I just joined this group after seeing so many great discussions and suggestions as I look to increase my skills. I am a professional sawdust maker which means I try real hard. The professional part means that I keep at it and have learned so much in my 15 years of wood turning. My biggest weakness is finding more time to make more sawdust! I live in Idaho now and struggle to find good local turning stock. Being a transplant from eastern Pennsylvania, I was spoiled by the wonderful eastern woods available there. Sure you can buy stock through the Internet but there is nothing like holding a piece of tree in your hands and envisioning what it might look like.
My goal is to turn more lidded vessels and bowls. I still use conventional steel turning tools and then my wife went and bought me a set of handled carbide tools this past Christmas and the jury is still out. I like them for plastics and other man-made materials but I do not get the "feel" that I get when using my Sorby tools. That should be evident by being an old dog that is refusing to learn new tricks. And I know I am crazy when I say that I actually enjoy taking the time to hone a keen edge on a gouge.
I hope to learn much here as there is a lot read about. As I head to retirement later this year, I look forward to seeing the efforts of the folks here and try some new things. Maybe this old dog will get tricked out.
My goal is to turn more lidded vessels and bowls. I still use conventional steel turning tools and then my wife went and bought me a set of handled carbide tools this past Christmas and the jury is still out. I like them for plastics and other man-made materials but I do not get the "feel" that I get when using my Sorby tools. That should be evident by being an old dog that is refusing to learn new tricks. And I know I am crazy when I say that I actually enjoy taking the time to hone a keen edge on a gouge.
I hope to learn much here as there is a lot read about. As I head to retirement later this year, I look forward to seeing the efforts of the folks here and try some new things. Maybe this old dog will get tricked out.
