Fundamentals Topics

Talk about hardware-- Different drives, types of tool rests, Hollow quills, chucks, faceplates, spurs, woodworms etc., giving the goods and bads about them all. For instance I hated my reeves drive when I used regular belts. It chewed them up and spit them out. With a link belt the lathe has hummed quietly along for months.

Or take them through the steps from a log to a bowl, with emphasis on why you do what and what the alternatives are.

Wood. That's fundamental. Get the free information from the FPL site, some cupped and warped 2X lumber at the Borg to show them how wood moves just like the included diagrams in drying, depending on where it came from in the log.

Take some firewood chunks and show them what happens when the bark's on, remind them what happens with it off, and show them those radial checks the last rain storm closed up that are now waiting to ruin their day. While you're at it, discuss the more rapid drying rate of end versus face grain. Both ends of your firewood chunk are examples.

Then show a couple of bowl blanks that are dry or drying. Have your tape there to show how the tale of the 2X is repeated, take the rate of shrink and compare it to the old 10% rule, then to the anticipated average shrinkage in the FPL tables and remind them that the inverse square rule applies to a molecule of water attempting to leave a piece of wood, too, so thinner is a winning way to go.

Be prepared for soakers and coaters and other naysayers. Cut a 1/2" thick piece off the end of one of those cupped Borg boards and submerge it at the beginning of the half hour. Use it at the end to show what soaking does.

Well one topic that I have not seen suggested is safety and safety equipment and how important that is.

How about efficient cleaning of underwear after a catch?

Have you ever done a demo on your mini turning? Most turners, new and experienced, would enjoy that and maybe decide to try a few...

Mac

Hi Chuck,

You might want to consider warning about 'turning fundamentals' that don't work. ex:

You could call your program "Negative Fundamentals" or "A half hour of Novice Blunders", then ask Old Timers to add _their recent blunders. On second thought, these 'fundamentals' are not gentle and much too dangerous for you to demonstrate. Maybe we should all just list ours here, instead. :)

Whatever topic you choose, we know your presentation will be useful as well as entertaining for all.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Getting head too close to bowl to 'hear what the wood is saying' and realizing too late that it is saying "I'm about to shatter and ruin your whole day."

Makes that first few seconds real exciting.. *g* Mac

Thanks all, for the suggestions. I have had several people suggest the safety lecture. Dead boring, but probably a good idea. I've no doubt that some of these ideas will show up in future Fundamentals sessions. Particularly the dangers of turning on your lathe with a 40 lb blank on it at 3000 RPM because the last thing you were doing was making pens.....Mac. ; )

no, Chuck.. you're the one that turns pens at 2,500... I'm usually at 1,100 or so...

As to safety... the guy that did the skew demo at our last meeting was showing the advantage of rounding back the point and heel by CAUSING catches with different grinds... Scared the hell out of me, but he's a retired shop teacher and I checked.. he has all of his fingers.. Mac