Level-Up is a developing event. With more than a year to go, things will change along the way. However, we would like you to know what is planned at the moment and hope you plan to be there. Check back as the date approaches and see what has changed.
But to-date, this is what we have planned for Level-Up:
Where:
- Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Rapids Lions Club
3331 10th St South
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
54494
When:
- September 17 – 20, 2026
Accommodations:
- Hotel Mead – rooms available, $130/night
- Dry camping will be available at the site
- Air BNB are available if you check them out
- Camping info TBD ( will be available by Fall 2026)
On-Lathe Activities:
- Barrel Turning
- Christmas Ornaments
- Embelishing
- Endgrain Bowls
- Goblet Turning
- Gouge Techniques
- Lidded Boxes
- Live Edge Bowls
- Rim Embellishning
- Segmented Bowls
- Thin Wall Bowls
Off-Lathe Activities:
- Air Brushing
- Carving
- Dot Painting
- Grinding/sharpening lessons or support
- Pyrography
- Sharpening Classes
- Small Tool Making
- Using Lightburn
This is our preliminary schedule. This schedule should change minimally in the future.
Turning Classes
- …
- POD 1
- POD 2
- POD 3
- POD 4
- THURSDAY
- Session 1
Thursday
0800-0930 - Dean GrimesEnd Grain Bowl
- Paul HannabyBowl Turning – Effective Use of a Bowl Gouge
- Martin ClarksonNapkin Holders
- Matt HarberLive-edge Bowl
- Session 2
Thursday
0950-1120 - Kade BolgerThin Wall Footed Bowl w/Undercut Lip
- Paul HannabySpindle Turning Gouge Techniques
- Rita DuxburyLighthouses
- Joaquin JuataiLidded Box Techniques
- LUNCH
- Session 3
Thursday
1300-1430 - Gary HalesBarrels
- Martin ClarksonTwo of The Same
- Jim DuxburyMagical Morse Taper
- Matt HarberGoblet Turning
- Session 4
Thursday
1450-1620 - Tim HatchTwo Part Vase
- Roger WollamSegmented Turning
- Kade BolgerHair Sticks
- Jeff WaltersTea Lights & Cocktail Smokers
- FRIDAY
- Session 5
Friday
0800-0930 - Paul HannabySpindle Turning Gouge Techniques
- Tim HatchTwo Part Vase
- Joaquin JuataiLidded Box Techniques
- Matt HarberGoblet Turning
- Session 6
Friday
0950-1120 - Paul HannabyBowl Turning – Effective Use of a Bowl Gouge
- Martin ClarksonTBA
- Matt HarberLive-edge Bowl
- Gary HalesBarrels
- LUNCH
- Session 7
Friday
1300-1430 - Kade BolgerThin Wall Footed Bowl w/Undercut Lip
- Dean GrimesEnd Grain Bowl
- Jim DuxburyMagical Morse Taper
- Martin ClarksonNapkin Holders
- Session 8
Friday
1450-1620 - Roger WollamSegmented Turning
- Jeff WaltersTea Lights & Cocktail Smokers
- Rita DuxburyLighthouses
- Kade BolgerHair Sticks
Off-Lathe Classes
- …
- POD 1
- POD 2
- POD 3
- POD 4
- THURSDAY
- Session 1
Thursday
0800-0930 - TBATBA
- Brent Sobotka Metal Leaf/Gilding and Chemical Palination
- TBATBA
- TBATBA
- Session 2
Thursday
0950-1120 - Billy BurtDecorating embellishing a wide rim bowl/platter
- Roger WollmanSegmented Turning
- Dan SmithGilding
- Matt HarberAir Brushing for Woodturners
- LUNCH
- Session 3
Thursday
1300-1430 - Kade BolgerHand Carving
- Matt HarberPyrography
- Dave RhodesMaking Wedgies on a laser
- TBATBA
- Session 4
Thursday
1450-1620 - Billy BurtLightburn Tutorial Creating an array Around a Rim
- Dan SmithGilding
- Safety SueIridescent Painting
- Matt HarberDot Painting
- FRIDAY
- Session 5
Friday
0800-0930 - Brent SobotkaMetal Leaf/Gilding and Chemical Palination
- Dan SmithGilding
- Dave RhodesMaking Wedies on a laser
- TBATBA
- Session 6
Friday
0950-1120 - Roger WollamSegmented Turning
- Matt HarberDot Painting
- Billy BurtLightburn Tutorial Creating an Array Around a Rim
- TBATBA
- LUNCH
- Session 7
Friday
1300-1430 - Matt HarberAir Brushing for Woodturners
- Billy BurtDecorating/Embellishing a wide rim bowl/platter
- TBA
- TBA
- Session 8
Friday
1450-1620 - Kade BolgerHand Carving
- Dan SmithGilding
- Matt HarberPyrography
- Safety SueIridescent Painting
Coaches
- Billy Burt
- Brent Sobota
- Dan Smith
- Dave Rhodes
- Dean Grimes
- Gary Hale
- Jeff Walters
- Jim Duxbury
- Joaquin Juatai
- Kade Bolger
- Paul Hannaby
- Martin Clarkson
- Matt Harber
- Rita Duxbury
- Roger Wollam
- Sue Jilek
- Tim Hatch
Costs:
- Turning Couple; 3 days of demonstrations, 4 turning pods each, evening meals – $300
- One Person; 3 days of demonstrations, 4 turning pods, evening meals – $160
- One Pers/on; 1 day of demonstrations, turning pods, evening meals – $80
- Plus 1 person; wants to do the off-lathe projects only – $80.
