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What's your all time favorite demo?

J

jbburgoon

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Jun 19, 2006
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Lubbock, Tx.
I'm a regular demonstrator for our chapter which is about three years old. I have a demo coming up in January and thought this would be a good topic for some cool ideas. I'm an industrial arts teacher of 26 years. Typically I try something new for my demos, but want to practice enough to appear proficient!
Thanks, Jim Bob
 
Impossible to say for sure

Jim Bob,

It's hard to separate the object of the demonstration from the person doing the demonstration. Some demonstrators are very entertaining and others are not -- and the difference is seldom determined by what's being turned. With that giant caveat, I'd say the two objects I've enjoyed seeing demoed the most are a winged bowl and a small box. Hollow forms are not as interesting because it's hard to see what's going on inside.
 
I agree with David

The presentation is sometimes as or more important than the subject matter.Although unique techniques usually draw me in.So far Jimmy Clewes and Bill Grumbine are my favorite demo,s.
 
I think it is important to be very comfortable with whatever you are demonstrating and even more so if you teach it..

I have sort of a hierarchy
1. things I'll try in my shop
2. things I'll show one on one ( I've done it a few time successfully)
3. demo subjects ( I've done it a dozen times, can anticipate most questions, and know how to make shortcuts to finish in the time limit)
4. teaching subjects - I've done it enough to know how to guide students through misadventures.

A favorite demo for me was by David Ellsworth. He mounted a 10" log in the lathe long ways. Turned a ball. rotated it 90 deg cut it in half with a straight hollowing tool. turned a bowl from one half and a hollow form from the other. Nearly everything you can do in turning in one concise demo.

Happy turning
Al
 
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Al I saw Paul Ferrul of Kentucky do that same Demo except he turned a log into two bowls. This was in the early 90's. It was an eye opener for me because I didn't have a chainsaw and my bandsaw would only cut 6". It opened up some good possibilities.

I think you should always do a demo on something you've practiced a lot. When I come up with new demo a actually go through it a couple of times. I make the pieces enough times that I'm very comfortable with the steps and set ups. Then I actually pretend I'm talking to the crowd and do the demo in my shop. Must seem funny to my neigbors. I time it to make sure it fits in the alotted time and then try to shorten it because people always ask questions.
New turners want a demo on a piece they can go home and turn. More advanced turners want either advanced tool techniques or new things they can turn or add to their turnings. Consequently the best demo's have all of the above and it's very hard to do that. Above all have fun and show the audience that you are having fun, it's contagious.
So far the best demo I've seen is the Mike Mahoney, Stewart Batty bowl turning demo. It was funny, they shared competing techiques so you learned a lot, and they had a good project.
 
John,

I saw David do it in 1994. I suspect he had been doing it a while.

I work out the timing much like you do. I also pick a few spots like
finish intro at 10 minutes
on the chuck at 30 minutes
reverse chucked at 90
bottom turned off at 115 minutes

I use these to speed up or slow down a bit. Then I ask one of my local clubs to let me test drive a demo. I also have a few things planned of I finish too early. especially for day long demos.

One thing I find is that when I'm miked I talk more while turning and I go much faster as I don't have to stop the lathe to be heard.
 
I've watched a number of demos, and done a few myself (I'm not trying to do anything now, I need more skill building technique).

I think entertainment value is important, you need to hold the audience's attention.

From the beginning, I went to intermediate and advanced demos, I figured the beginning stuff was "self explanatory" (I was VERY WRONG) A well considered and "intuitive" program is important to keep your audience on track, and (IMO) it has to be done in a way that is interesting to the intermediate and advanced turner, but accessible to the beginners... I say this, because as a beginner, I thought I could take in a lot (and I could), but the information didn't transfer to the hands. I understood, but couldn't duplicate and I sometimes put myself at risk. I'm getting better at that.
Till us 😎 "super turners" 🙄 figure out that we are just like everyone else, and need to learn the basics, just like everyone else, I think that basic techniques and SAFETY should be a pronounced part of any skill building demo.

That said, At the first symposium I ever attended - before I had turned anything, Keith Tompkins did a segmenting demo (the first one he ever did, I am told) that had no actual turning in it, but was interesting, amusing, informative, accessible and doable... I STILL have not used the technique for segmenting yet, but his demo lead me to try building a sled of my own design (that works really well for it's purpose) and given me ideas about and methods of examining my own ideas that I will always use.

I'm going back to school myself to insure that I can use and show basic skill and safety, before I try another demo, I want to be as good and as safe as Don Orr and/or Paul Petrie (and a whole lot of the other guys I have learned from in my club).
 
Pick a favorite?

For me the difference between a good demo and a great demo is what sort expectations I carry into a demo. Obviously one expects much more from a professional turner than a fellow chapter member doing a demo for the monthly meeting. Yet I have gotten some of my best technique ideas by watching carefully at monthly demos. That said, nothing can equal a hands-on class by an accomplished turner/teacher. Our local Chapter(s) have been very fortunate to have had several excellent turner/teachers, such as Bob Rosand, Mark St.Leger, Jimmy Clews, Bill Grumbine, to mention just a few, give hands on instruction. Each of these turners, most certainly, bring their own brand with them, but they all have a couple things in common. Their technique is, nearly flawless, and their teaching style is calm, confident and personable.
 
For me, the perfect demo should have three elements.
1-Show me something I don't know.
2-Show me something I know and am using to reinforce I am utilizing the skill correctly.
3-Show me something I know, but haven't used in a while, and remind me to utilize that skill.
Some of the best demos I have had the opportunity to see are those given by Nick Cook. He has a way of explaning his craft in a manner that I always come away feeling I have gotten all three elements covered.
 
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