Hello everyone.   I am recently retired and have picked up wood turning in the past 3 months.  I also recently picked up Excelsior (Rockler) wood lathe for Phase 1 of my new retirement hobby.  Phase 2 will be procuring a CNC machine after the dust settles from our relocation from Orland Park (Chicago suburb) IL to Lenoir City (Knoxville) TN and the boss gives me approval!

 

Initial pictures are a trick I did in installing can lights in a 1st floor ceiling that had no attic access, my wood lathe and Harbor freight maple work bench, tools lined up waiting for a road trip to Knoxville, & the first 3 turning I did at Rockler turning classes.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by richk52
resize pictures

hello Richard and welcome to TPW...

yur gonna like it here...

Glad you came onboard Rick.  We could use another turner.  Look forward to your participation.

2 hours ago, HandyDan said:

Glad you came onboard Rick.  We could use another turner.  Look forward to your participation.

 

Dan? ...are you trying to stack the deck?

 

Welcome to the fun fest Rick. Like Stick opined, you're gonna like it here. Oh, by the way, new members are encouraged to provide the pastries; doughnuts, pie w/ice cream, cake...you get the idea. PM me before you bring them, Stick can get greedy sometimes.

Ok, but I only do Dunkin (formerly aka Dunkin Donuts) and only do Starbucks when someone gives me a Starbucks gift card.   Social Insecurity helps make sure that happens.

 

So what is the difference between management and worker bees?  Management does Starbucks and worker bees do Dunkin!

 

I also do Portillo's Italian beef - a Chicago food.  Philly cheese steak sandwiches don't come close. if you are impatient, you can order it online.  Portillo's Hot Dogs & Italian Beef.  Just think of it as being another woodworking tool - nutrition is very important to being alert around woodworking tools (and other woodworkers).

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by richk52
typo

22 minutes ago, richk52 said:

Ok, but I only do Dunkin (formerly aka Dunkin Donuts) and only do Starbucks when someone gives me a Starbucks gift card.   Social Insecurity helps make sure that happens.

 

So what is the difference between management and worker bees?  Management does Starbucks and worker bees do Dunkin!

 

I also do Portillo's Italian beef - a Chicago food.  Philly cheese steak sandwiches don't come close. if you are impatient, you can order it online.  Portillo's Hot Dogs & Italian Beef.  Just think of it as being another woodworking tool - nutrition is very important to being alert around woodworking tools (and other woodworkers).

 

...as long as they aren't Krispy Kremes, and if anyone EVER gives me a Starbucks gift card, I'll be sure to send it along to you.

 

Around here management gets to use the corporate jet, the worker bees don't. Since the 737's were grounded we picked up a used one cheap and are in the process of redecorating the inside.

52 minutes ago, schnewj said:

if anyone EVER gives me a Starbucks gift card, I'll be sure to send it along to you.

 

same here...

 

7 hours ago, richk52 said:

Hello everyone.   I am recently retired and have picked up wood turning in the past 3 months.  I also recently picked up Excelsior (Rockler) wood lathe for Phase 1 of my new retirement hobby.  Phase 2 will be procuring a CNC machine after the dust settles from our relocation from Orland Park (Chicago suburb) IL to Lenoir City (Knoxville) TN and the boss gives me approval!

 

A hearty welcome Rich to The Patriot Woodworker (aka TPW). and congratulations on your recent retirement. The great thing about joining up, TPW is portable, needs no packing and will make the transition from Orland Park to Lenoir trouble free. The rest of your stuff, well maybe not so easy. Moving to Knoxville, you'll be ~1-1/2  hours to Gatlinburg & the Great Smokey mountains. You'll find more inspiration for woodworking and turning there than you'll be able process.

 

1 hour ago, richk52 said:

I also do Portillo's Italian beef - a Chicago food.  Philly cheese steak sandwiches don't come close.

As for Starbucks, thanks but I'll have to pass...DD are OK, but you had me at Portillo's(and H-F)

 

The dogs can't be beat nor as you said the Italian beef...of course don't forget the layer chocolate cake and the chocolate cake shake. Miss my ~weekly visit back in the day traveling to the "burbs." Not as good as they once were when Dick & family still ran the business, but still hard to beat. We finally got a couple in the greater Indianapolis area which beats trips to Merrillville.

 

Sorry, none in Tennessee yet but a couple in Florida. Your first trip to Gatlinburg, give Calhoun's a go. Make sure you try their Strawberry Shortcake.

 

Keep us posted on the move. We're open 24/7/365...looking forward to hearing and seeing more of your projects, which BTW, look pretty good. I'd say you were a great student!

Oh, and it looks like you need some more clamps...first rule of woodworking...you can never have enough clamps.

Dave, the good news about Portillo's is that Dick sold the business to a company named Berkshire Partners on the east coast for upwards of 33 million dollars.  If anyone recognizes the name Berkshire, yes it is one of the many companies that Warren Buffett owns. When they purchased Portillo's they stated that they had plans to start opening more locations around the country.  That is why they have recently opened locations in Wisconsin and Indiana. They need to open a location in Plano (a corporate suburb of Dallas) next.  Tidbit is that Portillo's employs over 100 people at each location and even in Chicago the 'advance' order takers stand out in the dead of winter taking orders and money.  (Management has them on a 15 minute rotation)

 

I have been through Gatlinburg on the way to the National Smokie Mountain Park.  It is what I call 'Wisconsin Dells on steroids'.  Relative to Calhoun's, there is a Calhoun's in Lenoir City at the marina and a couple more around the Knoxville area.

