Hello folks!
My turning journey began in 2020. During lockdown, we were going down several YouTube wormholes, and I stumbled on woodturning (specifically, epoxy stuff at first). After watching this for six months, I wondered, "Hmm, is turning as zen to do as it is to watch?" So on a whim, I went and got the trusty but oft-maligned old Harbor Freight 12x36 to learn on, and some basic tools. I discovered that it was indeed cathartic and lovely. I learned some stuff on the HF, but then my ambitions started to outweigh the lathe's abilities, so I upgraded to a Laguna 15|24. I have dabbled in epoxy, using it as filler, and doing a few epoxy-centric pieces. I am an unorthodox turner, in that I have never been able to successfully master the bowl gouge - be it using it or sharpening it (I have a Wolverine jig, and a low-speed grinder with a CBN wheel, but I can never get the profile right). I have some nice carbide tools, and I do the bulk of the rough work and shaping with those. Then, I turn to my two favorite tools, both are round-end inside scrapers, one a 3/4" and the other 1-1/4". I can get those as sharp as a razor on my disc sander and for some reason am able to control them much more naturally. The local mentoring sitch is very thin indeed, unfortunately. There is a Woodcraft right near me, but not much in terms of classes or mentorship.
Anyway, I'm 60, I live in the Tampa Bay area (for now, relcating to Asheville NC area in the next year) and my previous wood experience is more carpentry. One of the pictures below is my first piece of furniture, an entertainment center (on which sits many of my bowls) that I built from 2x6s, milled flat and straight, glued up. But my real avocation is music. I'm a jazz musician and composer. I play drums, bass, keyboard, and guitar. I'm currently working on my 5th jazz album and a Christmas album. Studio pic also enclosed.
From what I've seen here so far, there is an immense skill set among you, and I look forward to learning a lot!
My turning journey began in 2020. During lockdown, we were going down several YouTube wormholes, and I stumbled on woodturning (specifically, epoxy stuff at first). After watching this for six months, I wondered, "Hmm, is turning as zen to do as it is to watch?" So on a whim, I went and got the trusty but oft-maligned old Harbor Freight 12x36 to learn on, and some basic tools. I discovered that it was indeed cathartic and lovely. I learned some stuff on the HF, but then my ambitions started to outweigh the lathe's abilities, so I upgraded to a Laguna 15|24. I have dabbled in epoxy, using it as filler, and doing a few epoxy-centric pieces. I am an unorthodox turner, in that I have never been able to successfully master the bowl gouge - be it using it or sharpening it (I have a Wolverine jig, and a low-speed grinder with a CBN wheel, but I can never get the profile right). I have some nice carbide tools, and I do the bulk of the rough work and shaping with those. Then, I turn to my two favorite tools, both are round-end inside scrapers, one a 3/4" and the other 1-1/4". I can get those as sharp as a razor on my disc sander and for some reason am able to control them much more naturally. The local mentoring sitch is very thin indeed, unfortunately. There is a Woodcraft right near me, but not much in terms of classes or mentorship.
Anyway, I'm 60, I live in the Tampa Bay area (for now, relcating to Asheville NC area in the next year) and my previous wood experience is more carpentry. One of the pictures below is my first piece of furniture, an entertainment center (on which sits many of my bowls) that I built from 2x6s, milled flat and straight, glued up. But my real avocation is music. I'm a jazz musician and composer. I play drums, bass, keyboard, and guitar. I'm currently working on my 5th jazz album and a Christmas album. Studio pic also enclosed.
From what I've seen here so far, there is an immense skill set among you, and I look forward to learning a lot!
