Well, this forum does take a little time to learn. Not only the mechanics, but just discovering how much information one can find here. I'm on other non-turning forums and they, too, have their quirks. Difficult? Naw. I've only been turning two years, off and on, and you if wanna hear about difficult, just as me about my learning the skew, or ask how much tool steel I wasted learning to sharpen the fingernail bowl gouge. Forum navigation is a piece of cake!
I come here because the AAW magazine is beyond my skills and even my intersts at this time. Very little of the magazine is directed toward neophytes, IMO. But, by using the search feature here, I've been able to find answers to most of my questions. Agreed, it's not always been simple, but I can't tell you how many times I've found great information on a related topics while searching for an answer. It's like searching in a dictionary. I've started with the purpose of finding information about one word, and I find myself still browsing others an hour later.
I asked one queston about the PM 4224, and I've received a great amount of helpful information. I think it would be the same for any other question I ask.
Thus far, the only suggestion I would make is for a more organized set of topics. For example, all posts and questions re sharpening tools should be posted in one place. (You see, I'm still p***** about all that tool steel I left on the shop floor!) Another heading could be finishing on the lathe. Another spindle turning. Another end-grain turning. Etc.
Many other forums have moderators who will move a post to the appropriate topic for the sake of good organization.
Finally, the experienced woodturners on this forum have to remember how many of us new turners are here searching for help and don't feel qualified to post anything other than questions.
