Kent Weakley is a wood bowl turner, educator, and founder of “Turn a Wood Bowl”, where he teaches woodturners around the world through articles, online courses, and his popular YouTube channel with more than 110,000 subscribers. A member of the American Association of Woodturners and the Central Florida Woodturners, Kent is known for breaking down complex turning concepts into practical, easy-to-understand techniques that help turners improve quickly and confidently. He has previously demonstrated at the Florida Woodturning Symposium as well as international events in England. Kent’s demonstrations focus on bowl design, tool control, and helping turners create cleaner, more refined bowls while enjoying the turning process.
Why Your Bowls Don’t Look Right — Bowl Shape & Design
“Why Your Bowls Don’t Look Right” explores the subtle design choices that separate awkward bowls from elegant, visually pleasing forms. Kent Weakley will demonstrate how bowl shape, curve flow, rim thickness, foot size, and overall proportions dramatically affect the final appearance of a piece. Through side-by-side examples and live turning demonstrations, attendees will learn to identify common design mistakes and understand how small changes can completely transform a bowl. This session focuses on developing the “eye” for better bowl design while simplifying the artistic process into practical, repeatable concepts. Ideal for turners looking to create bowls that feel balanced, refined, and professional.
Bowl Gouge Control Secrets — Clean Cuts Without Fear
“Bowl Gouge Control Secrets” is a practical demonstration focused on improving confidence, control, and cut quality when turning bowls. Kent Weakley will break down the subtle tool movements and body mechanics that separate frustrating catches from smooth, effortless cuts. Topics include bevel control, push cuts, flute positioning, grain direction, the shear-scrape and strategies for achieving cleaner surfaces directly from the gouge. Attendees will learn how small adjustments in presentation and movement dramatically improve results while reducing sanding time. This highly visual demonstration is designed for beginner and intermediate turners wanting safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable bowl turning experiences.
The 10 Mistakes Keeping Your Bowls from Looking Professional
“The 10 Mistakes Keeping Your Bowls from Looking Professional” is an entertaining and educational demonstration focused on the most common problems that limit bowl quality and visual appeal. Kent Weakley will reveal the subtle mistakes many turners unknowingly make involving bowl shape, wall thickness, foot design, grain orientation, and tool control. Using real-world examples and live turning demonstrations, attendees will learn how to recognize and correct these issues before they ruin an otherwise good bowl. This session is filled with practical tips and “aha” moments designed to help turners create cleaner, more refined, and more professional-looking bowls with greater consistency and confidence.
Kent’s 2027 FWS photo gallery:
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