Musings of a confused old turner

Elsewhere there rages (at least for a more dignified & civil group) a debate about self imposed turning rules, whither woodturning?, messing with God's creations and other 'no answer questions'. They have all been aired 'ad nauseum' on this low rent, wrong side of the tracks ng, and they are now safely & mercifully incarcerated in our archives. This is not a rebuttal, but naturally, I haul them out.

Is it so terrible to have fun and not feel compelled to do my very best on each & every turning? I like to mess around my lathe and shop and the abortions that often result probably have little effect on the art/craft/hobby/business/profession/ addiction/therapy or alienation of affections of woodturning. Maybe they are the best I can do, but is there any harm in feeling that I _could do better if I want to?

I know that "Only God can make a tree" and even though wood hasn't spoken to me personally, I've heard the catechism about the sanctity of grain, flash color and other lignum sacramenti. However another of God's creations is even more beautiful than a tree. I refer to women. Not to enhance a turning because all wood turns brown in time seems similar to a pretty young woman not using cosmetics because she will become old and wrinkled some day. Just because garishly overdoing it is so awful is no reason not to tastefully embellish woodturnings and women. Or is it? Anyway, I do enjoy beholding both.

I am not presuming to set rules, arbitrate style, troll, waste bandwidth, or put you to sleep. Just some personal musings from my armchair. Please forgive and archive. Arch

Fortiter,

Reply to
Arch
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Arch,

Thanks for saying what I feel and am unable to state. I turn because it is fun. I use my tools incorrectly, unknowingly violate basic rules of safety, sand and finish incorrectly and yet still occasionally produce something that people really appreciate and compliment. And yes, I have told people that God created the beauty in the wood and somehow I was able to remove enough shavings to display the beauty. (I haven't been to church in about 30 years so I guess that makes me a hypocrite)

My skills have improved the last few years, largely from reading this newsgroup almost daily. Thanks to all for your help. You have nurtured my interest and enthusiasm. I can't count the number of times I have headed to my lathe after reading something on this group that sounded interesting or just confused me so that I had to try it. Still don't understand that uphill/downhill stuff though.

Kirk

Reply to
Kirk

Agreed, Kirk! Nicely put Arch! As to the up and downhill stuff, that is for very advanced turners or loggers! I was gonna recommend that they put in a spar pole, or, failing that, rent a spar pole truck! Dat's what we use on hillsides here in WA.*G*

Reply to
Leif Thorvaldson

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