Musing about professional woodturners.

Glad you made it through the ordeal. Glad to have you back. Missed you and your observations.

Could be that professionals in other fields are better paid than woodturners and don't want competition for their dollar.

Arch,

I think you hit the nail on the head. Professionals of all stripes tend to share with those in their discipline. As an engineer, the people in my professional association work well together. We also work with engineering students to encourage their participation and success as engineers. I suspect medical professionals collaborate, as well as others within their disciplines.

Maybe what makes any crafts-based discipline different than degree- based disciplines is that our roots in the crafts means that many professionals started as hobbyists and enthusiasts. We represent the educational base for our discipline. We do not have any professional programs for woodturners. The closest we have are woodworking programs and arts/design programs. Both may touch on woodturning, but neither focus on it.

Joe Fleming, San Diego

In message , Arch writes

Nice to see you back Arch, I wonder if you got to "convert" any of these so-called "Professionals" :) Maybe you taught them the ins and outs of wood toxicity etc. :)

So you were "Lying" whilst in bed. "Honest Nurse I am only 21"

As a Veterinary friend of mine pointed out some time back it is the "Practice of Medicine" :)

Maybe because they are too busy "Practising" they loose site of the ability to enjoy the journey that most engineers still have.

For an engineer. There is a problem that can usually be defined to a lesser or greater extent. Once defined, there are often a selection of solutions depending on available tools.

For a Medical practitioner. They sometimes identify the problem, but more often a part of it, end even less often the cause, and without knowing the cause it can often be difficult to identify the correct fix, hence, in some ways each patient is an experiment in finding a specific cure.

As to turning while using a walker, modify the walker to be your tool rest :)

Well, Arch, glad you're still on the proper side of the grass..

After your experience, I'm sure you can appreciate this:

What's the difference between God and a doctor? God never thought he was a doctor...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

I see valid points there, Joe, but a big difference..

In my experience, (I guess I'm a professional turner), most trades are very guarded and secretive about what they know and what they'll share with the "competition".. Turners seem eager to share their techniques, tips, etc. with others.. As you said, maybe it's because we started out at hobby folks..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Arch, Good to have you back. I was wondering why we hadn't heard from you for a while. Hope the mending goes well for you.

As far as the medical profession goes, I guess it is like all things and the people involved. We are all different. I have had some doctors who are cold and distant, and some who are warm and friendly. Smaller organizations tend to be more friendly. The big hospital less so. Thus far, I haven't had to experience too much of the big stuff yet, but old age is catching up with me.

robo hippy

So any one who doesn't like my prices should take a long hard look at why an item is priced the way it is and not assume that the maker is deliberately trying to undercut a professional. The only reason I sell is to get rid of stuff that would otherwise just pile up in the workshop or my home. Sure I could run around all over hell's half acre donating to charity or other "worthy" causes but that just results in a drain on my limited income. I have seen prices fetched by others at charity auctions and they are below what is sold by me. So if a "professional" feels I am in some way restricting his/ her ability to make money then all I can suggest is come and put your item next to mine and price equally and if you are a "professional" and your work is of professional quality then you will out sell me. That success will allow you to ask more next time and isn't that how you arrived at the price level you now enjoy? We live in a "free market" society and that market is driven by what people will pay not by fixing prices. That's it. Just something for you to get your teeth into ;-)

Hi CanC, Many thanks for your kind thoughts and well reasoned response.

There's also another side of the coin. I mean the person that does shoddy or tacky work, calls himself a professional and sells (or offers to sell) his junk at prices so high and laughable that it demeans the good work of other turners.

You only have to look on EBay or many web sites to see some of these travesties. However in the end, I reckon that a competative market rules. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Arch, It is good to see you are still kicking. I hope your recovery is rapid and excellent.

I just have to add a bit on the selling. I did the craft markets in my area after I retired in 1993 through 1996. I kept careful records of time and costs and what I earned from the sales. My work may not have been expert quality, but it was better than average. At the end of three years, I tallied up the results. It turned out that I had averaged 25 cents per hour for that three years of turning. That was when I decided to go back to my trade of writing, but about woodturning.

I didn't quit selling my work, but mostly only sold an occasional piece and much of it since 1996 has been donated to auctions to raise money for some worthy cause. Some time back, I made two Chinese Balls out of alternative ivory and priced them at $500.00. One of them sold. The other I thought I would keep. The Senior Center where my wife and I exercise and attend carving classes and square dance was having an auction to raise money for operating expenses. I donated that other alternative ivory Chinese Ball for the auction, setting the value at $500.00. For display purposes, the director asked if I could supply some of the books I've written to help the display of the Chinese Ball. Well they sold the Chinese Ball valued at $500.00 plus another $100.00 worth of books for $70.00. The director said that he thought it would have sold for more if it had been made of wood. Anyway, that is why I don't bother with selling my work anymore.

Fred Holder

On Nov 5, 8:38 am, Canchippy wrote:

WOW! Glad you are still with us!!

If you turn while using the walker, do it seated. If you don't want to do that, do Lock the Brakes.

Get well soon, your musings and wisdom are sorely missed!!

LD