How to Get Better at Woodturning - Without Guesswork or Frustration with David Chapin
- Thursday April 9th
- Hybrid: Live at NCSU Crafts Center and by Zoom Broadcast
- Zoom call opens a 6:15 for socializing
- Meeting begins at 6:45 PM
- Demonstration begins at 7 PM
Most woodturners can learn to make a clean cut.
But there’s a real gap between a “nice” piece… and one that truly stands out.
This demonstration is about how to close that gap.
Instead of focusing on tools and technique, we’ll explore how your brain is wired—and how to use that to improve your work, one small step at a time.
What You’ll Get
If you’re newer to turning:
- Why your work may not match your expectations (and why that’s normal)
- A clear, low-pressure way to improve without getting discouraged
- Simple rules of thumb that can immediately improve your forms
If you’ve been turning a while:
- How to break through plateaus and improve more consistently
- A better way to make design decisions (stop guessing—start choosing)
- A simple system for learning from every piece you make
If you’re an experienced turner:
- How to refine your eye and push your work to the next level
- A more deliberate way to evolve your personal style
- Tools for sharper self-critique—without losing enjoyment
You’ll also learn:
- Why small, 1% improvements compound into big results
- How to use comparison to make better design choices
- Why separating creativity and judgment actually makes you more creative
- How sketching can dramatically improve your turning
A small request:
Please bring a pencil and clipboard (or something to write on)—we’ll be doing a few quick, simple exercises to improve how you sketch and think through your designs.
The Key Question:
Have you ever asked yourself “Why isn’t my work quite where I want it to be?”—this talk will give you a new way to think about that question… and what to do next.
About our Presenter:
David Chapin is a woodturner, designer, and former CEO with a background in physics and product design.
He is the named inventor on nearly 50 patents and has spent his career helping teams solve complex problems and improve performance. He brings that same thinking to woodturning—focusing on how we learn, see, and get better over time.