Finally! Turned my first piece this evening. Had to take down a tree in my yard that was blown over and saved several pieces 2-5 inches in diameter. Tried three pieces just to get the feel of turning spindle work and the first one turned (no pun intended) out awfully bad. The second one was a bit better and the third, I actually turned a small Harry Potter type "wand" for my daughter. They were all rough, the diameters were not perfectly even along the axis and all of them really were not very pretty. Now, how long will it take before I am actually comfortable with the machine and the tools and get more proficient etc? Oh yea, I'm hooked! 🙄
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how long will it take me to get better?
- Thread starter gary7
- Start date
Truly hooked?
We truly hooked people join AAW and find a club close to us so we can learn and enjoy this turning thing. I don't think I could have kept my interest up without a lot of help. I still do "dummy" things but I can always get the help I need from our club members.
Ron
We truly hooked people join AAW and find a club close to us so we can learn and enjoy this turning thing. I don't think I could have kept my interest up without a lot of help. I still do "dummy" things but I can always get the help I need from our club members.
Ron
There is an unbelievable amount to be learned in this field, as I've figured out the hard way mostly. I've been turning for roughly a year now and have learned a LOT and have 99.999 of the knowledge out there for me to even *hear of*.
Anyhow, here are the biggest obstacles I've hit.
1) Drying green wood properly. Lots of methods, some work, some work with voodoo, others with various spells and incantations, and some woods just get an attitude problem. For the first year or three don't spend a dime on green wood, just turn the free stuff! Plan on having that PERFECT bowl wind up splitting down the side. Meanwhile, keeps studying, practicing, making shavings, making firewood.
2) Sharpening the bowl gouge. I posted on this topic a few threads back. I've learned so far on this to buy a good jig like the woverine system or an Ellsworth jig, and use *the right gouge*. The Ellsworth is well known and many like it, some don't, but it only works with a 1/2" gouge (meaning it's made from 5/8" bar stock).
3) Finishing. I've settled on using NOTHING but lacquer except when I need a really antiqued look, whereby I use various oils and varnishes. I either thin 50/50 with thinner or I spray it (I'm blessed to work in a cabinet shop where all this equipment is begging to be used).
4) Mounting the stuff on the lathe---- the best answers I've found so far are a good 6" faceplate (I drilled extra holes to use extra screws) and a SuperNova II chuck. This is a fantastic chuck.
Never give up! I just ordered Bill Grumbine's video (you'll see him here and I recommend you learn all you can from him, his video, and his site).
Anyhow, here are the biggest obstacles I've hit.
1) Drying green wood properly. Lots of methods, some work, some work with voodoo, others with various spells and incantations, and some woods just get an attitude problem. For the first year or three don't spend a dime on green wood, just turn the free stuff! Plan on having that PERFECT bowl wind up splitting down the side. Meanwhile, keeps studying, practicing, making shavings, making firewood.
2) Sharpening the bowl gouge. I posted on this topic a few threads back. I've learned so far on this to buy a good jig like the woverine system or an Ellsworth jig, and use *the right gouge*. The Ellsworth is well known and many like it, some don't, but it only works with a 1/2" gouge (meaning it's made from 5/8" bar stock).
3) Finishing. I've settled on using NOTHING but lacquer except when I need a really antiqued look, whereby I use various oils and varnishes. I either thin 50/50 with thinner or I spray it (I'm blessed to work in a cabinet shop where all this equipment is begging to be used).
4) Mounting the stuff on the lathe---- the best answers I've found so far are a good 6" faceplate (I drilled extra holes to use extra screws) and a SuperNova II chuck. This is a fantastic chuck.
Never give up! I just ordered Bill Grumbine's video (you'll see him here and I recommend you learn all you can from him, his video, and his site).
Getting better
Gary7 --- I didn't start geting better untill I started talking to and listiing to some of the knowledgable turners. I live fairly close to Conover's workshop, so I signed up for one of his wood turning classes. That was the BEST thing I could have done to help me improve
Gary
Gary7 --- I didn't start geting better untill I started talking to and listiing to some of the knowledgable turners. I live fairly close to Conover's workshop, so I signed up for one of his wood turning classes. That was the BEST thing I could have done to help me improve
Gary
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The rest of your life if you get hooked on turning!!
