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Very long musing about why we turn wood

There are many reasons why we pursue woodturning so avidly. Some of the best reasons don't apply to me and my reasons may not be typical. I don't turn for money to support myself nor my hobby. I am satisfied not to be in demand for demos, or gallery showings. I haven't had a book published. I enjoy the camaraderie and give & take of this ng, but admit that I like its anonymity, options to (or not to) socialize, and the diversity, comfort and convenience of the internet. Surely it's my age, but I seldom drive long distances thru heavy traffic to enjoy thirty minutes of talking woodturning and suffer ninety minutes of 'business', shushing murmurs and Robert's rules of order. I've held office in several other organizations, and believe that "I've paid my dues". I am no longer interested in 'going thru the chairs'. Actually, I didn't _pay_ any dues. Some will protest, but leadership is much more a satisfaction than an effort. Lots of us turn wood to relax from a trying working life, but some make their turning efforts more competitive than their jobs. Many of us who have suffered bruised egos on retirement from 'important' jobs need the oh's & ah's that a turned piece brings. Our work may be mediocre, but not in our own neighborhood. We go to trouble to make angular pieces on the perfect machine for making circular objects. We twist & turn to get the best grain then paint over it. We skew and buff only to punch holes. We smooth and caress the wood then we inflict torture with special tools that rupture the surface. We go to pains to conserve scaley bark. We deplore the tool holders, cross slides and leadscrews that so restrict our metalworking friends. and then we rapture about the joy and freedom of sliding hand held tools along a tool rest. We see no anachronism in using jigs, lasers, copy aids, lamination software, hollowing systems, gates and so on. Sort of like another addicting yet strange endeavor; golf, where the lowest score wins and after finding a ball that we hit into the bushes, we hit it again into sand or even water. Then there are the everloving rules, rules, and more rules.

Sorry. I sure jumped off the track. I started out wondering why we love to turn wood and ended up with inane prattle. I don't mind if it aggravates somebody, but I hope it isn't divisive.;) Anyway, why did _you decide to take up woodturning, and why do you think our craft so endures as a satisfying and sharing hobby, even for our full time professionals? Arch

Fortiter,

Reply to
Arch
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I do it for instant gratification. With a table or cabinet, what begins with great enthusiasm and proceeds with care always ends up a week or weeks later with an "I'll be d*mned if I'm going to put another minute in this thing" attitude.

While the furnace cement was curing this morning I took a scrap of cherry and a chunk of birch firewood and whipped out another Christmas ornament. While it has probably another five minutes of shellac rubbing left in it, there's no doubt that it's hollowed enough to be light, and curly enough to shimmer on someone's tree for years to come.

Now to get the filthy fire door with the new gasket mounted back on the furnace so we can have heat tonight. Don't really want to put another d*mned minute into the annual clean/oil/adjust on that thing.

Reply to
George

I got sucked in. About a dozen years ago i whacked my back (l4-5) and was trying to find something that would stop the "discomfort". After the operation (didn't work) I tried chiro (did help) but wanted something to help between expensive treatments. I got one of the back rollers, for WAY too much money, but it didn't fit properly. I picked up a HF lathe for not much more than the roller and figured out how to make a roller that fits a specific person rather than one-size-fits-all. After I'd given rollers to all the nurses, family and friends I still had a lathe, and the desire to do faceplate rather than spindle work. TaDa. Dave in Fairfax

Reply to
dave

Why did I turn to turning wood? For years I have made square things. Cabinets, armoires, dressing tables etc... I have literally built every piece of furniture in my house, except for the sofa and that big soft discolored lump of material that is called "my chair". I've even went so far as to replace the TV cabinet because it wasn't "real" wood.

So why did I turn to turning? I already had the addiction, I already had all the "requests" from family and friends I could handle, so why did I turn to turning?

It's simple. I turned to turning because all of the things I built had something in common that irritated me. Everything was very predictable with its square or 45 degree corners. No matter how you embellish it, a desk is simply a square thing to sit at. I yearned for diversity, a different challenge I guess.

Oh yeah, it also let me buy a whole bunch of new tools, that's probably a big a reason as any!

Reply to
Bruce White

"Anyway, why did you decide to take up woodturning,..."

About 10 years ago, my wife and kids came to an impass as to what to buy the "old man" for Christmas. I had everything for my extra-curricular endeavors-fishing and golf, so they decided on woodworking tools. I had done some relatively small projects over 25 years, but was pretty much clueless. They went to Woodworkers Warehouse and bought a bandsaw, dove tail jig, Boss sander and a Delta lathe - the inexpensive model. I had never SEEN a lathe before, but I knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a guy! That guy showed me how to turn a simpple baseball bat. I was smart enought to know that I knew just enough to kill (or seriously maim) myself, so I have since taken about 15 courses at Wodcraft Supply and Homestead Woodworking School in New Hampshire. I am now able to work at one of my three (!) lathes with confidence that the only damage I will do is to the piece of wood that I am attacking. I have turned the entire spectrum of projects, but prefer turning bowls. All projects are either given as gifts of, to the wife's dismay, kept in our home. (What the hell, she created the monster!!) I really enjoy the (up to now) relatively small amounts of time spent at the lathe and I call them my AA (attitude adjustment) meetings! The idea of instant gratification is paramount to me compared to other forms of woodworking. I'm very fortunate to be able to go to New Brunswick, Canada, 3 b-4 times a uear to fish for atlantic salmon and return home with a Tahoe full of birch and/or maple burls. Doesn't get mch better. Now, at this stage of my life, I expect to be able to spend more time at the lathe(s) and get more proficient and produce more volume. After 10 years, if I never turned another piece of wood, it's been a great run!!

Jay Sweeney in New Hampshire

Reply to
S S Law NH

Opportunity - in 1976 or so my grandfather moved, and his Shopsmith moved from his house to our house, since it was a bit much for his new apartment.

Sheer magic - the enduring wonder of making something smooth and symmetric from any old hunk of firewood (or a more intentional blank). The grain patterns that come out. The "neato" factor.

Reply to
Ecnerwal

I'ver been in lawn Maintenance for 15 years and rarely do I get a "gee, everything looks great, sure am glad we hired you". Most of the time it's "the weeds are too many, or shrubs need trimming or I just got a quote for half etc...." I turn one thing on the 3520a and everyone can't stop oohing and ahhing...music to my ears. Why do I turn? I feel great doing things that make people feel good...

moyo

Reply to
moyo

Reading all these responses is like reading poetry. Woodturning is good BECAUSE IT'S THERE!!

Reply to
Bob Moody

Ron Robinson sniped:

And you're wasting your time on RCW why? Aw hell, DFTT. Dave in Fairfax

Reply to
dave

Woodturning is the sports section of wood working. Flat work is what gives woodworking its name. Turning should be called Woodplaying.

Ron Robinson East Texas

Reply to
Ron Robinson

I agree with Ron.

You, on the other hand, need more sleep.

Reply to
George

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