john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
It's hard to describe what Woodturning has meant to me. I was at a low point in life mentally and financially. I had a Shopsmith but couldn't afford wood. I mostly built jewelry boxes out of wood from pallets. Back in those days if you went to your local.japanese motorcycle.dealer you could get pallets made of mahagony, curly maple and other fun woods. All small of course so that rules out building furniture which I enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to make friends with Joe Looper who worked at the Appalachian center for craft as a maintenance man but had a turning studio in their woodshop area. Joe turned nothing but green wood on a massive lathe. It was 5hp with 54" swing. Joe had a wall full of tools that were 6 to 8 feet long. Green wood turning was new to.me and was absolutely perfect for that time.in my life. I lived in the woods so the wood was free. I didn't have a chainsaw so I cut the logs.with a.bow saw and used an axe and hatchet to get them on the lathe. Shortly after that I learned about the Tennessee Association of woodturners and the AAW. What a life changing experience. Everyone was so helpful and sharing. Turning was the perfect fit for me. I worked 50,60 hours a week which left little time for wood working. Turning was different. I could go to the shop and just make a wine stopper. A quick inexpensive project that made a great gift. Then a.friend gave.me a truck load of end cuts off of hardwoods that were too small. To.run through a planer. What do you make with that. Again wood turning came to the rescue. I started making hand mirrors and ornaments and just about anything that could be glued together to get the proper size.
Then the internet came along. I found a place called rec.crafts.woodturning. you could learn a little but it was a nasty place with lots of people wanting to bad mouth you. Shortly after that woodcentral and the AAW came along. What a change. Friendly wonderful helpful people. Ive learned so much and had so much fun. I finally reached a point where I could afford to go to a few symposiums and actually meet some of those people. If there is one thing I have learned from this, it is, the more you give the more you get out of it. So i urge you to jump in. Volunteer to help another turner, help out at your local club. if you get to attend a symposium volunteer to help out any way you can. I guarantee it will pay you back. Well that was a long way to say I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. May your turning improve and your tools.stay sharp.
Then the internet came along. I found a place called rec.crafts.woodturning. you could learn a little but it was a nasty place with lots of people wanting to bad mouth you. Shortly after that woodcentral and the AAW came along. What a change. Friendly wonderful helpful people. Ive learned so much and had so much fun. I finally reached a point where I could afford to go to a few symposiums and actually meet some of those people. If there is one thing I have learned from this, it is, the more you give the more you get out of it. So i urge you to jump in. Volunteer to help another turner, help out at your local club. if you get to attend a symposium volunteer to help out any way you can. I guarantee it will pay you back. Well that was a long way to say I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. May your turning improve and your tools.stay sharp.