As a newbie, I've started with spindle turning. You can use all sorts of scrap to learn on - and don't need a dempsty dumpster to get rid of all the curlies, chips and dust. Being one who likes to try new things, but along an evolutionary path, weed pots seemed ideal for transitioning from spindles to hollow vessels. You get something that you can put on a coffee table or shelf that'll hold something, albeit something with a thin stem.
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charlie b