AAW / Woodturning Age

[Steven Park]

I'm just curious....

 

[John Torchick]

Old enough to know better, too young to resist.

 

[Steven Park]

Old enough to know better, too young to resist.

hahah i understand that. says your from SE TN, any chance you're near Chattanooga? Im hoping to move there in a few months.

 

[Jamie Straw]

That age distribution looks like our AAW chapter. We Need More Youngsters! (age 30+)

 

[Bill Boehme]

I made a couple changes. I added an over 80 category and I changed the minimum age to 18 since that is the minimum age for forum membership.

 

[robo hippy]

It might have been 18 years ago when our club started. I was one of the youngsters... 67 now... EEK!!!!!

robo hippy

 

[Bill Boehme]

It might have been 18 years ago when our club started. I was one of the youngsters... 67 now... EEK!!!!!

robo hippy

Aww, you're still a young whipper snapper.

 

[odie]

I am now 68.

Another thing to consider is when you started turning. I was 33, and I've never lost the enthusiasm I had for turning back in 1982, when I first mounted a block of wood to an old ShopSmith.....but, I guess it all depends on any individual's ability to apply time in a meaningful way. To be sure, it was a "slow and steady" progress......instead of many short term "leaps and bounds". I wouldn't trade my individual journey for the world! I do believe, very much, in the notion that there is a special benefit to progress made "little by little" over an extended period of time......it certainly does lead to a kind of contemplation and revelation that can be had no other way.

Is it any wonder that in tribal cultures, there is a special recognition of age, and thought to bring wisdom as a benefit of age. Of course it didn't apply across the board for all the elderly.....but some rose to an almost god-like status among their people.


-----odie-----

 

[John Torchick]

Acutally, I'm 70, Stephen. My father always said- It's not the age, it's the mileage. BTW, PM sent.

 

[William Rogers]

Well I'll join the 70 club next month. Odie and the shopsmith reminded me of my first turning attempt. I just started turning about 10 years ago. I had bought my brother's shopsmith and it came with the basic turning tools, so I thought I would try. Only had the shopsmith manual as instructions. I mounted a 4" square piece of stock about 6" long thinking I would make a fence post top. The first time I presented the tool to the work I had a catch and the piece came flying out of the lathe and across the room. I gave up as it scared the h out of me. it was about a year before I bought a Delta Midi and then got hooked.

 

[hockenbery]

This is a snapshot of the member ages 2 years ago
We are 2 years older now.
Percents are for those with responses

 

[Colin Nelson]

39 here, one of oldest in most of my social circles, one of the youngest here...life is a trip!

 

[Steven Park]

This is a snapshot of the member ages 2 years ago
We are 2 years older now.
Percents are for those with responses

View attachment 23956

this is helpful, thank you very much for this information

 

[Bill Weaver]

This just goes to show ya Old Retired f..ts has to have something to do.

 

[Fadi Zeidan]

It is an expensive hobby for the young, not unless their parents had a shop. At 45, I have the money, but with full time job, I consider it a weekend hobby building skills for when I retire.

 

[robo hippy]

Aww, you're still a young whipper snapper.

Well, I hope to last as long as my dad. He is 95 and still goes into work every day... Engineer... I'm not going to retire till my birth certificate expires...

robo hippy

 

[john lucas]

I'm 68 so 1949 must have been a good year for Odie and I. I have good genes in my family so may make it into my 90's although I did a lot more wild activities than the rest of my family. Rockclimbing, Gymnastics, hiking and bicycling is all starting to take a toll on this bod. Still go the gym on a regular basis. One guy told me the other day that I was the youngest looking 68 year old he ever saw. Hope he's right.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Well <shameless plug>since today is my 61st birthday</shameless plug>, I'm glad to be feeling so young here on this forum!

John, I confess that I was a wild one back in the day but fortunately it's well behind me now. And I only had to lay my motorcycle down 3 or 4 times to finally get over bike fever. which reminds me of something...

"if at first you don't succeed, maybe parachuting isn't the sport for you."

 

[john lucas]

Mark I forgot about the motorcycle racing I did back when I was 20. fortunately I've only had a couple of extremely minor wrecks on the bicycle. I rode motorcycles all my life and finally had an accident 3 years ago. My now wife was on the back. fortunately that was pretty minor although we both have scars and few lingering minor problems. The insurance paid more than it was worth and I knew my wife would never ride it and would worry every time I did so I haven't purchased another one. I sure do miss riding though. At 68 my reflexes aren't as good as they used to be and the drivers are a lot worse so it's probably a good thing I quit.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Mark I forgot about the motorcycle racing I did back when I was 20. fortunately I've only had a couple of extremely minor wrecks on the bicycle. I rode motorcycles all my life and finally had an accident 3 years ago. My now wife was on the back. fortunately that was pretty minor although we both have scars and few lingering minor problems. The insurance paid more than it was worth and I knew my wife would never ride it and would worry every time I did so I haven't purchased another one. I sure do miss riding though. At 68 my reflexes aren't as good as they used to be and the drivers are a lot worse so it's probably a good thing I quit.

John, I know what you mean about those reflexes and other drivers to be sure...

In my early teens up into my 20s I did like to tear up the dirt bikes and so naturally it made sense to get a street bike. Same thing but bigger, right?. After finally overcoming my annual bout of bike fever a while back bought a little 2002 MR2 Spyder. But with my back I could only drive it about an hour or so and then sort of limp out of the thing :-D

But for sure that was one fun hour. We may be in the flat down here but there are many lonely, twisty roads hereabouts. And that car was like a street legal go kart. I sold it after about ten years and someone got a great little car. 30,000 miles in 10 years.

