Wednesday's Wisdom For Woodturners 19 April 2023

[lew]

Beautiful spring day here in south central PA. Dogwood trees in full bloom.

 

 

Our Patriot Turners-

@Ron Altier posted some images of his Christmas ornaments. One of his pieces was finished with his experiment using epoxy. 

 

Ron asked us what we thought about the finish. Please hop on over to his post and let him know what you think-

 

 

"What's On Your Lathe" continues to show our turner's work. This week, @forty_caliber was working on some bowls-

 

 

You can catchup here-

 

 

 

 

What’s Coming Up-

Click on the image for the links.

 

 

 

For The Newbies-

Received this information in an email from Kent Weakley-

 

49-Must-Know-Wood-Bowl-Turning-Terms.pdf

 

 

Kent is a bowl turner and this video demonstrates making a natural edge bowl- starting with a log through to the finished piece.

 

 

Mr. Weakley uses traditional turning tools. This video, from Craft Supplies USA, demonstrates turning a bowl using Easy Wood Tools carbide cutters. Lots of great tips for getting the best finish.

 

 

Expand Your Horizons-

Some random ideas to spark your creativity

 

Carl gets "artsy-fartsy"

 

 

Add marbling effects to a turning-

 

 

Several of our members do four sided "inside-out" turnings. Alan Stratton made some with three sides-

 

 

New Turning Items-

Ron Brown has a new version of his chatter tool available-

https://www.longworthchuck.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=23&product_id=261

 

 

Everything Else-

Took a couple of days but I finally got this little elm bowl finished. Use the Easy Wood Tools beading cutters (1/4" & 3/16") @Jordan Martindale.

 

Out of the drying box-

 

 

Finished with Yorkshire Grit

 

 

 

 

And from Ron Brown's newsletter-

A journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. Excellence takes time, patience, and practice. Becoming an excellent craftsman or craftswoman is possible for all of us, but we must remember that improvement comes in small bites.

 

Every time I walk away from the shop, I ask myself what I learned from this session. And there is always something new. It might be small, but it represents one more step in my journey to excellence.

 

“The Expert In Anything Was Once A Beginner” Helen Hayes

 

There is joy, sometimes hidden, in every journey. It is up to you to see and understand it. In a

world gone crazy, common sense is still the currency you can count on. Study, practice, and remember. Before you know it, you will have become someone’s expert just like the expert you so admired yesterday.

 

Being in my seventh decade of glorious living, I’m often asked when I plan to retire. My answer is always the same, “This is me retired.” This is what I would be doing if I didn’t have to work at a job. Last week I read about an interview with two sisters, one 106 and the younger one 104 years old. Asked about their secrets for long life, they both agreed on a few things that keep them young; reading, staying active, meeting new people, and learning new things keeps their minds sharp and their attitudes positive. It makes each day worth getting up.

 

You’ve all heard about the “Supply chain issue,” with Asia. We are affected by it along with everyone else. When I have issues importing a popular product, I often figure out how to make it myself right here in Georgia, USA. And while I’m at it, I look at how I can make it better. That is exactly how you got the Longworth Chuck Type 2 and, ultimately, the doughnut ring option. Each product involves new equipment, processes, and materials most of which I have not worked with before. Hence, the joy of the journey.

 

This week, I’m introducing our Chatter Tool Version 2.0 as a replacement for an item I’ve sold many thousands of over the years. Why? Greedy foreign manufacturers forced me to figure out how to make it in my own facility in Georgia. This improved version features an ergonomic vibration-dampening soft grip handle designed to reduce fatigue, and it comes with three blades.

 

As companies fade away and their products become impossible to find, put on your inventor’s hat and figure it out. I know you can do it with a little persistence. Remember that wherever you go, there you are.

 

Safe turning

[Gerald]

Thanks for the post Lew. Funny how many people ask about turning a bowl when there are soooo many good videos out there. Gotta check out the marbling.

I do like those beads you put on your bowls

Edited April 20, 2023 by Gerald

[HandyDan]

Thanks for the material Lew.  Your bowl and the beads on it look great. 

[lew]

@Gerald Thank You!

 

@HandyDan Thanks!