You will get a little better every day, yet woodturning is one of those things where you never reach perfection.
Woodturners are always hungry to learn more -- and there is always more to learn.
Bill
You will get a little better every day, yet woodturning is one of those things where you never reach perfection.
Woodturners are always hungry to learn more -- and there is always more to learn.
Bill
I've found in my one year* of "serious" turning, that you should do a little each day just to keep in trim. And some days it doesn't seem to matter what you do nuttin' seems to go right. Other days it seems like you get all kinds of stuff done.
I found out that I make more progress when I see a good demo or get some hands on with a good turner. Five minutes of Nick Cooks time was worth more than a months worth of trial and error...
It's well worth the money to join a local club!
*(Well I actually turned a few things over the years... I even turned a bowl in Jr High School... Actually it was more like an offering plate!!! 😱 )
I found out that I make more progress when I see a good demo or get some hands on with a good turner. Five minutes of Nick Cooks time was worth more than a months worth of trial and error...
It's well worth the money to join a local club!
*(Well I actually turned a few things over the years... I even turned a bowl in Jr High School... Actually it was more like an offering plate!!! 😱 )
The neat thing about free wood is that it's free! Great practice material. Those first practice sessions are lots of fun.
I went to a couple of symposiums (local and national) and learned a lot. There is a wealth of info out there. And there are some good instructional videos too.
I went to a couple of symposiums (local and national) and learned a lot. There is a wealth of info out there. And there are some good instructional videos too.
Bill Grumbine
In Memorium
Gary, this is very hard to quantify, but if you take your medicine and obey doctor's orders... 😛
It all depends on what you expect. There have been times in my turning where I blew up more pieces than not, and I often wondered if I should sell my tools and sit on the couch and drink beer. But even though I was breaking piece after piece, I was learning, and I eventually got to the point where I didn't break so many.
However, if getting better means getting a piece off the lathe successfully, that can be a different thing, and your progress might not be as much as you would think. Richard Raffan said something to the effect that if you get to the point where you do not want to make that last cut to make the piece better, for fear of ruining it, then you start to settle for mediocrity. I still blow up pieces occasionally, and except for the lost time, I do not regret it like I used to.
Bill
It all depends on what you expect. There have been times in my turning where I blew up more pieces than not, and I often wondered if I should sell my tools and sit on the couch and drink beer. But even though I was breaking piece after piece, I was learning, and I eventually got to the point where I didn't break so many.
However, if getting better means getting a piece off the lathe successfully, that can be a different thing, and your progress might not be as much as you would think. Richard Raffan said something to the effect that if you get to the point where you do not want to make that last cut to make the piece better, for fear of ruining it, then you start to settle for mediocrity. I still blow up pieces occasionally, and except for the lost time, I do not regret it like I used to.
Bill
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gary7 said:
Answer's in the question. Next time you turn you'll do better, but not as well as the time after that.
When you feel comfortable enough with the machine and tools on one type of turning, it's time to try another.
Gary,
I'm a new turner too. So far I have made a whole lot of shavings and dust. I found that watching a video and reading a book is helpful, but every time I turn on the lathe I feel more comfortable. I've been starting out with a log, truing it up, then making V cuts and beads, and coves. Then I take it back to a cylinder and start over. So far it's been a lot of fun, but a bit frustrating because I have nothing to show for efforts; however, last night I noticed that my beads were starting to be a bit rounder, and my coves aa bit smoother and I started to "see" the results in my practicing.
I'm going to attend a club meeting on the 21st. I'm hoping I will benifit by seeing the hands of others and talking face to face with experienced turners. Check out the AAW clubs in your area.
I'm a new turner too. So far I have made a whole lot of shavings and dust. I found that watching a video and reading a book is helpful, but every time I turn on the lathe I feel more comfortable. I've been starting out with a log, truing it up, then making V cuts and beads, and coves. Then I take it back to a cylinder and start over. So far it's been a lot of fun, but a bit frustrating because I have nothing to show for efforts; however, last night I noticed that my beads were starting to be a bit rounder, and my coves aa bit smoother and I started to "see" the results in my practicing.