 

[odie]

Still got my bike......but, it's becoming a classic fast! I'll bet I don't put 250 miles on it per year these days. John.....I know what you mean about the deteriorating reflexes. Age seems to be taking it's toll.....and, reflexes are something you need to ride.

-----odie-----

 

[Jim McLain]

Mark - Happy Birthday. I too feel like a youngster being only 61.

 

[Bill Boehme]

.... And I only had to lay my motorcycle down 3 or 4 times to finally get over bike fever. which reminds me of something...

"if at first you don't succeed, maybe parachuting isn't the sport for you."

I only had to fill all my pockets full of dirt and gravel once on a red dirt country road with a 90° bend to decide that motorcycles weren't for me. Actually, it was my brother's motorcycle so I told him that I kind of liked the handlebars pointing sideways.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Well Bill, there’s your sign that I’m no rocket scientist .

It just didn’t take the first couple times ridin’ Sideways.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Mark - Happy Birthday. I too feel like a youngster being only 61.

Thank you, fellow youngster!

 

[Lamar Wright]

I'm 68 so 1949 must have been a good year for Odie and I. I have good genes in my family so may make it into my 90's although I did a lot more wild activities than the rest of my family. Rockclimbing, Gymnastics, hiking and bicycling is all starting to take a toll on this bod. Still go the gym on a regular basis. One guy told me the other day that I was the youngest looking 68 year old he ever saw. Hope he's right.

I'm with you and Odie, I'm 68 also..... so 1949 was a good year for us!

 

[hockenbery]

today is my 61st birthday

Happy birthday!

 

[Bill Boehme]

Happy Birthday to You.

View: https://vimeo.com/169497980

 

[Martin Groneng]

Have a Happy One today, Mark! I still consider myself a "rookie" at 76+, but having a great "turning" time. Been at it for over 35 years and just spent 5 hours in the shop today. Hey, it's Christmas time and got lots of presents to turn. Just put a last coat on 2 pieces before midnight and tomorrow is another day. Have been an AAW member since February 1, 1992 and have attended a number of symposiums and will only quit when the bevel on my bowl gouge gets dull!!!

 

[john lucas]

Mark I used to joke that one day I was going to buy a sports car that you actually had to roll into because it would be so low and aerodynamic. Now I am much happier with a 4 wheel drive truck with lifts so I just sort of slide in without ever bending over.

 

[Gary Beasley]

Mark I used to joke that one day I was going to buy a sports car that you actually had to roll into because it would be so low and aerodynamic. Now I am much happier with a 4 wheel drive truck with lifts so I just sort of slide in without ever bending over.

As my wife would say, butt height!

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Happy birthday!

Thanks Al! And thanks again for the souvenir from Pittsburgh. I have the privilege of looking at it all day long on my desk at work (sort of takes my mind off the pile of end of year paperwork you can see in the foreground!).

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Have a Happy One today, Mark! I still consider myself a "rookie" at 76+, but having a great "turning" time. Been at it for over 35 years and just spent 5 hours in the shop today. Hey, it's Christmas time and got lots of presents to turn. Just put a last coat on 2 pieces before midnight and tomorrow is another day. Have been an AAW member since February 1, 1992 and have attended a number of symposiums and will only quit when the bevel on my bowl gouge gets dull!!!

Many thanks Martin! I'm doing a bit of the same myself. Finishing a couple things and waiting for the poly to set. And regretting using poly because the humidity is about 180% right about now. Inside

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Happy Birthday to You.

View: https://vimeo.com/169497980

Thanks Bill! That is a classic song too. I called my youngest brother on Monday (his birthday is the 18th) and blasted that song to him. :-D He's a recently retired USN pilot so you can imagine his reply. Which one of those smileys is a blushing face, by the way?

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Mark I used to joke that one day I was going to buy a sports car that you actually had to roll into because it would be so low and aerodynamic. Now I am much happier with a 4 wheel drive truck with lifts so I just sort of slide in without ever bending over.

John, I did it and lived to tell about it and can agree with you. I'm very happy in my F-150, although around here it's not a "real" truck because it's not a 4 wheel drive but I've hauled more logs than I can count. And it can't be beat for tailgating. And Mardi Gras!

 

[Mark Hepburn]

As my wife would say, butt height!

Hey Gary, seems that in my case, the older I get, the less I'm gonna need a lift kit for that butt height.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Still got my bike......but, it's becoming a classic fast! I'll bet I don't put 250 miles on it per year these days. John.....I know what you mean about the deteriorating reflexes. Age seems to be taking it's toll.....and, reflexes are something you need to ride.

-----odie-----

View attachment 23961

Odie, that is one fine ride. If only I could have kept 'em on two wheels...

 

[odie]

Odie, that is one fine ride. If only I could have kept 'em on two wheels...

Thanks, Mark

Once in awhile, I get the urge to sell it and upgrade my lathe.......but, it's a case of honoring my promises to my youngest son. I promised him he would get the Harley someday. Not before the time I think I can't ride anymore, though!

-----odie-----

 

[Mark Hepburn]

So in other words, he won't be sitting on that Harley any time soon

 

[odie]

So in other words, he won't be sitting on that Harley any time soon

Yep.....Ken will have to wait until I'm finished riding.....that could be a few years yet. No problem......he has an HD sportster 883 for himself right now.

-----odie-----