Woodturning in Montana

[Jon Klobofski]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but.........
I live in north central Montana and have been turning for a few years now. The closest AAW chapter is over 150 miles away. To my knowledge I am the only wood turner on the hi-line. I am trying to locate any turners in Montana. I would love to have someone familiar with the challenges and and experiences of turning local wood, to talk with.

 

[Jamie Straw]

Welcome, Jon. Hope you get some responses. One suggestion -- you might check to see if any of the chapters in Montana have Facebook pages, that's another way to reach out.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Welcome, Jon. One of the very active members on the forum, Odie, lives in Missoula about 300 miles west of you. That's probably a long drive even by Montana standards.

 

[odie]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but.........
I live in north central Montana and have been turning for a few years now. The closest AAW chapter is over 150 miles away. To my knowledge I am the only wood turner on the hi-line. I am trying to locate any turners in Montana. I would love to have someone familiar with the challenges and and experiences of turning local wood, to talk with.

Hello Jon........

Well, I live in Montana.

I was feeling the same as you a few years back......nobody that I knew of knew anything about turning, and anyone close enough was still a major trip. Although this goes against the main stream thinking, I'm a believer in the value of the available books and professional videos to get ideas and principle concepts......then, let your own self determination become the main factor in where your turning takes you. I must mention that I really wanted mentoring and classes in the beginning, but it just wasn't do-able for me. Since that time, I've reconsidered my own path conceptually, even though it wasn't initially what I wanted to do. I'm now convinced this will lead to discoveries that would not have been possible otherwise. Of course, this is my opinion.....and, not very many people are with me on that......

IMHO, there isn't much desirable native woods available in Montana.....so, I concentrate on wood blocks that are available commercially. I'm not a good one to help you with that........

This forum is a good place to get a diverse set of opinions, and methods.....and, since it's interactive, is a great place to ask questions and comment on the subjects at hand.

ko

 

[hockenbery]

John,
My suggestion is to call the club in great falls and see if any of their members live out your way.
There may be members of the club who are not AAW members.

I do some volunteer work with AAW member locations.
From the 2015 data the closest AAW member to you lives in Carter.
One lived in Chester but I don't get a hit from the current members.
These are a long ways away

 

[Jon Klobofski]

Hello Jon........

Well, I live in Montana.

I was feeling the same as you a few years back......nobody that I knew of knew anything about turning, and anyone close enough was still a major trip. Although this goes against the main stream thinking, I'm a believer in the value of the available books and professional videos to get ideas and principle concepts......then, let your own self determination become the main factor in where your turning takes you. I must mention that I really wanted mentoring and classes in the beginning, but it just wasn't do-able for me. Since that time, I've reconsidered my own path conceptually, even though it wasn't initially what I wanted to do. I'm now convinced this will lead to discoveries that would not have been possible otherwise. Of course, this is my opinion.....and, not very many people are with me on that......

IMHO, there isn't much desirable native woods available in Montana.....so, I concentrate on wood blocks that are available commercially. I'm not a good one to help you with that........

This forum is a good place to get a diverse set of opinions, and methods.....and, since it's interactive, is a great place to ask questions and comment on the subjects at hand.

ko

Hi Odie

Hello Jon........

Well, I live in Montana.

I was feeling the same as you a few years back......nobody that I knew of knew anything about turning, and anyone close enough was still a major trip. Although this goes against the main stream thinking, I'm a believer in the value of the available books and professional videos to get ideas and principle concepts......then, let your own self determination become the main factor in where your turning takes you. I must mention that I really wanted mentoring and classes in the beginning, but it just wasn't do-able for me. Since that time, I've reconsidered my own path conceptually, even though it wasn't initially what I wanted to do. I'm now convinced this will lead to discoveries that would not have been possible otherwise. Of course, this is my opinion.....and, not very many people are with me on that......

IMHO, there isn't much desirable native woods available in Montana.....so, I concentrate on wood blocks that are available commercially. I'm not a good one to help you with that........

This forum is a good place to get a diverse set of opinions, and methods.....and, since it's interactive, is a great place to ask questions and comment on the subjects at hand.

ko

Hi Odie
You nailed it on feeling alone. Between books , videos, and trial and error, I have figured most things out. I have settled into a style that suits me. My main bowl turning tools are a round nose scraper and a bowl gouge. I've gotten to the point that I have little to no tear out in my bowls.
I have a deal with a local tree trimming business that provides me with wood. Mainly Cottonwood, Silver Maple,and Box Elder. Word in my area has gotten out on the bowls, vases, and urns that I turn. People are starting to ask me to make them things.( my belief is if a hobby can pay for itself, I can upgrade my tools)
I found that the turning club in Billings is active and I was going to try to attend their symposium.
I was looking for Turners in Montana, basically to discuss issues we have here( lack of turning supply's, local group knowledge and support, turning and drying local wood in our climate.) I'm convinced that the cottonwood tree is really a sponge that grows on the prairie.

 

[odie]

I'm convinced that the cottonwood tree is really a sponge that grows on the prairie.

"Sponge that grows on the prairie".......Now, THAT made me laugh......really, it's true!

I've been turning for so long, that I'm pretty set in my ways......even though the forum members do make me try new things from time to time....and, very once in awhile, they manage to convert me! Ha, ha!

I understand completely......and, good luck to you, Jon......

Come back and participate in the forum......a lot of information can be had with a few well constructed questions, just ask Jamie! Agreement isn't a requirement, but thinking is.......

ko

 

[Bill Boehme]

.... I'm convinced that the cottonwood tree is really a sponge that grows on the prairie.

