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average age of a turner

turners age

I am 65, been turning for a year now. I bought a woodfast lathe on ebay and haven't stopped turning since. I spend my time either looking for chunks of wood or roughing out shapes. I will spend the winter months finishing my rough-outs.
I took woodworking classes when I was in high school, didn't really turn anything, thought it was boring but just found out how stupid I was when i was young. Now that I have re-visited turning I can't stop.
You were right about cutting out the artws from school for without the creative outlet our children will stay bored and stagnant.
Life would be so worthless without the chance to express oneself.
Keep on turning. Gary
 
I'm 57, been seriously turning for a few months but turned on my dad's lathe in high school. Below (if I've figured out how to post photos), is a pic of the neighbor with one of her first turnings. She's 13 and I'm sure will someday own her own lathe.

Two bits no one can guess the wood on the ice cream scoop (hint: it's native to the western U.S.)

TL
 

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I am78, Started turning about 30 years ago and had to give it up after 3 years due to breathing problems. A few years later i retired and went to Florida. The lungs seemed to get better so maybe i could turn outside in the driveway. So i bought a little midi lathe and took a chance. Luckily my son who had inherited all my tools didnt get into turning so i borrowed what i needed from the stored stuff. Now i roll out my little lathe into the driveway and make boxes and bowls. So far after 3 years have had no ill effects.
 
I'm 62 and have been turning about 8 years now. There was a lathe in my general shop class but the teacher would not let anyone touch it. I used to do a little flat woodworking but those machines now are just places to put my turning stuff. Besides the AAW I am a member of three clubs and I'm in my fourth year as President of the Presque Isle Woodturners in Erie, PA.
 
average age of woodturners

Hi all - I am 58 and FEMALE. I have been turning about 4 mo. and am trying to make up for lost time. I have a full size Woodfast that I purchased at an estate sale along with nunerous tools. I belong to Norcal Turners which meets in Sacramento, Ca. They have a great mentor program that I am using it to full advantage. I am addicted! Also, there was a post on this forum questioning the sanity of Packer fans. We are not sane, don't cross us. -Midi
 
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Gwilym Fisher

I'm 75 and have been turning for nearly 10 yrs.My hobby was ceramics but my wife who loved wood bought me a cheap lathe and I was hooked. I sold all my pottery equipment and bought a decent lathe, a Vicmarc 175.I got into sculptural turning as a result of trying to replicate some of my ceramic pieces. My only regret is that I did not start a lot earlier. The majority of members in our club are into their late 60's.
 
62 turning for about 18 months. Used to do flat board work but had a stroke about 10 years ago and had to give it all up, right side is messed up and of course I am right handed. I saw a turning demonstration and approached the guy doing it... he is an AAW member.

He started working with me and got me started🙂 ... I am not good but am getting better😀😀 just love it.
 
I'm 32. I first learned to use a lathe in the shop my Grandfather owned close to 20 years ago. Someone much wiser than myself thought it would be alright to leave a teenage boy unsupervised if a wood shop (i was supposed to be sweeping the floor). I taught myself to use a lathe and table-saw; believe it or not i still have 10 fingers and 2 eyes. I turned a tooth pick holder in HS shop class and a sword handle in college. Luckly in my first 3 -4 months of professional employment a co-worker gave me an old rusted 1950 -60's Delta-Rockwell lathe. A few hours with a sandblaster and lots of lubricant i got it spinning; a few more years of TLC and regular use a few coats of paint and that lathe is absolutely SEXY! It really is a beautlful piece of equipment. I'm on it weekly to monthly. All in all i started turning 20 years ago and regularily about 9-10 years ago.
 
avg. age of turners

I am 83 and been turning about 5 yrs. I have 3 working lathes, but refuse to admit I am addicted to it. I can quit any time I want to. Yeah, right.
 
Here's a screenshot of the age demographic response from our 2006 AAW membership survey - out of 1,303 responses, 69% were 55 or older.
 

