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QC Criteria - Customers or Critics?

QC Criteria - Customers or Critics?

(Note: I?m using the positive connotation of the word ?critics? - as in critique / constructive criticism - rather than negative nit picking egotistical attacks)

One of the many advantages of being a member of a turners club is the opportunity to see day long demonstrations by well known turners. I had the pleasure of spending a Sunday watching Cindy Drozda demonstrate her method of turning three types of boxes, two with her signature beautiful finialed (is there such a word?) tops. She?s a great teacher in addition to being a very accomplished turner and artist. Her love of, and passion for, turning is infectous. Here?s a link to her web site. Photos can only give you an idea of what this turner does.

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The first piece she created was an elegant little lidded holly box with a padouk inlaid ?rim? and foot. At maybe 2 1/2? diameter and perhaps 3 1/2? tall - including the long delicate finial - there was a lot of very precise turning packed into a very small and beautiful package. The piece required two critical fits - the inlayed padouk to the box rim and the finialed lid to the inlay rimmed box. The blending of all three to form a continuous whole isn?t trivial either - but I want to focus on the issue of ?fit?.

If you?ve made a ?turned lidded box? you know how tricky it can be to get a nice fit. Even when you sneak up on it, it can be a Too Big, Still Too Big, Just A Little Too Big - TOO SMALL! Thing.

Now if you?re turning a lidded box to show off your turning skills to other turners, a good fit means a ?click? or ?pop? fit. Anything less is too loose or too tight. BUT - if you want to impress a non-turner - say a potential purchaser of your turned lidded box, a nice snug ?click? or ?pop? fit might work against you, especially if the lid has a delicate finial. If, however, the top lifts off easily, revealing the inside of the box, and let?s not forget the underside of the lid, well the potential for a sale goes up noticably. And even if the person doesn?t buy a piece, the look on their face as they examine, and appreciate the piece can be a pay off that money can?t buy.

?Lid Fit? is just one example of the question - how much of what we shoot for when turning is critical to the piece and how much is just ?I can - so I do?? Is a uniform 1/16ht inch wall thickness really that significant to the piece? Sure, for Christmas Tree Ornaments, where weight is an important factor, really thin wall are desirable. But on a foot tall, 8 inch diameter piece, is there really any need for uniform thin walls? Other than the challenge of hollowing through a seemingly impossibly small opening in the top, why not hollow through a larger opening in the bottom and ?plug? it when th hollowing is complete? Is the non-turner really going to notice, less alone appreciate, a surface right off the perfect continuous finish cut as opposed to one that was sanded smooth then given a film finish?

Do you turn to the limits of your skills, and maybe just beyond what you think you can do, or do you turn to make your idea into a tangible object - that may or may not be appreciated by anyone else on the planet?

charlie b

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charlieb
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I've spoken before with respect for Cindy's fine work. Look very carefully at her finials for the tiny added touches beyond simply the good looks of them.

Agree with your appraisal of the quality of her demos.

If turning to sell then the best work is that which a customer appreciates and can be created profitably, regardless of what other turners think.

If turning for the AAW or some other show or competition then the anal details are appropriate since you're trying to separate yourself from many fine turners. Kinda like fine five gaited horses trying for best of show. They look different to the judges but they're all beautiful to the normal spectator.

If turning for yourself then you don't need to care - just go until you feel good about it. Enjoy.

TomNie

Reply to
TomNie

Hi Charlie, good post.

I didn't come to making round wooden things by way of making flat wooden things so I can't say much about cabinet and furniture making, so of course, I will.

I wonder if stretching one's woodturning skills in order to make thinner walls, smaller orifices, glassier finishes, obliquer (sic) contours, etc. on a meaningless round wooden "canvas" isn't in some way comparable to making a variety of perfect joints to connect several flat boards just to make a long plank. I'm not talking here about surface ornamentation, distortion or fenestration. They can be beautiful, but not just in themselves. They adorn a volume not a plane and a turned wood vessel ought to be more than just a "canvas" to embellish. At least, this woodturner thinks so.

Fine joints and thin walls demonstrate the degree or limits of a worker's technical skill and can add immeasurably to a finished chair or vase. In themselves, they probably provide self satisfaction, but (you each have your personal "buts" to finish the sentence and state your opinions). 'But' in my opinion, the completed piece in its entirety, is the thing, whether in the true opinion of the beholder or in the opinion of someone else that's held by the beholder. Whatever, It's the vase, not its walls and the chair, not its joints that people buy.

A tacky hollow vessel with gossamer walls and an ugly rocking chair with perfect joints are both just that. YMMV, but even so, somebody will buy them. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

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Arch

I seem to work with 2 basic types of turners, Charlie..

My son and a few students that KNOW before they turn the lathe on EXACTLY what they want to make, including shape, size, decoration and finish..

Folks like me that have a general idea what the wood is going to be but pretty much work more of a free style, I guess you'd call it... I like to experiment and "push the envelope" a bit whenever I can... Sometimes you love the result, sometimes it's kindling.... I think that if you're not turning to your limit, you won't learn any more, just repeat what you already know..

IMO, if you are so worried about wasting wood or that a piece won't come out "right", you're not going to let yourself be creative..

As sort of an aside to your question, I turn for myself and in the hope that someone will buy the piece... and the real rush for me is when they buy it for a gift for a friend... Is there any higher compliment?

I do NOT turn for other turners approval.. I love to turn thin and finish the bottom of things on the vacuum chuck, but neither I nor my clients care if the walls are uniform, the bottom thickness or whatever conform to the "rules"... After a while, you hear "the pop" and realize that turners don't buy your stuff, people that like the look, feel, color, etc. do.. and they don't carry calipers around..

Damn... sorry about that, I'll put my soap box away now..

mac

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mac davis

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