This morning, I attended a seminar with Mike Darlow. It was quite the experience. We focused mostly on spindle work, working with the roughing gouge and spindle gouge, but focusing on the skew.
As a bowl-turner primarily, I had never used a skew before (and was frankly intimidated by the tool) but quickly gained confidence making whisper-thin to aggressive planing cuts. We then moved on to rolling beads and cutting coves with the skew. Beads are trickier and coves a little more so. I prefer using a spindle gouge.
While Mike’s knowledge and experience is difficult to overstate, what I really appreciated was how he had us hold the tool properly, then put one of his hands on the tool near the ferrule and make the cut. That way we got the feel of the motion. It really delivers confidence.
We also did several exercises on spindle turning and one on faceplate turning. All in all, it was a great way to spend half a day and a great learning experience. If you ever get the chance to attend one of his seminars…
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
– Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer
Replies
How lucky can you get, I only have two of his books!
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Chris,
You do good work, and you have fun at it.
Can't beat that with a stick.
The Turning and Carving folder has been very quiet for a long time. It sure would be nice to see it pick up and get some action. I have to believe that there are a lot of turners and carvers out there.
I have only turned a few things but I spend most of my life carving. For the last year, it has been bowls. I used to exchange some messages with Lee Grindinger, but I haven't seen him for a while. Without Lee, the carving threads have dwindled.
Let's see what we can do to pump up the carving and turning action around here. What say?
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said.
I primarily turn bowls but also turn pens and tool handles. I rarely if ever turn fancy furniture spindles. I bought my lathe so that I could make tool handles with ease. However, I quickly got distracted by pens and bowls.
In the carving field, I started with chip carving. After a month, I got bored - I couldn't see myself using that type of carving on furniture anyhow. So I purchased four Pfeil Swissmade gouges (a "v", #3, #5, and #7) and started carving reliefs, then onto in the round. Though I don't do much currently (no time), I would like to work some relief carving into my furniture. Nowadays I use my gouges mostly to waste away material on contoured surfaces. As you already know, I also use an Arbortech carbide wheel in a 4-1/2" angle grinder. I use it for free-form carving as well as general roughing and shaping on furniture. It's the best way I know to get sawdust behind my ears.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
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