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turners age

I turned my first bowl in 1970 and my second in 2008. If I were running for public office I would say I have been turning for 38 years. I have been woodworking and carving-sculpting since the 1960's. Why turning took so long to discover I don't know. In the early 80's a group of 10 to 15 of us started a woodworking guild. It was a disaster. We had one successful show at a shopping center here in Denver. Maybe I think it was a success because I was the sole judge. The average age was probably in the 20's. Contrast that to the local woodturners club where the average is probably 50 plus and the difference is striking . I realize comparing 80's to 2008's may not be comparing apples to apples, more like comparing grapefruits to apples.

I am 73 and not kicking so much but still swinging ok.

Wayne
 
Ed Davidson said:
Here's a screenshot of the age demographic response from our 2006 AAW membership survey - out of 1,303 responses, 69% were 55 or older.
Click to expand...

You can see the age of the members starts to decline after age 65......I'll bet that has absolutely nothing to do with who is the most interested in turning......but average time we spend on this earth!

ooc
 
58. Turned when I was a kid in England ( in school), then dabbled in pottery for about ten years, later in life. When my father died I moved into his house and work shop. Dusted off a Shopsmith and struggled with that for a year or two, but enough to get hooked. Just set up my new 3520 and I'm as happy as a clam. Working with clay and wood has a lot in common. Helped me with form. I sure like not having wet hands though.
 
You must not have turned some really fresh green wood yet. I looked like I had taken a shower after roughing a piece the other day. Of course there's also the problem of getting sawdust in your undershorts and socks. I would probably have trouble explaining that at the airport.
 
52 and have been turning for about 2 years. I have found out that fellow wood turners are almost as fun turnig itself.
 
underwear

Of course there's also the problem of getting sawdust in your undershorts and socks. I would probably have trouble explaining that at the airport.[/QUOTE]

This past year I have taken to removing my short sleeve shirt, shaking out before going upstairs (the only ones that see me are the deer and turkeys looking into the shop) to the bathroom. Sure has helped the chips in the bathroom, as well as the itchiness of things left in the underwear!!!!!😀Gretch
 
Keith Palmer said:
I am 32 and have been turning for just over 2 years. I am totally hooked and just picked up a PM3520 after turning on a 1949 Shopsmith for the last 2 years.
Click to expand...

Great! :cool2:

You and I have something in common! 😀 My best guess is I began turning at age 33 with a 1950's vintage Shopsmith!

I am now a few months shy of 61yrs old!

Right now, my lathe turning is the greatest personal pursuit of my life. Sometimes, I tell those who know me that my bowl turning is a joint effort between me and God........he makes the beautiful wood, and I make the bowls. I guess you could say that without God, I am nothing..........but, on the other hand, without me, all He's got are a bunch of trees! Ha,ha!

As I have found, I hope you too can find some amount of personal satisfaction in your lathe turning. Just never let your desire to sell your work become more important than your desire to create something personal and artistic. You will arrive at this crossroads, sooner or later.....and, it will be necessary to make a decision about what is more important when you do.

A guiding fundamental for me in the pursuit of this art is the time proven K.I.S.S. principle. Enjoyment in satisfaction can easily become a handicap when you continually try to outdo your previous efforts......but, nonetheless, a necessary ingredient to personal growth. It IS a balancing act!

Good luck to you, and hope you find something that becomes a lifetime endeavour......may it be something that will allow you to define your self-worth, and give life more meaning to yourself and those who know, and love you.........

ooc
 
As I have found, I hope you too can find some amount of personal satisfaction in your lathe turning. Just never let your desire to sell your work become more important than your desire to create something personal and artistic. You will arrive at this crossroads, sooner or later.....and, it will be necessary to make a decision about what is more important when you do.

A guiding fundamental for me in the pursuit of this art is the time proven K.I.S.S. principle. Enjoyment in satisfaction can easily become a handicap when you continually try to outdo your previous efforts......but, nonetheless, a necessary ingredient to personal growth. It IS a balancing act!

Good luck to you, and hope you find something that becomes a lifetime endeavour......may it be something that will allow you to define your self-worth, and give life more meaning to yourself and those who know, and love you.........
Click to expand...

Well said!
 
I am now 30, and have been turning for about 6 years 🙂 I got started when my grandfather gave me a tiny dremel lathe that he wasn't using. It's been uphill from there!
 
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