Looking for a mentor for my nephew in Virginia

[Dave Kartzman]

Good evening...

I introduced my nephew to woodturning last Thanksgiving, and he really enjoyed it. He is 14 and has been looking at videos out on youtube for the last year, as well as taking a beginning lesson in woodturning at Woodcraft at the beginning of this month (where his instructor said he did a great job and paid attention very well). His parents are going to be getting him a lathe for Christmas, and I supplied some beginning tools, facemask, and other things to get him started.

I am 8 hours away from him (Barbourville, VA), so it is impractical for me to mentor him. Does anyone know an experienced woodturner who might be interested in mentoring an enthusiastic budding young woodturner?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Dave

 

[Rob Wallace]

Find a local AAW chapter near him.......

Dave:

Have a look at the following link to the AAW's Local Chapter Finder:

http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/LocalChapters.asp

Type-in 'Virginia' and have a look at what chapter(s) might be closest to him and make the connection with the local club(s) so he can find a more local mentor and join the chapter (or chapters?) closest to him. Maybe even take him to one of the meetings of the chapter as guests and explain the situation. This probably would be the best way to find woodturning resources that would be able to coach his development as a new woodturner (in addition to his uncle, of course - you should maintain a mentor relationship with him as well.....he'll want to still be able to show you how he is progressing and what he is learning!)

It sounds like he's already off to a good start! Keep cultivating that woodturning flame!

Rob Wallace

 

[Roger Chandler]

Help is closer than you think!

Good evening...

I introduced my nephew to woodturning last Thanksgiving, and he really enjoyed it. He is 14 and has been looking at videos out on youtube for the last year, as well as taking a beginning lesson in woodturning at Woodcraft at the beginning of this month (where his instructor said he did a great job and paid attention very well). His parents are going to be getting him a lathe for Christmas, and I supplied some beginning tools, facemask, and other things to get him started.

I am 8 hours away from him (Barbourville, VA), so it is impractical for me to mentor him. Does anyone know an experienced woodturner who might be interested in mentoring an enthusiastic budding young woodturner?

Thanks a lot in advance.


Dave

Dave............I am a member of two clubs here in Virginia. One is the Central Virginia Woodturners, and from what it looks like on Mapquest, Barboursville is near Charlottesville. We have members who drive to the monthly meeting from Charlottesville, and our club has a newly opened mentoring room and is being equipped with 6 lathes and many other accessories. We would probably have willing members to take your nephew under their wing and help him and he could not only learn, but be in a great club with a lot of talented turners....some professional, like Barbara Dill, Fred Williamson and others.

Send me a pm with his contact information, and I will be glad to pass it along to club officers........I think it would be great for him!