- Evening Chow; Dinner for the non-attending second person – $15
Materials:
Things that will be available:
- Multiple lathes for each on-lathe pod session
- Grinding/sharpening stations will be available
- Blanks will be provided, you don’t need to bring blanks.
Things to Bring:
- Your own turning tools; gouges, parting tool, skew, etc
- Bring your own Dremel, or carving tool
- Bring your own painting tools, dot painting tools, spray gun, etc.
- Metal Leaf/Gilding – TBD
- Dyes & Stains – TBD
- Finishes – TBD
Glossary:
- Anchor – Presenter/Coach
- Pod Session – Group of people working with a teacher/coach, assistant, attendees — Hands-on activity
Planned Pod Sessions
Over the following weeks, we will add the description of another Pod Session.
Chemical Patination with Brent Sobotka
- Activity Type: Off Lathe
Brent Sobotka will share his techniques for producing this striking detail through chemical patination and the use of copper & silver leaf.
Attendees will learn to produce this striking detail and incorporate metal leaf stencil processing. Brent will show you how to accomplish this on board stock (provided), a piece of your liking you bring with you, or you can use a piece you made at a different pod session at Level-Up.
Lidded box techniques with Joaquin Juatai
- Activity Type: On Lathe
Editor Joaquin Juatai will share techniques for grain matching, slip-fit lids and more when making lidded boxes.
Participants will be able to finish their pieces either on or off the lathe.
Goblet, Plate & Ornament Creation & Decoration
- Activity Type: On Lathe & Off Lathe
Making & Using Wedgies for Segment Creation
- Activity Type: Off Lathe
Bios:
Over the following weeks, we will add the bios of session anchors.
My name is Martin Clarkson, I am a professional woodturner from Lincolnshire, England.
My name is Martin Clarkson, I am a professional woodturner from Lincolnshire, England.I live and work in the UK. I have been turning full-time for 10 years, designing and making a variety of products, mainly consumer goods, all from a variety of woods, in a variety of price ranges.
Over the years, I have learned a lot about the techniques of different countries and cultures: the tools and lathes used differ from place to place, the turning itself, the tools used and the handling of the products have evolved over time, but the techniques themselves have remained the same.
I joined this community because I believe that many of you here will be able to inspire and show something new through your work; and of course, I hope that I can inspire you in the same way with some of my own work.
My name is Jeff Walters. I began my turning journey in 2010 when a friend taught me how to make a pen. I was hooked.
My name is Jeff Walters. I began my turning journey in 2010 when a friend taught me how to make a pen. I was hooked. I’ve make thousands of pens since then and they are still my biggest sellers. I moved into making bowls, clocks, tea lights, vases, urns and many different items that were gifts but then became items for sale at my craft shows.
I retired from my regular job of 40 years in 2016 which gave me a lot more time to work in my shop.
In 2022 I did my first demo for the Detroit Area Woodturners. It was for the tea lights I make and the demo was well received. Since then I have done many other demos for the Detroit Area Woodturners and 2 for the World Wide Woodturners. I’ve also taught turning at the Ron Campbell Woodturning Retreat. I have now moved into segmenting work and really love creating more artistic pieces.