The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource

Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,674 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	If you could go back Nov 27^th, 2017 at 12:13pm QOTW: If you could go back to when you first started to turn what would you do different this time around?
Back to top	Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or IP Logged

Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender: Powermatic 3520C	Re: If you could go back Reply #1 - Nov 27^th, 2017 at 1:06pm Get larger lathe. Bought a Grizzly Reeves drive and wish i'd bought a Powermatic 3520. Would have pushed me to upgrade my shop power. Glenn J.
Back to top	Woodworking all my life. Turning since ~93 IP Logged

Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: If you could go back Reply #2 - Nov 27^th, 2017 at 1:33pm That's definitely on my list. I probably would've skipped to small/intermediate sized lathe as well. The same goes for chucks, I wish I have gone with Vicmarc from the beginning. As far as anything else, it's all part of the learning experience, if we could change it all, we may not be the turners we are now. JMO
Back to top	IP Logged

Ralph Fahringer

WR Addict

Offline

I'm the "Burly" Man!!

Posts: 1,629

Ellsworth
Maine
USA
Gender: male

PM3520b

Re: If you could go back
Reply #3 - Nov 27^th, 2017 at 2:04pm

I think i would started about 10 years earlier.

I really wish I had set it all up way long ago as it took so long for me to get just to this point. Almost 2 years of setting up the building and buying equipment, etc.

Now not sure how much longer the body is going to cooperate.

It has to tho.. I have waaay too many burls that need turning!!

Back to top

Originality is the art of concealing your source.

IP Logged

Steve Doerr WR Addict Offline Wood is one of God's hidden /> /> canvases. Posts: 837 Joplin Missouri USA Gender: Rikon 70-050VS Jet 1642 EVS 2HP Robust American Beauty	Re: If you could go back Reply #4 - Nov 28^th, 2017 at 9:41am I'm kind of like Ralph. Wish I would have started 10 years earlier. Of course, then I wouldn't have had the spare money that I do now to buy what I want.
Back to top	IP Logged

Ronald Black Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 102 Michigan Michigan USA Gender:	Re: If you could go back Reply #5 - Nov 28^th, 2017 at 11:17am Turned my first bowl in the late 50's in High School Wood shop with Mr. Chalmer Young. We did not have all the fancy stuff that is now available. The thing I would do differently is to say with it and keep turning and advancing with the technology.
Back to top	IP Logged

Glenn Roberts Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 413 Walworth, NY New York USA Gender:	Re: If you could go back Reply #6 - Nov 28^th, 2017 at 7:15pm Actually, I wouldn't change a thing. Sure I would like to work in a well organized shop, but making it work sure gives me something to look forward to. I enjoy that, and also learning how to do what the pros do and making something that somewhat resembles their stuff!
Back to top	The older I get, the better I was........ IP Logged

Tony Rozendaal WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 990 East Troy, WI Wisconsin USA Gender: Robust AB Grizzly 12x20 Midi Lathe Delta 10x16 Mini Lathe	Re: If you could go back Reply #7 - Nov 28^th, 2017 at 8:31pm I would have attended a symposium sooner. I still have attended only one, but will definitely attend more.
Back to top	Turnin' and learnin' Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or IP Logged

Grant Wilkinson WR Addict Offline Posts: 783 Ottawa Ontario Canada	Re: If you could go back Reply #8 - Nov 29^th, 2017 at 9:58am I would ignore about 90% of the "expert advice" that I read and watched on sharpening lathe gouges. I could have saved quite a bit of money and been no further behind than I am now.
Back to top	Grant Wilkinson Ottawa ON IP Logged

David Moeller

Senior Member

Offline

Old chiseler

Posts: 314

Linden
Michigan
USA
Gender: male

LAGUNA REVO 15X24
CONOVER 15 x Infinity
Long gone: Shopsmith, Myford ML8, Homebuilt bowl lathe, NOVA benchtop, Delta 46-715 and a Unimat.

Re: If you could go back
Reply #9 - Nov 29^th, 2017 at 11:40am

Ron Black, you & I are the same age and era. I wouldn't go back. We were only allowed to scrape except for roughing out with a gouge. Spur drive or faceplates only. No 4 jaw chucks. A coarse wheel high-speed grinder. Carbon steel. Varnish or BLO mix. Fine sanding w/steel wool. My mom's 4 brothers were wood craftsmen and would be stunned by what I have. BUT, that was the foundation for a lifetime of woodturning. Grin

Back to top

Everyone has 1 redeeming feature: they're biodegradable

IP Logged

Tom Coghill

WR Addict

Offline

Turning, when I am done
with my chores.

Posts: 1,128

The Villages
Florida
USA
Gender: male

Oneway 2436, 3 HP 220V, now with Stainless Ways

Re: If you could go back
Reply #10 - Nov 29^th, 2017 at 12:24pm

If I could go back I would have joined a local woodturning group sooner.... (maybe that is why I always harp about it to new members here..).

I worked alone trying to figure out after a short intro session with another very accomplished turner. He taught me a lot in one session, but without a series of classes I was left to develop bad habits and got frustrated. I eventually figured it all out, but that took years on my own.

So... If I could go back I would take more classes and stay more involved with a local club Thumbs Up

Back to top

« Last Edit: Nov 30^th, 2017 at 10:48am by Tom Coghill »

IP Logged

Ronald Black

Active Member

Offline

WR Rocks!

Posts: 102

Michigan
Michigan
USA
Gender: male

Re: If you could go back
Reply #11 - Nov 30^th, 2017 at 9:47am

David Moeller wrote on Nov 29^th, 2017 at 11:40am:

Ron Black, you & I are the same age and era. I wouldn't go back. We were only allowed to scrape except for roughing out with a gouge. Spur drive or faceplates only. No 4 jaw chucks. A coarse wheel high-speed grinder. Carbon steel. Varnish or BLO mix. Fine sanding w/steel wool. My mom's 4 brothers were wood craftsmen and would be stunned by what I have. BUT, that was the foundation for a lifetime of woodturning. Grin

So true! I still have the first bowl I turner and the wood filler in the screw holes is dried out.

Back to top

IP Logged

David Moeller Senior Member Offline Old chiseler Posts: 314 Linden Michigan USA Gender: LAGUNA REVO 15X24 CONOVER 15 x Infinity Long gone: Shopsmith, Myford ML8, Homebuilt bowl lathe, NOVA benchtop, Delta 46-715 and a Unimat.	Re: If you could go back Reply #12 - Nov 30^th, 2017 at 8:16pm 1st project was a mallet for my dad. (more like a fat gavel) Ash from our farm in the thumb. he saved it, used it, and it is hanging in my shop.
Back to top	Everyone has 1 redeeming feature: they're biodegradable IP Logged

Rick Caron Senior Member Offline So many logs, so little time! Posts: 456 Greer South Carolina USA Gender:	Re: If you could go back Reply #13 - Dec 2^nd, 2017 at 10:11pm I would have bought robust rests first. Now have 6 rests i never use.
Back to top	IP Logged