Steve Thompson

[Steve Thompson]

Hi All,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the administrators of this group for allowing me to join and participate.

I'm relatively new to woodturning. My wife and I took our first class in May of this year. I was hoping she'd enjoy it, and boy, howdy, did she! Since then, we've taken 3 other woodturning classes. I love that we both share a passion for woodturning. For both of us, it is soothing and relaxing.

To date, we've purchased our own midi-lathe, grinder, and sharpening system components for the grinder, as well as a decent arsenal of tools (more than I care to admit, although I'm certain just about everyone here has done the same). Early on in my woodturning evolution, I built a tool rack that can hold 36 tools (see picture - taken after it was made and attached to our shop wall). At the time, I thought there was no way I would ever fill it up. Ha, ha!! I've since filled it up, and I'm on overflow (the count of tools is somewhere around 40, as of this posting).

So far, we've made six bowls, two hollow forms, and several pens.

Both of us are very much in the beginner category. We are learning a great deal, and we are very eager to improve our skills. Making bowls is what we both enjoy the most.

We live in a rural area north of Columbus, OH (go Buckeyes!)

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum! This is a great place for beginners to learn, and I'd also suggest considering joining both the AAW and a chapter (there's at least one in Columbus, link below). Don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

Mark

Central Ohio Woodturners - Home

 

[Tom Gall]

As my tee-shirt proudly states ......"I'm only one tool away from greatness" (YOU too) !!!

 

[John K Jordan]

Steve,

Sounds wonderful, like you two might be having some fun. (Sounds like you might need to start shopping for a second lathe!)

I've been turning about 25 years and still love it.
My Lovely wife of 55 years really likes the things I make for the kitchen and house but I don't think she's even once stepped foot in the shop! She knows where it is since a few years back she walked down the hill, I think to see the llamas.

Have you joined a local turning club? That can be a tremendous resource: demos, discussions, mentoring.

Most clubs get outside pros to come on occasion and have a demonstration every month by turners from the club or from other clubs. That provides a HUGE variety of ideas for things to try at home!

I'm preparing now to do a demo in Sept on "handbell" ornaments, should be enough time for people to make them if they want for a Christmas charity for the local children's hospital:

JKJ

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Welcome to the forum. Don't let yourself be intimidated by the overload of pics JKJ just gave you. I will echo above sentiments and add we like pics.

 

[John K Jordan]

Welcome to the forum. Don't let yourself be intimidated by the overload of pics JKJ just gave you. I will echo above sentiments and add we like pics.

Oops, no intent to intimidate!! I removed the photo. The point was that club meetings and demos introduce lots of ideas and let you talk to people, and ask questions. When got my first (almost worthless) lathe all I had was the lathe manual. Learning about a local club changed everything.

I even got to talk to Richard Raffan once at a club meeting - a real treat, especially after reading his books and watching his videos. I learn something every time I watch someone at the lathe, whether at a meeting or a shop visit.

Demos at the woodturning symposiums are great too. I try to go to the one in TN and hope to drive over for the one in Greensboro NC in Nov. (Warning: these events make it way too easy to buy new tools and wood. But it's great to be able to meet and talk to the people who make the tools and see the wood in the hand instead of a picture on the internet)

Another thing I always do helped me a LOT - when I watch someone demonstrate I take notes and make sketches in notebook. I often look back through it and am reminded of great ideas I'd forgotten about.

JKJ

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Welcome, Steve. When I was starting out a couple of years ago, I found www.turnawoodbowl.com invaluable for learning the basics. Kent Weakley from Turn a Wood Bowl has dozens of articles and videos on his site, and most of those are also available on YouTube.

 

[Steve Thompson]

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum! This is a great place for beginners to learn, and I'd also suggest considering joining both the AAW and a chapter (there's at least one in Columbus, link below). Don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

Mark

Central Ohio Woodturners - Home

Thank you for the suggestion. We will definitely check it out.
Cheers,
Steve Thompson

 

[Steve Thompson]

Steve,

Sounds wonderful, like you two might be having some fun. (Sounds like you might need to start shopping for a second lathe!)

I've been turning about 25 years and still love it.
My Lovely wife of 55 years really likes the things I make for the kitchen and house but I don't think she's even once stepped foot in the shop! She knows where it is since a few years back she walked down the hill, I think to see the llamas.

Have you joined a local turning club? That can be a tremendous resource: demos, discussions, mentoring.

Most clubs get outside pros to come on occasion and have a demonstration every month by turners from the club or from other clubs. That provides a HUGE variety of ideas for things to try at home!

I'm preparing now to do a demo in Sept on these "handbell" ornaments, should be enough time for people to make them if they want for a Christmas charity for the local children's hospital:

View attachment 78942

JKJ

John,

Thank you for the suggestion. We are looking into some local clubs/chapters.