I'm going to attend a club meeting on the 21st. I'm hoping I will benifit by seeing the hands of others and talking face to face with experienced turners. Check out the AAW clubs in your area.
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Jeff Jilg said:
Free wood is just another word for some excuse to turn,
Free wood ain't worth nothin' if it ain't free . . .
That's bad Bill. Just bad.
Dietrich 😛
Dietrich 😛
Help In Getting Better
Gary,
I've been turning about one year.
Best thing I did to learn how to turn is to join a local turning club.
Our club has demos, show and tell, bring backs, wood raffles, workshops, a lending library and most important a mentoring program.
I signed up and received a mentor. We work together as I have time. He looks at my stuff and shows me another way to do it; a better way to do it; the right way to do it. He has taught me to sharpen. He has re-taught me how to sharpen.
Find the local club listing on this website. Find a club or 2 near you and attend a meeting. Join one of the clubs, some of our members drive 2 hours one way.
John 🙂
Gary,
I've been turning about one year.
Best thing I did to learn how to turn is to join a local turning club.
Our club has demos, show and tell, bring backs, wood raffles, workshops, a lending library and most important a mentoring program.
I signed up and received a mentor. We work together as I have time. He looks at my stuff and shows me another way to do it; a better way to do it; the right way to do it. He has taught me to sharpen. He has re-taught me how to sharpen.
Find the local club listing on this website. Find a club or 2 near you and attend a meeting. Join one of the clubs, some of our members drive 2 hours one way.
John 🙂
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Gary7,
You should be improving every day.
Woodturning is one activity that you can get good enough to impress non-turners in a couple of weeks. In a couple of hours sometimes. Our club had freedom pen sessions where we had walk-ups turn pens and some were turning pens on their own that looked pretty darn good within minutes.
My reccomendation for beginners is to:
1. focus on getting a good surface off the tool and no catches. Catches are not part of the turning process unfortunately they seem to be accepted as part of the learning process.
2. turn lots of the same thing preferably something on the small side.
Many new turners try to make one of everything they see and they don't learn very quickly. If you turn 15-20 of the same item you will find that the first one took 10 times longer than the last and by the time you get to the last the fixing to lathe and the tools to use are second nature and you are focused on shape, from, and surface as you work.
Take lessons if you want to get better faster!
I have worked with close to 200 beginners on bowl turning. These are about equally divided among one day workshops and 27 hour classes a Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. This class was 9 three hour classes.
At the end of every class the students are using proper tool technique but retention in adults varies widely. In the third class session about 10% will show no obvious indications of having been to two first two class sessions and get catches.
happy Turning,
Al
You should be improving every day.
Woodturning is one activity that you can get good enough to impress non-turners in a couple of weeks. In a couple of hours sometimes. Our club had freedom pen sessions where we had walk-ups turn pens and some were turning pens on their own that looked pretty darn good within minutes.
My reccomendation for beginners is to:
1. focus on getting a good surface off the tool and no catches. Catches are not part of the turning process unfortunately they seem to be accepted as part of the learning process.
2. turn lots of the same thing preferably something on the small side.
Many new turners try to make one of everything they see and they don't learn very quickly. If you turn 15-20 of the same item you will find that the first one took 10 times longer than the last and by the time you get to the last the fixing to lathe and the tools to use are second nature and you are focused on shape, from, and surface as you work.
Take lessons if you want to get better faster!
I have worked with close to 200 beginners on bowl turning. These are about equally divided among one day workshops and 27 hour classes a Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. This class was 9 three hour classes.
At the end of every class the students are using proper tool technique but retention in adults varies widely. In the third class session about 10% will show no obvious indications of having been to two first two class sessions and get catches.
happy Turning,
Al
Last edited:
Well, I'm still on the entrance ramp to the learning curve--got my lathe < 6 mos. ago--but I find I learn something new all the time. I have a couple of books--Richard Raffan's book and David Ellsworth's book on bowl turning--and reread them again and again, particularly after I have tried something new or made a mistake. I often keep them on the workbench next to the lathe to refer to.
