odie
TOTW Team
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My given name is Kelly Odell, but my friends call me "odie", and I've been selling my turned bowls and platters online for the past few years, under the name of "eccentric old guy".
I have a great passion for turning. Originally, I bought some shop tools at an estate sale around 1975.....table saw (which I still have, rebuilt), band saw, jointer, drill press, 4x36 belt sander, and a few misc other tools. A couple years later, I bought a 1950's Shopsmith at a garage sale.....but didn't use the lathe function until 1982.....hook, line and sinker! From about 1975, to 1985 I was making wooden toys under the name Beaver Dam. I probably could have made a go of it, because the toys were selling at a few retail outlets......but, from the moment I began turning, my interests drastically changed! Well, you know how that goes!
Anyway, the Shopsmith was a PITA to work with, so I bought a Northwood lathe around 1985 +/-.....Northwood was one of those come-and-go outfits that went out of business. The lathe had a Reeves drive (never again!), In 1992, I bought an Australian Woodfast lathe, which I feel is an excellent lathe, and I still have it.....and use it extensively. A big mistake was buying The Woodfast lathe with a 5-speed pulley.......I changed belts positions for a dozen years, before I finally wised up and purchased a VFD.......what a difference that made! I would like to upgrade to another lathe eventually......one with a little bigger capacity, and either sliding or pivoting headstock......but, I don't feel a new lathe will make me a better turner.....since the Woodfast is such a great lathe.
Although, I am now 68 years old, I still have one son who is a senior in HS, and another 24yr old son who is moving to Oregon, as I type.
This is Kendahl:
Ken is "on again, off again" learning to turn bowls.
To be continued......maybe!
I have a great passion for turning. Originally, I bought some shop tools at an estate sale around 1975.....table saw (which I still have, rebuilt), band saw, jointer, drill press, 4x36 belt sander, and a few misc other tools. A couple years later, I bought a 1950's Shopsmith at a garage sale.....but didn't use the lathe function until 1982.....hook, line and sinker! From about 1975, to 1985 I was making wooden toys under the name Beaver Dam. I probably could have made a go of it, because the toys were selling at a few retail outlets......but, from the moment I began turning, my interests drastically changed! Well, you know how that goes!
Anyway, the Shopsmith was a PITA to work with, so I bought a Northwood lathe around 1985 +/-.....Northwood was one of those come-and-go outfits that went out of business. The lathe had a Reeves drive (never again!), In 1992, I bought an Australian Woodfast lathe, which I feel is an excellent lathe, and I still have it.....and use it extensively. A big mistake was buying The Woodfast lathe with a 5-speed pulley.......I changed belts positions for a dozen years, before I finally wised up and purchased a VFD.......what a difference that made! I would like to upgrade to another lathe eventually......one with a little bigger capacity, and either sliding or pivoting headstock......but, I don't feel a new lathe will make me a better turner.....since the Woodfast is such a great lathe.
Although, I am now 68 years old, I still have one son who is a senior in HS, and another 24yr old son who is moving to Oregon, as I type.
This is Kendahl:
Ken is "on again, off again" learning to turn bowls.
To be continued......maybe!
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