 

Those Irwin clamps were my latest find at a Rockler sale - two 24" clamps for $19.  Cheaper than the 18" clamps!  Yes, I have more clamps, but they are dispersed between IL & TN.

Edited March 26, 20197 yr by richk52
typo

58 minutes ago, richk52 said:

Dave, the good news about Portillo's is that Dick sold the business to a company named Berkshire Partners on the east coast for upwards of 33 million dollars.

Not bad for a guy  who started out pushing a dog cart around the city...

 

59 minutes ago, richk52 said:

Tidbit is that Portillo's employs over 100 people at each location and even in Chicago the 'advance' order takers stand out in the dead of winter taking orders and money.  (Management has them on a 15 minute rotation)

I've had them take orders more than once in the bitter cold, snow at the Montgomery/Oswego location. I was always amazed the order was ready when you got to the window...seldom had to wait more than a couple of minutes tops. Inside service is equally as fast, assuming you can find a table.  They have CS down to an art. We were really excited when they opened the one in Avon, IN (burb of Indy). It's slightly under an hour from us and we shop there from time-to-time.

 

Another favorite of mine was/is Giordano's. GREAT lasagna, pizza, and their Italian sausage isn't too shabby either. Indy area is supposed to get one of those soon

 

1 hour ago, richk52 said:

Relative to Calhoun's, there is a Calhoun's in Lenoir City at the marina and a couple more around the Knoxville area.

I knew they had other locations...seldom stopped in Knoxville...we always ate at least once in the one in "G-burg."  Even took  a "detour" on two occasions on our return trips from Charleston & Savannah  just to eat there.

 

Darn Rich, all this talk of food is making me hungry and I just had dinner  three or so hours ago.

1 hour ago, Grandpadave52 said:

 

Darn Rich, all this talk of food is making me hungry and I just had dinner  three or so hours ago.

And its time to eat again.

Welcome aboard.  Sorry the TPW jet is unavailable at the moment.  We have had a few issues with tires and color schemes in the remodel of the interior.

 

But we are working on it.

8 hours ago, Gerald said:

And its time to eat again.

yup...

this is a good thing...

Welcome to TPW!

 

Like you, I recently moved from So. California to Bowling Green , KY on October 9th 2018 as my wife retired after 30+ years as a "Special Educator". Been here at TPW from the beginning. This is a great place to connect and get help and sometimes even vent. 

 

Welcome to a fellow newbie to Kentucky!

Hey Rich, on behalf of the admins, welcome aboard.  If Knoxville International will hold the corporate jet I’ll take you along on our next junket to the Bahamas.  My guest!  Take that Stick.

Hey Rich,

Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker. 

Don't let these guys fool you.

 

 

Everyone that rides on the corporate jet has to do their share of the rowing. 

 

Thanks Allen, I will be passing through KY this coming Saturday. We take the Indianapolis - Louisville - Lexington route and then drop down to Knoxville.  Always have to roll the dice whether we will get rain or fog when we hit the mountains between Lexington & Knoxville..

 

Ron & Larry, Knoxville's airport (McGhee Tyson) may not be International, but it does have 2 very long runways (9,000 & 10,000 ft), partially thanks to being home for the TN Air National Guard Refueling wing. (Need long runways for heavy tankers taking off).  So there should not be a problem with the corporate jet.

 

In regards to the corporate jet, I assumed you meant the jet that I attached a picture of below.  Standard equipment includes a screwdriver, monkey wrench, & integral holder.  Their latest model is the 737 MAX and it has anti-stall capability that helps when turning large bowls.

 

2 minutes ago, richk52 said:

I will be passing through KY this coming Saturday. We take the Indianapolis - Louisville - Lexington route and then drop down to Knoxville.

Give the Indianapolis (I-65 to I-74E) to Cincinnati (I-275 to I-71 to I-75) to Lexington route a try. It always seemed faster and typically far less congestion from Sellersburg into Jeffersonville, IN then across the river to Louisville then getting onto I-64E out of Louisville. I've taken both routes many times and preferred the Indy to Cincy path unless late at night or very early morning. If nothing else, will give you a change of scenery.

9 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Give the Indianapolis (I-65 to I-74E) to Cincinnati (I-275 to I-71 to I-75) to Lexington route a try. It always seemed faster and typically far less congestion from Sellersburg into Jeffersonville, IN then across the river to Louisville then getting onto I-64E out of Louisville. I've taken both routes many times and preferred the Indy to Cincy path unless late at night or very early morning. If nothing else, will give you a change of scenery.

I agree, Dave.   When we go to Gatlinburg we run I-74 east to I-275 and take it around the west side of Cincinnati, through a Florence Kentucky and on to I-75.  Great road.

Welcome aboard Rich, glad to have you here.