I have seen Alan Lacer at a demonstration, which was most helpful--lots of tips and gave me something to aspire to.
I would recommend starting small--small spindles and bowls. I started getting into pen turning and have more or less got that down, now I'm moving into small side-grain bowls. I destroyed 3 before I got one that was a keeper. I would resist the urge to do big items until your skills are down. Plus, a small bowl is less dangerous flying off the lathe toward your cranium...(not that it's ever happened to me 😉 )
I have seen Alan Lacer at a demonstration, which was most helpful--lots of tips and gave me something to aspire to.
I would recommend starting small--small spindles and bowls. I started getting into pen turning and have more or less got that down, now I'm moving into small side-grain bowls. I destroyed 3 before I got one that was a keeper. I would resist the urge to do big items until your skills are down. Plus, a small bowl is less dangerous flying off the lathe toward your cranium...(not that it's ever happened to me 😉 )
Richard Baker
RIP
Library?
Is there a "library" or loan service out there somewhere that loans or rents the various books and CD's on woodturning? I would like to view much of this material, but it's just not feasible for me to purchase copies of same.
Is there a "library" or loan service out there somewhere that loans or rents the various books and CD's on woodturning? I would like to view much of this material, but it's just not feasible for me to purchase copies of same.
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Richard,
Most of the local woodturning clubs have a lending library. Also the Public library may have woodturning books and videos. I know the one in Annapolis MD had several good videos.
check
http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/members.pl?submit=Chapter+List
to find a local chapter near you. Texas has close to 20 chapters and being such a small place one must be near-by
Most of the local woodturning clubs have a lending library. Also the Public library may have woodturning books and videos. I know the one in Annapolis MD had several good videos.
check
http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/members.pl?submit=Chapter+List
to find a local chapter near you. Texas has close to 20 chapters and being such a small place one must be near-by
Richard Baker
RIP
Thanks Hock,
Our public library is not terribly impressive, but they are trying hard to improve. Meanwhile it had not occurred to me that my "local" AAW club might have CD's to loan. I'll check it out, as there are a couple of clubs within 100 miles or so, and we have just received a hand-me-down CD player from one of my sweetie's relatives.
Our public library is not terribly impressive, but they are trying hard to improve. Meanwhile it had not occurred to me that my "local" AAW club might have CD's to loan. I'll check it out, as there are a couple of clubs within 100 miles or so, and we have just received a hand-me-down CD player from one of my sweetie's relatives.
Richard, Most libraries will take suggestions about new acquisitions. Talk to them.
JimQ
JimQ
Hello Richard,
One other possibility is to check with your local library. I found that in my state (Ohio) they have a lending policy with all the other libraries in the state. That really opens up your selection of what is available. I found many videos that way. My local library had a real limited selection.
Maybe your state has a similar policy..
Best wishes,
Dave
One other possibility is to check with your local library. I found that in my state (Ohio) they have a lending policy with all the other libraries in the state. That really opens up your selection of what is available. I found many videos that way. My local library had a real limited selection.
Maybe your state has a similar policy..
Best wishes,
Dave
Richard Baker
RIP
Thanks Jim and Dave,
My sweetie has made some donations to our local library, and they would probably be happy to help me if they can.
My sweetie has made some donations to our local library, and they would probably be happy to help me if they can.
Relax with it.....
Hey Gary,
I asked myself the same question about 2 years ago. I've learned allot since. Yes, you will get better each day so don’t worry and be patient. I've decided that the lathe will never be a tool to be mastered. There are always new thing to try and bigger challenges you'll face. Push to continually challenge yourself and remember, like allot of things in life: it the journey, not the destination.
Chuck Wood
Hey Gary,
I asked myself the same question about 2 years ago. I've learned allot since. Yes, you will get better each day so don’t worry and be patient. I've decided that the lathe will never be a tool to be mastered. There are always new thing to try and bigger challenges you'll face. Push to continually challenge yourself and remember, like allot of things in life: it the journey, not the destination.
Chuck Wood