Hello all,
I typically don't lurk so long before joining a forum but have been checking out and enjoying this forum for several years now.
As an introduction, I am a retired active duty Coast Guard/Navy Chief Warrant Officer (4 years Navy & 29 years CG) who is still employed by the Coast Guard in a civilian capacity in Houston, TX. I retired in 2008 in D.C. to take a CG civilian job there. In 2012, I was offered a CG job in Houston (had been stationed here from 1996-2000 while still active) and, with a CG active duty son and grandson here (two grandsons now), my wife was NOT going to let me turn it down.
Initially, we lived in the suburbs but after some starts-and-stops with buying and selling undeveloped acreage, we ended up finding a home on 7.5 acres in Alvin, TX (home of Nolan Ryan). About 5 acres is currently mowed and it truly looks like a park setting with Live Oaks, Water Oaks and Pecans (plus too damn many Chinese Tallows and Hackberry). The rest is thick woods/brush bordering the property. My wife and I never thought we would want to mow 5 acres of grass but it is so nice looking we have kept it that way. PRO TIP: Bought my wife a Kubota Zero Turn mower and a set of Bose sound cancelling headphones for her iPhone and she "happily" mows all of it while I am at work!
The property already had a 20 year old 30x50 steel building on it that I am currently converting to a wood shop. I just recently had 400 amp metered service ran to the building and I am in the process of putting up 3/4" tongue and groove walls, running electrical for lighting and outlets, etc. I also decided that if I wanted to enjoy my shop during the hot, humid Houston summers I would need A/C and just had that installed this week. I am doing all of the work myself with the exception of the service wiring to the building and the A/C.
I have woodworked all my life but have never owned a lathe. I have turned on other folk's lathes and have really enjoyed it but had never gotten around to buying one until now. I went all in and just received my Robust American Beauty. The primary reason that I jumped in with both feet on the lathe is because, first, I wanted to buy my "last lathe first" and, second, my son is a very good wood worker and has turned for many years. This is a future Christmas present for him...hopefully not for several decades though! He has one tour left before he can retire from the Coast Guard and we hope to start a small business which is what actually triggered all of the work on the building and the purchase/upgrade of my woodworking equipment.
Other interests include craft beer (was a home brewer for 20 years), riding bicycles, and building bike wheels. I look forward to learning all I can from the folks on this forum and, hopefully, one day I will have advanced enough in this craft to help others. Thanks all!
I typically don't lurk so long before joining a forum but have been checking out and enjoying this forum for several years now.
As an introduction, I am a retired active duty Coast Guard/Navy Chief Warrant Officer (4 years Navy & 29 years CG) who is still employed by the Coast Guard in a civilian capacity in Houston, TX. I retired in 2008 in D.C. to take a CG civilian job there. In 2012, I was offered a CG job in Houston (had been stationed here from 1996-2000 while still active) and, with a CG active duty son and grandson here (two grandsons now), my wife was NOT going to let me turn it down.
Initially, we lived in the suburbs but after some starts-and-stops with buying and selling undeveloped acreage, we ended up finding a home on 7.5 acres in Alvin, TX (home of Nolan Ryan). About 5 acres is currently mowed and it truly looks like a park setting with Live Oaks, Water Oaks and Pecans (plus too damn many Chinese Tallows and Hackberry). The rest is thick woods/brush bordering the property. My wife and I never thought we would want to mow 5 acres of grass but it is so nice looking we have kept it that way. PRO TIP: Bought my wife a Kubota Zero Turn mower and a set of Bose sound cancelling headphones for her iPhone and she "happily" mows all of it while I am at work!
The property already had a 20 year old 30x50 steel building on it that I am currently converting to a wood shop. I just recently had 400 amp metered service ran to the building and I am in the process of putting up 3/4" tongue and groove walls, running electrical for lighting and outlets, etc. I also decided that if I wanted to enjoy my shop during the hot, humid Houston summers I would need A/C and just had that installed this week. I am doing all of the work myself with the exception of the service wiring to the building and the A/C.
I have woodworked all my life but have never owned a lathe. I have turned on other folk's lathes and have really enjoyed it but had never gotten around to buying one until now. I went all in and just received my Robust American Beauty. The primary reason that I jumped in with both feet on the lathe is because, first, I wanted to buy my "last lathe first" and, second, my son is a very good wood worker and has turned for many years. This is a future Christmas present for him...hopefully not for several decades though! He has one tour left before he can retire from the Coast Guard and we hope to start a small business which is what actually triggered all of the work on the building and the purchase/upgrade of my woodworking equipment.
Other interests include craft beer (was a home brewer for 20 years), riding bicycles, and building bike wheels. I look forward to learning all I can from the folks on this forum and, hopefully, one day I will have advanced enough in this craft to help others. Thanks all!
) lathe first. Where did you buy your Stihl at?