Shrink-pot making (per person, full day workshop)

One of the most charming products in green woodworking - a concept exploiting the mechanical property of wood shrinking as it dries. A container is hollowed from a green log, and a groove carved around the inside wall at one end. A disc of wood for a base is carefully shaped to fit tightly, and placed in line with the container's groove. Over the following weeks, the container starts to dry and shrink in the process, tightening fast onto the base disc. The containers can be almost any size, and useful for a host of purposes - foodstuffs, tools, pens and pencils, spices...the list is endless!

In this full-day workshop you'll be introduced to the tools, materials and techniques to make a pot (or pots) similar to those pictured - no prior experience is required. On the day, we'll use an array of tools including drills, chisels, mallets, and knives as well as locally-foraged hardwoods.

NOTE: shrink pots, by nature, can't be completely finished in a day - the pot(s) you carve will need several weeks to dry before the base is secure and a lid can be made. But so we can learn all the process in a day, in the afternoon, if you wish, you'll be given a small pre-made pot so we can go through the steps of making lids. The other pot(s) you take away on the day can be finished later at home with a light sand and coat of oil.

All tools needed are provided. If you have acquired your own carving knives, you're very welcome to bring them along to use as well.

Tea/coffee is provided. Please bring anything you might need for special dietary requirements/preferences.

This workshop is intended for adults (18+), but experience shows it's unnecessary for this to be a hard and fast rule - it so depends on the individual. If you feel a slightly younger maker (e.g. 15+) has the interest, enthusiasm and energy to enjoy attending the group workshop with you, please email us to discuss options before booking.