Love the idea of handbells. Just being a beginner that may be a little ambitious for me, but I’m anxious to try anyway.

Cheers,
Steve Thompson

 

[Steve Thompson]

Welcome, Steve. When I was starting out a couple of years ago, I found www.turnawoodbowl.com invaluable for learning the basics. Kent Weakley from Turn a Wood Bowl has dozens of articles and videos on his site, and most of those are also available on YouTube.

Thanks for the recommendation. I already landed on Kent’s site and YouTube pages. He explains this very clearly and thoroughly.

Cheers,
Steve Thompson

 

[John K Jordan]

Love the idea of handbells. Just being a beginner that may be a little ambitious for me, but I’m anxious to try anyway.

Road trip!?

The demo is in Knoxville on Sept 16th in the Woodcraft training/classroom.
It's actually pretty easy to do the bell - the handle is the finicky part!

But this time I'll be showing several simpler variations, one which is just the bell without the handle - easier and quicker to make and stll makes a nice ornament.

Don't have to be an expert in hollowing - I hollow the bells with a parting tool, easy since it's end grain. Turn the outside with a spindle gouge or other tool. Depending on the wood, easy to sand and finish too. Can do the whole project with a chuck, parting tool, gouge, drill bit (and sandpaper).

I try to bring enough wood blanks cut to size for anyone who wants to go home and try one right away. The last time I did this demo at a club at least a dozen people brought back bells they made!

BTW, I love doing demos but they can be a little stressful. What if I forget to bring something? What if I mess up and make a disaster? What if my ADHD sends me down a rabbit hole and I don't finish in time?



JKJ

 

[Steve Thompson]

Road trip!?

The demo is in Knoxville on Sept 16th in the Woodcraft training/classroom.
It's actually pretty easy to do the bell - the handle is the finicky part!

But this time I'll be showing several simpler variations, one which is just the bell without the handle - easier and quicker to make and stll makes a nice ornament.

Don't have to be an expert in hollowing - I hollow the bells with a parting tool, easy since it's end grain. Turn the outside with a spindle gouge or other tool. Depending on the wood, easy to sand and finish too. Can do the whole project with a chuck, parting tool, gouge, drill bit (and sandpaper).

I try to bring enough wood blanks cut to size for anyone who wants to go home and try one right away. The last time I did this demo at a club at least a dozen people brought back bells they made!

BTW, I love doing demos but they can be a little stressful. What if I forget to bring something? What if I mess up and make a disaster? What if my ADHD sends me down a rabbit hole and I don't finish in time?

View attachment 79018

JKJ

John,

We love Knoxville, but that’s a little too far for us to travel to. Looking forward to following you and learning as much as we can from your experience.

Cheers,
Steve Thompson

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

Hi All,

First and foremost, I would like to thank the administrators of this group for allowing me to join and participate.

I'm relatively new to woodturning. My wife and I took our first class in May of this year. I was hoping she'd enjoy it, and boy, howdy, did she! Since then, we've taken 3 other woodturning classes. I love that we both share a passion for woodturning. For both of us, it is soothing and relaxing.

To date, we've purchased our own midi-lathe, grinder, and sharpening system components for the grinder, as well as a decent arsenal of tools (more than I care to admit, although I'm certain just about everyone here has done the same). Early on in my woodturning evolution, I built a tool rack that can hold 36 tools (see picture - taken after it was made and attached to our shop wall). At the time, I thought there was no way I would ever fill it up. Ha, ha!! I've since filled it up, and I'm on overflow (the count of tools is somewhere around 40, as of this posting).

So far, we've made six bowls, two hollow forms, and several pens.

Both of us are very much in the beginner category. We are learning a great deal, and we are very eager to improve our skills. Making bowls is what we both enjoy the most.

We live in a rural area north of Columbus, OH (go Buckeyes!)

Cheers,
Steve

Welcome Steve from down here in Southwest Ohio.

 

[John K Jordan]

John,

We love Knoxville, but that’s a little too far for us to travel to. Looking forward to following you and learning as much as we can from your experience.

The SMWTS meetings are every month (except Dec) on the 3rd Tuesday. If you make it down this way sometime, maybe stop in and visit (pet a llama or a peacock, dig a hole with the excavator?) - we are right off I-75 north of Knoxville.

And maybe come visit the shop. Are you comfortable with the skew? That's how I start all beginners and those with experience but would still like a lesson! It's kind of expensive though - my fee is a good story or a good joke.

These two friends had never even seen a lathe. We worked on spindles in the morning and bowls in the afternoon - both made
things to take home.



JKJ