Show gloat :-) (a bit lengthy)

Hi, all,

About 5 years ago, my spouse suggested I start doing one art/craft show a year to give me reason to make 30-50 new pieces each year, and a place to be rid of them. I checked around, and found a juried show in the lakes country of Minnesota - Phelps Mill County park is in a little valley next to an historic flour mill. The summer cottages in the area are home to people from as far away as Florida, and it has a good reputation for art as well as crafts.

My first few years were disappointing. I make primarily lidded boxes, but take some bowls, hollow vessels, and vases. I'd sell a few, usually enough to cover the entry fees and the hotel for two nights, but no big deal. We've put up with thunder storms, mosquitos, and blistering sunshine. The Saturday crowd is usually the buyers - Sunday is mostly lookers.

This year was amazing. I brought about 50 pieces - a few more than previous years, but I always bring things home. (I know I could unload everything at some price, but I've been holding out for $25 -$30 for a nice lidded box) I sold more on Saturday than all the previous year, and by 3:00 on Sunday I was apologizing for having so little left. I sold all but one large bowl of my new stuff - brought home only 5 of the boxes, and all were previous year's stuff. Sundays sales were almost as good as Saturdays, and would have exceeded them if I'd had more stuff. I will next year!

I don't know what the change was. I'll admit, my spouse's advice has been working - I'm getting better at this. And I'd offer kudos to the inventors of the Beall buffer (no financial connection - just a VERY satisfied customer). People oohed and aahed over the finish. It also helped that we had two sunny days in the low to mid 80's with no mosquitos and a gentle cooling breeze.

Well, thanks for the chance to gloat. I'm still grinning, and ready to get back in the shop. My spouse has noted aloud that all our shelves are empty this year!

Ron Williams Minn-Dak Woodturners Moorhead, MN

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Ron Williams
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Ron

Great post - I am also a big fan of the "Salability" of pieces that are given a final finish with the Beall buffing system! Especially on the boxes.

In May, I had a show where I took 53 pieces and came home with 20 - the show was only 3 hours long and the stuff I came home with were the last year's models! So there is something to be said about advancing your skills and keeping an eye on form as well as the finish. My last year items were mostly utility items and small mis-shapen bowls. This year's were more classic in form and drew higher prices! One of the pieces went for $1000!

I found that the Beall finish is well received and is more consistent than Lacquer or Shellac - the uniform surface give the pieces a higher quality appearance as well.

Ray Sandusky

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Ray Sandusky

Ralph, Webtv doesn't access the video, so my question may be answered there or in the instructions. The narrative states that this system is not for use with a hand held drill. Why won't keeping the piece in the lathe and holding the buffs in a drill work? Arch

Fortiter,

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Arch

Ralph wrote: ...snip..."...and have almost had them torn from my hands on occasion when I got a little careless. I would hate to think what would happen to me and/or my hands If I used the wheel in a drill and it got away from me."

*************************** Arch, Ralph is right about the safety. I, too, had thought about putting the buffers in a hand drill but totally dismissed the idea after experiencing a piece being torn from my hands. It happened so incredibly fast that I heard the sound of the turning hitting the ways before I realized it was out of my hands!

Ruth

Woodturners Logo My shop and Turnings at

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Ruth

Barry

I will show you the system at the symposium in August

Ray

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Ray Sandusky

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