Turning Knobs: Custom Wood Hardware 1M26
Age Group:
Adults
Take your woodturning skills in a new direction by creating custom, hand-turned wooden knobs designed for furniture and cabinetry. This class is ideal for experienced woodturners who are comfortable turning spindles such as table or chair legs and are ready to explore small-scale, detail-driven work.
Students will turn knobs on the lathe using prepared hardwood blanks. Students are welcome to bring their own blanks to match whatever cabinetry they may already be working on or want to give a face lift. To introduce decorative detail without sacrificing productivity, some blanks will be pre-inlaid with a contrasting wood dowel, allowing students to focus on shaping, proportion, and clean execution rather than complex setup.
Emphasis will be placed on consistency, surface quality, and designing knobs that are both functional and visually striking. Finishes will be applied outside of class, but the instructor will cover finishing options and techniques during the workshop.
Participants will leave with several turned knobs and a deeper understanding of how thoughtful details can elevate custom furniture and hardware.
All materials and safety equipment are provided. All levels are welcome. Prior experience is helpful but not required.
Students will pay a $30 materials fee directly to the instructor on the first day of class (cash or check). See Materials page for more detail.
Make Up Date: 7/15/26
Ken Lindgren
Ken Lindgren makes functional and abstract objects from trees that have fallen due to death, disease, storm or construction. A member of the American Association of Woodturners, he has taught wood turning at Fuller Craft Museum, the New England Woodturning Symposium and elsewhere. He sells his turned bowls and other works of wood art throughout New England. He has won sculpture awards at North River Arts Society Festival of the Arts and Bridgton Maine’s Art in the Park. His professional career was as a chemical engineer.
“My pieces are all handcrafted to show the beauty that results when people and nature are in harmony. Teaching is a way for me to ‘pay it backwards,’ to do for students what my teachers did for me when I was a student.”
Website:
Specialty:
Wood Turning
Materials to bring to class:
Students will pay a $30 materials fee directly to the instructor on the first day of class (cash or check).
The fee is waived if you choose to bring your own wood blanks. Blanks should measure at least 4"×4"×4". Please bring enough blanks to complete the number of knobs required for your project, plus a few extras for practice. If you plan to bring your own wood, please inform the instructor in advance of the species and your intended design for approval. Feel free to bring items for inlaying in your knob, such as coins, medallions, other specifics of wood, etc.