I also laughed when I read that. I believe that you nailed it. I got some cottonwood once from a neighbors tree that was taken down, but never did turn it. First it was too stinky and next it started splitting and then I hauled it off during a cleanup day.

 

[hockenbery]

I have turned some willow which is a bit like cotton wood.

The box elder and the silver maple can be spectacular turning woods.

Al

 

[Gretch Flo]

cottonwood can have some awesome crotch figure, that seems to go further into the middle of the wood than other woods. Great for dying to bring out the figure, Gretch

 

[Jon Klobofski]

cottonwood can have some awesome crotch figure, that seems to go further into the middle of the wood than other woods. Great for dying to bring out the figure, Gretch

Dying is next on my to figure out list. I have made some very poor attempts recently. I was thinking I needed to make sure the common sense tank was full that day.

 

[Jamie Straw]

Dying is next on my to figure out list. I have made some very poor attempts recently. I was thinking I needed to make sure the common sense tank was full that day.

At the moment, I am very, very sleepy and read that sentence as having the verb die rather than dye. Had me thinking "My, he has quite the dry sense of humor, eh?"

 

[Jon Klobofski]

Jamie, sorry about that. Typing on my new phone is challenging. But after I read your post, I had to review what I wrote. The people that I work with would say that I have a very dry and "off" sense of humor. I've been in Law Enforcement for over 17 years. I blame my sense of humor on my my coworkers

 

[Bill Boehme]

Members of my club have been asking me to do a program on my methods for coloring wood to enhance figured maple I thought about calling it "Are you dying to dye" or perhaps "Chatoyance to dye for".

 

[Bill Bulloch]

Jon, You can search the AAW Site for members by State. I searched Montana and came up with the names of 90 members who live there. You were the only one that lives in Chinook, but maybe one of the others live nearby.

I am talking about the AAW Site, not the Forum. You'll need to log in to the site, then look under "Services", "Members directory". Just type "Montana" in the Search Engine.

 

[Dean Center]

Well, folks, as Jon can confirm, many of us in Montana drive 150 miles to go shopping. Each way. It's hard to imagine that there aren't at least a few turners up there in the Twin Cities. We have a forum member in Ft. Peck, but that's not any closer than Great Falls.

The Great Falls club is a good bunch of people with extra expertise in segmented turning. (gfturners.org). They have a workshop every year or two. You're very welcome to come to our meetings in Bozeman (NRWG.org) or to the Yellowstone Turners in Billings, but we're a lot farther. You might talk to a club officer and see if they have a club member with expertise in dying wood, or whatever your interest might turn to in the future, and spend a few hours with him or her. Woodturners are really good about sharing.

As to local wood, we also have birch, oak, ash, elm, Russian olive, and occasionally walnut in the bigger towns, and fruit wood of various sorts are occasionally available everywhere. If you ever make it down to Bozeman, give me a holler and I'll be glad to share some of our city wood. Or set you up with our most accomplished wood dyer.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Members of my club have been asking me to do a program on my methods for coloring wood to enhance figured maple I thought about calling it "Are you dying to dye" or perhaps "Chatoyance to dye for".

No doubt you're dyeing to find the right title.

 

[Jon Klobofski]

Thank you Dean. I have a buddy in BozAngeles, wanting to take me fly fishing on his home waters. Might have to schedule my visit to coincide with your guys meetings.
Just found the date for the Billings symposium Oct 4-5th . That happens to fall in the middle of my annual fishing/bird hunting trip. Big decision to make.
I was hoping to meet a Great Falls member on here. I have a few of their phone numbers, but feel odd calling them out of the blue. "Hey I see your a wood turner, so am I." Every way I have thought of it sounds like a bad movie script.
I am glad to meet you. If your in my area, feel free to get ahold of me.

 

[hockenbery]

"Hey I see your a wood turner, so am I." Every way I have thought of it sounds like a bad movie script.

Jon,
What would you do if you answered the phone an heard that?

I think they would welcome the call.

Al

 

[Jon Klobofski]

Al, you are correct. I am not use to people being, as into the same things , as I am. The whole reason for my post was to find just such a person.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Hey I see your a wood turner, so am I." Every way I have thought of it sounds like a bad movie script.

But, it does happen. There have been a number of occasions where I received a phone call from someone who was interested in woodturning.

 

[Dean Center]

Thank you Dean. I have a buddy in BozAngeles, wanting to take me fly fishing on his home waters. Might have to schedule my visit to coincide with your guys meetings.
Just found the date for the Billings symposium Oct 4-5th . That happens to fall in the middle of my annual fishing/bird hunting trip. Big decision to make.
I was hoping to meet a Great Falls member on here. I have a few of their phone numbers, but feel odd calling them out of the blue. "Hey I see your a wood turner, so am I." Every way I have thought of it sounds like a bad movie script.
I am glad to meet you. If your in my area, feel free to get ahold of me.

During bird season, I could easily be talked into making the trip.

Our club is having a workshop with Michael Hosaluk, September 30-October 2, in grouse season, which gives you an opportunity to get in some mountain chicken hunting, along with your fall fishing. The Great Falls workshop is on September 24-25 with Trent Bosch who is an excellent teacher and a great guy. BTW, the Billings Symposium is October 8-9 according to presenter Keith Gotschall's web site. The club website takes you to a registration form for October 4-5, 2008! So three choices, all prior to pheasant opening.

As others have said, woodturners are extremely helpful and accommodating people. Pick somebody and give them a call!

Dean

 

[Jon Klobofski]

Thank You Dean! I am going to try and attend both your clubs and Great Falls clubs events. If you want to hunt up here, let me know. The dog and I usually start pheasant hunting from the back door.