The Plumier Foundation

The Plumier Foundation The Plumier Foundation is non profit organization for the preservation of practical knowledge on fine

Our hydraulic press class is only six weeks away!Creative Pressure: Uses of Hydraulic Forming in Craft will introduce th...
04/27/2026

Our hydraulic press class is only six weeks away!

Creative Pressure: Uses of Hydraulic Forming in Craft will introduce the wonders of the hydraulic press to craftspeople of any metalworking or decorative arts discipline. It will be an in-depth exploration of the wide range of capabilities that the power of the hydraulic press can unlock in a small shop. Whether you already have a press and you want to learn how to make proper use of its full potential, or you are considering making the investment and want to give it a try first, this class is for you. A quality hydraulic press paired with the techniques covered in this class can revolutionize your workflow and lead you down entirely new roads of creative possibilities.

This is a five day class held June 8-11 at the Plumier workshop in Saltsburg, PA. It will be taught by Peter Gilroy of Bonny Doon Tools and the great Phil Poirier, master metalsmith, jeweler, and complex turner.

Read our email on the class for more information: https://conta.cc/4bSNfT0

Two weeks away! Join us for our Open Shop Saturday featuring a special guest presentation from Seth Gould! Our Open Shop...
04/25/2026

Two weeks away!

Join us for our Open Shop Saturday featuring a special guest presentation from Seth Gould!

Our Open Shops are the best way to see Plumier and connect with other’s who share in a love of craft. Stop by for an hour or stay all day. If this is your first time visiting Plumier, you will need at least two hours to take in the whole shop.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Available for sale: Robust Sweet 16 Lathe This lightly used Robust Sweet 16 lathe is designed specifically for bowl turn...
04/24/2026

Available for sale: Robust Sweet 16 Lathe

This lightly used Robust Sweet 16 lathe is designed specifically for bowl turning. It is solidly constructed with a short bed features a removable gap section and a tilting tailstock that can easily be dropped out of the way when not in use. The gap section of the bed can be mounted perpendicular to the headstock to better access the backside of bowls. The lathe comes equipped with a collection of high quality turning tools, a large faceplate, a large Oneway chuck with 18” soft jaws, a Oneway bowl saver, mobile stand, remote stop, and moveable, magnetic control pendant. The sale even includes several 16” bowl blanks in maple and walnut. It is truly everything you need for bowl turning in one deal!

The value of everything included new is over $10,000. The asking price for this lathe and accessories is $7500 OBO. Any serious inquires can be directed to [email protected].

The Plumier Foundation is excited to attend this year’s Hand Tool Haven! We will be bringing along a rose engine to demo...
04/22/2026

The Plumier Foundation is excited to attend this year’s Hand Tool Haven! We will be bringing along a rose engine to demonstrate the wonders of complex turning.

Anyone attending the weekend’s event is also welcome to visit the Plumier workshop in Saltsburg, PA for a special Open Shop on Friday May 15 from 11AM to 6PM.

We look forward to meeting everyone at Hand Tool Haven! The event is a fundraiser for Plane Wellness, a nonprofit that offers free woodworking courses for adults with mental health challenges or physical disability. The first Hand Tool Haven held last year was a huge success, and this year’s lineup of guest speakers and vendors promises to deliver another great event for anyone interested in woodworking.

Learn more here: https://handtoolhaven.org

Here’s an opportunity to own a collection of turnings by Dale Chase, one of the great contemporary complex turners.The M...
04/16/2026

Here’s an opportunity to own a collection of turnings by Dale Chase, one of the great contemporary complex turners.

The Museum for Art in Wood has put up three lots of Dale Chase’s work for auction. Proceeds from the sale of these turnings will benefit both the museum and the Plumier Foundation to support our mission of furthering complex turning.

The lots are part of Rago Auctions’ “Crafted in Wood” auction, which closes on April 21 at 11AM ET. They are lots 201, 204, and 207.

Each lot represents a wide range of Dale’s wood working, and each includes at least one of his signature layered boxes. They are deceptively simple exteriors and strikingly beautiful patterns hidden within and represent an extraordinary talent for precise ornamental woodturning.

Follow this link to our email about the auction for more information on these lots and the late Dale Chase, whose work continues to inspire and challenge complex turners today: https://conta.cc/4sQrOrf

Signup for our newsletter through the link in our bio to get the latest updates from Plumier!

Join us for our new class Basic Machine Shop Practices July 13-17! Craftspeople of all disciplines can benefit from the ...
04/16/2026

Join us for our new class Basic Machine Shop Practices July 13-17!

Craftspeople of all disciplines can benefit from the adoption of the lathe and basic machinist skills. And one does not necessarily have to aspire to be a “machinist” to make good use of machine tools. There isn’t a craft or trade that would not benefit from use of a metal lathe. Even if you do not work in metals directly, there is no limit of the utility of being able to make custom parts, hardware, tooling, fixtures, and jigs to precise tolerances. The best jewelers in the world use machine tools, yet machine tools are not taught in any jewelry program. Blacksmiths should be able to make any tool they need, but how limited are they if they can’t cut a thread? What can a watchmaker do without machine tools and the skill to use them if they can’t get the parts they need?

