

Peter Hoare reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I was keen to try one of the courses available over the Bodgers' Ball and I am very pleased that I picked the Bowl Turning course with Adrian Lloyd. The instruction was excellent and I received preferential treatment as I had a ferry to catch back to Ireland (where no similar course is available). I have done some turning on a powered lathe when I have much preferred spindle turning over bowl turning. However, Adrian has inspired me to consider following up with perhaps one of his lathe making courses with further bowl turning instruction. A very enjoyable day."

16 May 18'

Maurice Eldridge reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Excellent from Go to Wo. The right kind of teaching and intervention when useful."

16 May 18'

Thomas Bickerdike reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I attended Adrians workshop at the Bodgers Ball and came away with the skills and knowledge to confidently start turning bowls once home. Adrians relaxed fun approach makes the whole day go well with excellent tips, demonstrations and advice throughout the day. I particuarly liked Adrians passion and enthusiasm to the craft."

16 May 18'

Dave Evers reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Can't recommend this course enough! Highly knowledgeable, Adrians teaching style was in depth, informative and relaxed. The course covered all the essentials of bowl turning on a treadle lathe, from selection of wood right through to finishing touches and after care. I came away from the course inspired to try more turning, with a beautiful wooden bowl to boot. 10 out of 10 for value and content!"

16 May 18'

Paul Thornton reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I'd turned bowls before but lost the enthusiasm to turn more. Attending Adrians "handled bowls" course at the bodgers ball 2018 has given me renewed enthusiasm. Great teaching, a relaxed approach & good group of fellow learners. I recommend you seek Adrian out if you want to learn any green wood craft."

16 May 18'

Stephen Ryan reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I went to both Adrians bowl turning and bowls with handles courses. Two really great days! Ade explains things with a simple and relaxed appraoch and nothing is too much trouble. Ade has a very high skill level which shows in his teaching. My aim was to learn how to turn bowls, so that I could take these skills home to start turning bowls myself, I now feel I have the confidence and knowledge to do this. Highly recommended!"

16 May 18'

Ró Humphreys reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"Excellent course, Had a lot of fun learning from Ade. His demonstrations showed us everything we needed to know to get from log to bowl. Making this bowl was a lot easier than I though. Gave great advice on all aspects of working with greenwood and technique with tools. Would highly recommend this course. (Bodger's Ball 2018)"

16 May 18'

Sue Reeve reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"The course was well organised and well presented. Ade was very patient, knew his stuff and was approachable and good at explaining how to use the tools etc and correcting your mistakes. Also very good at demonstrating each stage of the process. All aspects of safety were covered and well explained and appropriate gear available as required. The equipment was well maintained and the tools were very sharp - essential for this sort of work. The whole process of making a bowl using green wood was explained, from choosing your wood right through to which tools to use and when, including the idiosyncrasies of the tools being used. Good instruction given for how to dry out your bowl on returning home. Would really recommend the course, I loved it - now I need to build my own bowl lathe!"

16 May 18'

Frank Wright reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"This was a course for turning the first bowl. Organisation was excellent and the tuition was spot on as far as I was concerned. Ade was very knowledgeable about all aspects of bowl production and full of good bits of advice. He was also very able to demonstrate technique very ably when and if any of us struggled. I have no hesitation in recommending his courses which, to my mind, represent very good value. I need to apply what I learnt now and improve. Regardless of flaws my bowl will be proudly displayed."

11 May 18'

Wilson Irving reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"This course held as part of coppice association north west weekend in the woods was an excellent introduction to bowl turning on a pole lathe. Adrian clearly explained the bowl making process from lathe construction to timber selection through blank preparation to the turning of my first bowl and then a second. I was amazed at what could be achieved with two relatively simple tools and leg power. I came away a with a sound base to allow me to develop my turning skills further. Adrian is a master at his craft and enthuses his pupils with his clear passion for green wood working."

8 May 18'

Christian Lenehan reviewed: Build a Bowl Lathe & Learn to Turn

"Learned and talked about so much more than how to build a bowl lathe and turn wood (e.g. how to look after your body as a crafts person, how to look after your mind in a hectic modern world etc.) Thanks for an awesome course - thoroughly recommended"

8 May 18'

Duncan Goulder reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Adrian is a great teacher with infinite patience and a very clear and logical delivery style that really helps in understanding the process from tree trunk to finished bowl. Adrian has a wealth of knowledge and an infectious passion for wood craft. I can't recommend this course highly enough."

28 Mar 18'

Philip Ancliffe reviewed: Pole Lathe Bowl Turning - Your First Bowl

"I went to Adrian's to further improve my bowl turning. His knowledge, skill and tutoring are excellent. We went through the whole process from start to finish with Ade showing me how he approaches each stage. I came away much more confident especially with feet and rims that had caused me previous problems. Lunch is also superb!! Thanks Adrian."

27 Mar 18'

amanda steele reviewed: An Introduction to Spoon Carving

"A great day was spent with Adrian in his barn ! We discussed woods, tools, and techniques in detail. We drank coffee, ate fresh homemade cakes, and then got down to the job of turning a lump of birch into a spoon, stopping to discuss methods and technique or possible problems we may encounter as we went along. Lunch provided was another homemade delight, I left at the end of the day with my birch eating spoon taking shape and feeling inspired and empowered to have a go myself ... Hoping to return one day to play on lathes ! Great day."

25 Mar 18'

Emma Whitlock reviewed: An Introduction to Spoon Carving

"A great day spent carving a spoon and learning the skills to take away and use in the future. We learnt about taking the bulk of wood away from the log using an axe and then knife work for the carving. It was tough on the hands but rewarding to see the spoon that finally came out of the wood. The setting is ideal in the barn workshop and we had a delicious home-cooked lunch and cake. Would recommend to beginners wanting to learn a new skill."

19 Mar 18'

Tim Davis reviewed: Build a Bowl Lathe & Learn to Turn

"What a hoot!!! Four days in Adrians world renowned and envied workshop with the man himself. How can you beat that? By making an utterly fantastic bowl lathe to take home. Then what? You get to make a bowl on it under Adrian’s expert tuition. Excellent tuition, hospitality, cake and craic. Fantastic course. Thank you so much."

19 Mar 18'

Helen Clarke reviewed: Build a Bowl Lathe & Learn to Turn

"A really enjoyable 4 days, and what a lovely lathe to take away with us. Adrian is a tremendous teacher, very patient and encouraging and he created a very positive learning environment throughout, more than once helping me stay on track with the lathe building when I felt like it might have been falling off the rails! Also I really appreciated his willingness to start early and/or finish late so that the slowercoaches among us could get the work done and we could spend the last day turning. Unbelievably, we were each given a lovely piece of cherry on the last day to make our first bowls out of. Again the teaching was top notch as we were guided through turning our cleft half of wood into a (very) bowl (-like object!) The venue for the course was ideal, as well as an idyll. The food/refreshments provided (everything homemade) exceeded all expectations and really were a complete treat. Great to leave with everything you need to go forth and turn more bowls, which is exactly what's happened, thank you. Would highly recommend this!"