We tested the discovery days at the Aiguines woodturning school for you.

Learning woodturning at the Escoulen school in Aiguines seemed out of reach. I was aware of the reputation of this establishment and remembered seeing many high-quality technical and aesthetic creations by names who had passed through this establishment. It was therefore with slight apprehension that I contacted Alexis Arsac, the current director, to sign up for a one-day introductory woodturning course.

He reassures me: "This day is open to everyone, even beginners who have never approached a lathe. The idea is to have a good day and leave with a nice object that we have made." That's good, because I'm a total novice and not really a DIYer. However, I'm worried... I don't want to hurt myself with a sharp tool!

I'm hesitant. I'm ready to cancel, and maybe even switch to a more daring colleague.

A day like no other

Finally, after a good night's sleep, I hit the road to Aiguines. After all, what better place than the Escoulen school to learn this art? Woodturning has been mentioned since the end of the ^16th century in this village renowned for the production of its "boules cloutées," the ancestor of pétanque.

I arrive at 8:30 a.m. in front of the workshops, where Alexis welcomes me. He offers me a welcome coffee while I wait for three other trainees to arrive. The trainer quickly ushers us into the workshop. There's no time to waste; the day promises to be rich in lessons!

First safe laps

My first steps? Put on my safety glasses and dust mask... Then comes Alexis's barrage of advice and explanations. He shows me how to choose the right lathe height from the various sizes available in the workshop. Then he describes its parts: the motor, the tool holder fan, the chuck... I don't understand a thing. But he reassures me (again): " I'm going to help you choose your posture and find the right way to hold the tools. You'll soon be able to roll and make shapes with the profiling gouge."

Doubts and first exercise

Honestly, at that point, I don't think I'm capable of producing anything from the lathe, except wood shavings! That's for sure: there will have been a lot of shavings. But above all, I'm afraid of cutting myself with those damned, terribly sharp gouges.

It's very impressive, but as I attack the wood, I realize that there's little chance of injury if I follow the recommendations. Phew.

The first gouge I use is for roughing out and I take out my first cylinder in a limewood square. A fairly soft wood which is "tolerant for the first exercises" , according to the more experienced turners in the neighboring workshop that I meet during the break.

I didn't call myself a handyman for two cents... But it finally seemed easy to me to take out a cylinder.

Disillusionment

But when I get back on the lathe, I'm disillusioned. The instructor has just demonstrated how to make shapes and then... massacre! I'm attacking my piece of wood too hard with the cutting edge. It vibrates and I tear out fibers. It's certain: I'm presenting my gouge incorrectly, holding the handle awkwardly, and the tool jumps because I'm not placing it properly on the fan.

It was finally certain: I wouldn't achieve anything! Alexis came to my rescue. He was a great teacher and helped me correct my movements and find the right angle to make "nice shavings."

Magic. Everything seems easier. But as soon as I'm alone, it's close to disaster. I concentrate and end up making a second piece based on the same model.

Progress and satisfaction.

Before lunch, I changed wood to turn an egg in cherry wood. The result wasn't too bad, and the one-hour lunch break with the other trainees allowed us to share our struggles!

These exchanges galvanize me, and when I return to the wheel, I make a second egg with more ease than the first. I truly feel capable of progressing for the first time today. This success is very gratifying. I could stop there, but Alexis suggests we go further...

In one go, he demonstrates the complete creation of a soliflore. I understand that he expects more investment. So I place a block of ash whose center of rotation I have clearly marked. And this third type of wood offers me a different sensation from the previous two when in contact with the gouges. Surprisingly, I make good progress on this piece and quickly move on to finishing with different grits of sandpaper, to finish with polishing. Looking more closely, under the sheen, I see lots of defects on the surface…

Damn, I'm still not an expert! Okay, one day is a bit short to achieve perfection and mastery, but I'm giving it one last go to create the ultimate vase of the day.

This time, I'm inspired by Nordic design. The result is still imperfect, but much more satisfying. I have the feeling that if I participated in a second day, I would learn even more. Damn! Would I have acquired a taste for woodturning? In any case, the discipline has made my head spin...