The Plumier Foundation strongly champions the use of machine tools in all craft. We recognize that getting started down the road of lathes and mills can be intimidating, which is why we are offering this new class.

The class will be taught by David and Christian Lindow, joined by guest instructor Daniel Ravizza. Daniel, a graduate of the Plumier Internship Program, teaches machining at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA.

Learn more about the class and how to register here: https://conta.cc/3NYnKH0

Don’t risk missing any announcements on upcoming classes and events at Plumier by signing up for our newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/2TLyL0O

Join us at our upcoming Open Shop Saturdays!Stop by for an hour or stay all day—our workshop in Saltsburg, PA will be op...
04/13/2026

Join us at our upcoming Open Shop Saturdays!

Stop by for an hour or stay all day—our workshop in Saltsburg, PA will be open to all who are interested! These events are a great way to learn about complex turning and meet others interested in all things craft.

Both Open Shop Saturdays sill include a special presentation at 5pm just a few blocks away from the shop at the Saltsburg Salt Center.

On Saturday May 9, we will be joined by Seth Gould who will present on his journey on the metal arts.

On Saturday June 13, we will be joined by Lauri Vaher from Sweden who will present on his study of antique ripple moulding techniques.

Learn more from our last newsletter: https://conta.cc/41ebgOo

There’s no better way to spend a Saturday! We look forward to seeing you there!

Learn how to harness the power of the hydraulic press in our new class, Creative Pressure: Uses of Hydraulic Forming in ...
03/26/2026

Learn how to harness the power of the hydraulic press in our new class, Creative Pressure: Uses of Hydraulic Forming in Craft!

This 5-day class will be held June 8-12 and taught by Phil Poirier and Peter Gilroy (of Bonny Doon Tools), two knowledgeable and experienced metalsmiths and instructors. We will cover hydraulic press fundamentals, including safety, setup, and general use, as well as the newest innovations in presswork. We will go over proper use of polyurethane and how to contain it, setup and use of simple forming tools, and also setup and use of complex dies and deep draw dies. Naturally, we will also find opportunities to incorporate complex turning into these techniques.

Find more information here: https://conta.cc/4bSNfT0

This technology and these techniques scale down the power of 10 ton drop hammers into bench-top tools, opening up a world of capabilities in a small shop. However, this tool and its range of application are left out of the education of most jewelers, horologist, and machinists. Plumier looks for such gaps in craft education and uses our network of experienced craftspeople to help fill them. This is the first of what will be many such courses offered at Plumier with outside instructors.

Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with all future classes and events: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/2TLyL0O

This Powermatic 3520B is available for sale complete with accessories and chucks. The Powermatic 3520B is a heavily buil...
03/19/2026

This Powermatic 3520B is available for sale complete with accessories and chucks. The Powermatic 3520B is a heavily built, 20" swing by 34 1/2” between centers woodturning lathe equipped with a 2HP variable speed motor. As you can see, this lathe is in near mint condition having seen only light use. This lathe includes an aftermarket light from Oneway and comes with a full range of workholding accessories, including chucks, centers, and spindle adapters. The total price for the Powermatic 3520B along with the accessories and workholding tooling is $4000.

A full set of premium woodturning tools is also available for sale with the lathe, or separately. This includes tools from top-self makers including Hamlet, Henry Taylor, Jerry Glaser, Richard Raffan, Robert Sorby, and more. This collection is available for $2500.

Both the lathe and tool set are a great opportunities for an experienced turner to upgrade their workshop to a professional setup, or for a serious beginner to skip wasting time or money on entry level tools. Here's a link for more information: https://conta.cc/3Pg38Ku

The sale of these tools through the Plumier Exchange earns the Plumier Foundation a commission. The Plumier Exchange also accepts the donations of tools or entire workshops. The goal of the Plumier Exchange is to put these tools into the hands of craftspeople who will use them while also supporting our mission of craft education. Reach out if you are interested in selling or donating tools through the Plumier Exchange.

Here are some pics from our recent Introduction to Complex Turning class. We had a great group of students which made fo...
03/13/2026

Here are some pics from our recent Introduction to Complex Turning class. We had a great group of students which made for a successful and fun weekend!

Most of you are not signed up for our email newsletter—it’s more content from Plumier and totally free! Our monthly Updates give you all the details on what is happening at Plumier, and we send out emails detailing upcoming events and classes before social media posts, which can easily get lost in your feed.

Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/2TLyL0O

12/02/2025

Please consider supporting Plumier this Giving Tuesday

The best way to support Plumier is by signing up for a recurring membership.
https://plumier.org/join-us/

This is a community-funded effort that would not be possible without the generous support of our members.

If you prefer to make a more targeted one-time donation, please consider contributing to our Scholarship Fund today. This allows us to sponsor the young craftspeople who benefit the most from classes and events throughout the year. Any amount makes a difference. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/SABEUW87LBCGS

Address

114 Point Street
Saltsburg, PA
15681

Opening Hours

10am - 4am

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