struggling!

[Seamus]

Finding turning a little frustrating, but guess I need to stick at it. Bought Tom's bowl making DVD and hope to learn a lot from from it.

[thintz]

Have faith! Turning goes from frustrating to outright addicting in short order. It takes some practice but even that is fun so just take your time and keep playing!

[wfahey]

Seamus

Have you turned pens or bottle stoppers? If not, you may find that easier to learn and then move up to peppermills or bowls. Pens are like potato chips, you can't stop at just one and the more you turn the easier it becomes. They also make great gifts and once someone finds out you took the time to actually make them something by hand they really appreciate it.

I have even gone so far as to let the Mrs and my mother take a turn at the lathe. They both loved it. But then my mother felt compelled to clean the whole shop but that is another story.

[Seamus]

Bill,
No I have never tried pens or bottle stoppers, but wouldn't mind having a go, just don't know where to start. I tried a waxed few bowl blanks that woodcraft gave me when I bought most of my equipment, but I just turned purple from the dark wood, snagged the bowl, which launched off the chuck and cracked on the floor into two pieces! I will stick with it though...

My eldest son Jack does a fair bit on the lathe and has helped me, he turns the handles for Hawaiian slings from offcuts I have lying around for his spear fishing.

I think when I do a specific project that really requires some decent turning, I will get into it more.

I should have my burr oak tables finished this week, I am reasonably pleased with the turned legs, although they are very basic, they are a little uneven in places. But I had to stop and leave them or they would have ended up pencil thin!

[wfahey]

You may already know this but if you purchase one of Woodcraft's pens, you can look that pen up on their website and it has downloadable instructions for completing that pen. It will show you how to cut the blank, insert the tubes and prepare the mandrel. It even has the final assembly spelled out. I attached a pdf of one of their instruction sheets to give you an idea. It is a free download so I don't think I am violating any laws here. OK, file is too large. Here is a link. http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2004...e-Pen-Kit.aspx

[Seamus]

Thanks Bill, I didn't know but will definitely look into it. I have a pretty good relationship with the Pompano woodcraft, they supplied 90% of everything I have in one hit and actually offer turning classes. I was seriously considering this so I can get out of shopping next time we are in the Miami area!

[wfahey]

I took a pen turning class with Woodcraft. It is worth every penny.

[Seamus]

OK good enough for me, done deal. Next time I am in South Florida that is what I shall do, certainly better than being dragged around every shopping mall in Miami for a week!

[Seamus]

I have been working on my turning and starting to enjoy it s little more, still working on spindles before I waste anymore wood on bowls! Have just made a "nest" of oak tables and turned the legs, they are really simple but work with the highly figured wood. I was hoping to post the finished article today, but made an error in finishing by using two different cans of the same product, which turned out to be totally different in color; Lesson learned!