Mentor Program

What is the Mentor Program?

The Mentor Program connects less experienced club members with a mentor. Mentors are club members with significant woodturning experience who volunteer their time to help other members practice or learn a new woodturning technique. They can generally help with hands-on, one-on-one instruction within their areas of expertise.

I am not a club member. Can I contact club mentors for help?

The Mentor Program is designed to support club members only. You are encouraged to join our club to access this benefit and all other benefits we offer.

Do mentors charge for lessons?

No, mentors volunteer their time. The need for more extensive woodturning training may lead you to enroll in paid instruction available from individuals, conferences, or schools. Seattle Woodturners does not specifically endorse any particular class provider, but we encourage our members to get adequate training to ensure they can turn safely:

The Port Townsend School of Woodworking was founded by local artists in 2008 and aims to inspire a lifelong passion for craftsmanship through education in woodworking and traditional building trades.

The Pratt Fine Arts Center is dedicated to fostering artistic development and engagement locally, nationally and internationally. Upcoming woodturning classes include several taught by our own club members.

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware is a nationwide chain of industry-leading woodworking and hardware materials and has several stores in Washington that offer demonstrations and courses, which they list on their home page. Rockler Seattle and Rockler Tukwila both have occasional woodturning classes.

Sumner Woodworker Store is a family-owned store in Sumner, WA, which has held woodturning classes in the past. Contact them directly for details.

Woodcraft of Seattle is part of our nation’s oldest and largest supplier chain of quality woodworking tools and supplies, with stores in 70 major metropolitan areas across the US. Its classes are typically one to two days and include classes taught by several of our own club members.