Greetings!
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Alex. I have been a woodworker - sometimes for a living, always as a hobby - most of my life (in my 6th decade now), but I am relatively new to turning. I picked up an old Delta HD lathe in early 2020, and after refurbishing it, I was ready to start turning toward the end of that year. Although my original intention was to turn bowls - and there is no shortage of raw material for that near me - I have become fascinated with spindle turning.
I have no one around me to mentor me, so I have been relying on the University of YouTube, making lots of mistakes, but usually making progress in the end. (Patience is indeed a virtue.) My first project was turning a bunch of mahogany legs for a series of mid-century style elliptical tables that I made. They were simply tapered cylinders made from glued-up blanks, and were a good place to start the turning journey. Next, I practiced with the skew. Again, and again. Planing. Cutting v-grooves and beads. And then some more. I didn't even pick up a spindle gouge for the better part of a year. Then I spent many frustrating weeks getting catches with the gouge, until all of a sudden I didn't. So then it was on to spinning tops, cove and bead sticks, and whatever other odd forms I tried to practice on.
I needed to replace some balusters in a 1915 house in Brooklyn, NY, so that was another project. After being so ham-fisted in my early attempts at turning, it was a wonderful feeling to complete these and see them in place on the balustrade. (The original is at the bottom.)
Currently, I am attempting to turn two Staunton chess sets as Christmas presents for my sons. That will no doubt be the subject of its own thread.
This relative newcomer is looking forward to learning from all the veterans here!
Alex (who has yet to pick up a bowl gouge)
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Alex. I have been a woodworker - sometimes for a living, always as a hobby - most of my life (in my 6th decade now), but I am relatively new to turning. I picked up an old Delta HD lathe in early 2020, and after refurbishing it, I was ready to start turning toward the end of that year. Although my original intention was to turn bowls - and there is no shortage of raw material for that near me - I have become fascinated with spindle turning.
I have no one around me to mentor me, so I have been relying on the University of YouTube, making lots of mistakes, but usually making progress in the end. (Patience is indeed a virtue.) My first project was turning a bunch of mahogany legs for a series of mid-century style elliptical tables that I made. They were simply tapered cylinders made from glued-up blanks, and were a good place to start the turning journey. Next, I practiced with the skew. Again, and again. Planing. Cutting v-grooves and beads. And then some more. I didn't even pick up a spindle gouge for the better part of a year. Then I spent many frustrating weeks getting catches with the gouge, until all of a sudden I didn't. So then it was on to spinning tops, cove and bead sticks, and whatever other odd forms I tried to practice on.
I needed to replace some balusters in a 1915 house in Brooklyn, NY, so that was another project. After being so ham-fisted in my early attempts at turning, it was a wonderful feeling to complete these and see them in place on the balustrade. (The original is at the bottom.)
Currently, I am attempting to turn two Staunton chess sets as Christmas presents for my sons. That will no doubt be the subject of its own thread.
This relative newcomer is looking forward to learning from all the veterans here!
Alex (who has yet to pick up a bowl gouge)
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These are a few of my favorite things...
