Galway Chapter Woodturners

David Springett(UK)
Demonstrator for our 2007 Seminar May 12th

David Springett's interest in woodturning began when he was a woodwork teacher. By reading every one of the few books then available, experimenting, practising and persevering, he slowly improved his skills. Since leaving teaching nearly 20 years ago, he has earned his living doing what he enjoys most, turning wood.

At the end of a working day, spent turning highly decorated lace bobbins in the traditional English style, he would allow himself the relaxation of experimental turning. From this developed the fascination with the apparently impossible and somewhat improbable in turned wood.

David and his wife Christine live in Rugby, Warwickshire, where they are enjoying a hectic semi retirement, gardening, writing books and doing all of the other things they never had time for.

The Gort Seminar will be David’s first visit to Ireland. He needs no introduction from his books and videos. David has demonstrated extensively in the UK and the U.S.A.

His demonstrations are always well received because he presents the subject in a simple non nonsense approach using simple tools which can be made in any workshop.

His demonstrations cover historical aspects of turning with a modern twist. His latest work involves turning geometric shapes that boggle the senses, but are actually formed by turning simple spindle shape forms, splitting the shape at the paper glue joint, and rotating one half of the shape 90 or 180 degrees.

The emphasis in David's work is on accurate cuts with the tools and most all having fun.