Hello All...
Longtime lurker here and just joined AAW last week. I just wanted to say that this site has been a great resource for a new turner. I've learned a great deal here and am looking forward to learning more.
Mark
Welcome Mark......
Since you've been on these forums for some time, you are undoubtedly aware of my input, as well. I can be very controversial, at times......and, at other times, I'm very much a traditionalist, in a sense that, in some things, I have more in common with the majority of turners fifty years ago, than I do with the majority of current turners. When I refer to current thought, the word I use to describe it is "herd". It's my opinion that "herd think" sometimes stifles creativity.
I don't know what your intentions on a lathe are, but I am strictly a bowl/platter turner. If you intend to make some bowls, zero in on learning everything their is to know about a deep flute bowl gouge......it is the heart and soul of bowl turning, and there are literally hundreds of ways to grind, sharpen, and use them. My personal advice is to stay away from carbide tools, such as the Easywood tools. Learn to sharpen traditional lathe tools, and know when and how to keep them sharp.
Remember that results are the only thing that matters. Everything else is secondary to that. Learning to make the "journey" is fine, but it's easy to get hung-up and stagnated with following the herd on that journey......and you'll find that the herd never seems to reach the destination. A few turners do, and these are generally those who set their goals high and are willing to break free, and find their own ways of reaching their goals.
I see that you've joined a club. I've got mixed feelings about that. Some good, some not so good. You'll learn quickly with some face to face hands on help, but you'll also be getting information that you may reject later. The thing to remember is when you are alone in your shop in front of your lathe, YOU are in control. Some things you will not be taught, they will only be learned by experience + time.
You'll find many turners have videos on the internet. Some are good, some not so good, and some are downright destructive to the learning process, safety, and health......and, will cause unsuspecting newbie turners to have problems they wouldn't have had otherwise. It's my feeling that some of these free videos are nothing more than a means to self-aggrandizement by those who make them. I can easily say that because I don't have any videos, and have no intentions to make them, or to teach. My advice on learning from videos, is to BUY a few of them, and forget about all the free advice until later. The commercial videos are the best way to get advice of that type.
I have learned and altered my turning methods by the input I've received in these forums. They are a great resource for thought, but.....again......remember that YOU are in control. YOUR goals are the important thing, and it's easy to not realize that the goals you have may not be the same as someone who gives advice.......(and, that includes me!
) One very important thing is to check on the results of those who give advice. There are plenty who give advice, but you have to look hard to see what THEIR results are.....sometimes you never do get to see what they are capable of doing on a lathe........
Good luck..........
ooc
