Hi, my name is Kevin and I haven't turned anything in 5 days and I think I am going through withdrawl...oh wait, wrong forum! I live in Portland, Oregon and my turning adventure began just three months ago. I was outfitting my garage turned shop with some woodworking tools and decided for a yet unknown reason to type "lathe" into the search bar of my offer up app. Up popped a just listed Excelsior mini lathe with a set of Sorby spindle tools, some pen kits and a bunch of little accessories. For $150, I couldnt pass it up! I brought it home and put it on the shelf until I finished building my workbench / now lathe stand. I finally got it all set up about a month later. First I turned a couple of "magic" wands for my Harry Potter fan kids. Then, a bowl our of an old chunk of maple that I've had forever (made a lot of mistakes on that one!) Then, I acquired a pile of wood from a fellow on the Oregon Coast and turned another bowl out of that. Then, a lidded box. Then another bowl...and holy smokes, I read that it is a slippery slope, but I've tumbled over a cliff! Two months of turning under my belt and I've already passed the Excelsior on to my father in law and stepped up to a Nova 16-24 and I can't stop looking for the next one! Honestly though, I am happy with the Nova. I seems like it will last me as long as I want it to. Besides, the eventual upgrade to a 3520, AB, or Oneway will be more justifiable than if I had just purchased a $2700 lathe 
i have been re-aranging my shop since Saturday to make it more turning friendly and am just about ready to start making shavings again. Here's a pic of it currently (notice the flat-wood tools all shoved into the corner):
I am an electrician by trade, but have been working in more of an office role for the past year, so I think part of my attraction to turning is being back to working with my hands. I have been reading loads on this forum and also just joined the NW Woodturners and have been learning a ton from their site as well. I look forward to being a part of the community surrounding this affliction moving forward and hope to someday contribute more than prose. Here's some pics of my progress so far:
i have been re-aranging my shop since Saturday to make it more turning friendly and am just about ready to start making shavings again. Here's a pic of it currently (notice the flat-wood tools all shoved into the corner):I am an electrician by trade, but have been working in more of an office role for the past year, so I think part of my attraction to turning is being back to working with my hands. I have been reading loads on this forum and also just joined the NW Woodturners and have been learning a ton from their site as well. I look forward to being a part of the community surrounding this affliction moving forward and hope to someday contribute more than prose. Here's some pics of my progress so far:
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