Getting started

[RickStanley]

I wanted to pass along my story for some of you more experienced "old-timers" who may not still remember quite how good it feels to have first discovered woodturning. Woodturning always seemed attractive to me, but other priorities always got in the way. I finally decided that at 56 and after 2 of 3 kids moved out on their own I'd go for it. A co-worker had a lathe he purchased and didn't use and he sold it to me. When I first got the lathe, about 2 months ago, I took a few old wood chisels (1/2", 3/4", and 1") and began experimenting with turning some 4-5" diameter 12" long green tree branches I had behind the woodshed between centers. I got on this site and others and boned up on the craft, however it was a real trial and error process getting started. I've set myself a shoestring budget to start and wanted to move slowly as I learned. I certainly found out how easy it was to learn how to get a catch using cobbled together tools and while my efforts were good learning experiences, they were a bit frustrating and sometimes pretty scarry. Last week I got a used set of Craftsman turning tools when I began using them it was like someone turned the light on in a dark shop. My first use of a sharp bowl gouge put a smile on my face that I'll remember for a long time. In Youtube videos I always marveled at how beautiful ribbons of spiraling wood chips flowed off the cutting edge. Now it was me spinning 3 to 6 foot ribbons of wood over my shoulder and onto the floor. I couldn't believe that I could be doing this. Cutting green wood with a sharp edge is so effortless it's like taking a hot knife to butter. I'm not naieve enough to think that I've mastered anything yet, but I'm very proud of my simple practice spindle pieces that I'm making while learning how to cut. My co-worker gets the "benefit" of frequent show and tell sessions at work. I think I've found a hobby that will take me far into retirement and will keep some bounce in my step.

I also wanted to take a minute to thanks everyone who visits and contributes to this forum. It's pretty neat to see people helping people just for the hell of it. Right now I'm collecting and consuming information, but hope to get to the point where I can payback once I get some experience of my own.

Rick

 

[Duff Bement]

The VORTEX claims another one. Welcome to our world.

Duff

 

[john lucas]

Rick I sent that to my new student who was just asking "how long does it take to learn this stuff" He's already discovering how expensive it can be. He just ordered his second Thompson tool. I build him a sharpening system so he could more easily sharpen the Thompson bowl gouge.

 

[Odie]

I wanted to pass along my story for some of you more experienced "old-timers" who may not still remember quite how good it feels to have first discovered woodturning. Woodturning always seemed attractive to me, but other priorities always got in the way. I finally decided that at 56 and after 2 of 3 kids moved out on their own I'd go for it. A co-worker had a lathe he purchased and didn't use and he sold it to me. When I first got the lathe, about 2 months ago, I took a few old wood chisels (1/2", 3/4", and 1") and began experimenting with turning some 4-5" diameter 12" long green tree branches I had behind the woodshed between centers. I got on this site and others and boned up on the craft, however it was a real trial and error process getting started. I've set myself a shoestring budget to start and wanted to move slowly as I learned. I certainly found out how easy it was to learn how to get a catch using cobbled together tools and while my efforts were good learning experiences, they were a bit frustrating and sometimes pretty scarry. Last week I got a used set of Craftsman turning tools when I began using them it was like someone turned the light on in a dark shop. My first use of a sharp bowl gouge put a smile on my face that I'll remember for a long time. In Youtube videos I always marveled at how beautiful ribbons of spiraling wood chips flowed off the cutting edge. Now it was me spinning 3 to 6 foot ribbons of wood over my shoulder and onto the floor. I couldn't believe that I could be doing this. Cutting green wood with a sharp edge is so effortless it's like taking a hot knife to butter. I'm not naieve enough to think that I've mastered anything yet, but I'm very proud of my simple practice spindle pieces that I'm making while learning how to cut. My co-worker gets the "benefit" of frequent show and tell sessions at work. I think I've found a hobby that will take me far into retirement and will keep some bounce in my step.

I also wanted to take a minute to thanks everyone who visits and contributes to this forum. It's pretty neat to see people helping people just for the hell of it. Right now I'm collecting and consuming information, but hope to get to the point where I can payback once I get some experience of my own.

Rick

Rick......

I wasn't one who really had much interest in wood turning.......but, I just happened to own a Shopsmith that was originally purchased to do other things! 😀 It was probably boredom that made me turn my first.......uh......whatever it was that I did first......can't remember! I knew absolutely nothing about woodturning, but did have an ancient woodworking book that gave some rudimentary guidelines on how it was done. I had a basic set of turning tools that were "acquired" through a group purchase, a faceplate, tool rest, ....and a desire to trek into the unknown! I guess it was just meant to be! Ha!

One incident I do remember from the early days (about 1980), left me with feelings of being grateful I was still alive, after sending a big chunk of wood flying up into the ceiling with a....... "ka-thunk, whooooooosh, THUD"! .......Heh,heh,heh!...... Judging by the big dent it left in the ceiling, that speeding block of wood probably would have taken out Goliath himself.....just as handily as David's rock did! 😉

These days, bowl turning is the ONLY thing that matters to me when I step into my shop! :cool2: I'm hooked!

Carry on RickStanley.....(Many of us here can fully understand your new found "wonder" at lathe turning.) .......Been there, done that!

OOC

 

[David Wilkins]

After 7 years, when I "hit it" with a piece, that grin comes back. Some work is ok, and lots ohhh and awwww, but when you "hit it" it's between you and the wood.

 

[mdwine]

I'm right there with ya!

I've done two bowls (the second still needs some work) but I understand how you feel... You kinda 'grin and chuckle' to yourself.

I need to try the green wood thing next, 'cuz that's where the free wood really starts!

Congrats on your new "life" with "us"! 😀

 

[john lucas]

Just to make you feel better I started turning with an electric drill and some ground screwdrivers. I graduated from that to a Shopsmith. I didn't even know you had to sharpen tools so I turned quite a few things (scraping of course) without ever sharpening the tools. You can imagine how rounded everything was. No sharp corners on coves and beads (if you call them that) sort of mushed into other shapes. Fortunately I met my friend Joe Looper who introduced me to the Tennessee Association of Woodturners and the AAW. He even showed me how to sharpen, correctly, by hand of course because no one used jigs back then.

 

[Vaughn]

...My first use of a sharp bowl gouge put a smile on my face that I'll remember for a long time...

In my experience, that smile comes back every time. It's not just a new guy thing. 😉 But the first time it all clicks is indeed a milestone moment to be remembered.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Sounds familiar, Rick. Thanks for posting.

Experience may be a cruel taskmaster, but it's a great teacher.

 

[Gretch Flo]

shopsmith

My best friend's son-in-law has given me one cherry burl from wisc (I am in Mich) where they live. He had another huge one for me, and I offered by OLD shopsmith that I used for several years before buying the oneway 1640-it was cluttering up the shop. So they broiught the truck to visit their mom.Gave shopsmith (upgraded motor) to him, with 3 nova chucks, face plates, speed reducer, and a bunch of other things and his truck stopped yesterday. I now have more room to stack wood, and 4 new cherry burls, and I think we have hooked another into the vortex. I feel good. Will give him this web site, Gretch