Video of Sharpening Station

I have now become a videographer. We purchased a digital video camera and I am learning everything at once: how to operate the camera, how to take decent videos, how to transfer them to the computer and use software to produce a movie, and how to upload that movie to the Internet.
Needless to say I am on a long learning curve. My first attempt was terrible for many reasons and I will be taking it off you tube.
My second attempt, out of the need to create an insurance video of the contents of my work shop, was a lot better thanks to some advice from my son on how to get a better quality picture.
So, you can play the video to get a lot more information than you could possibly want about a sharpening station that I have close to complete. Get you popcorn and watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4i4UhSDQM

Woodturning can be contagious

We had a family reunion and my brother, Ron, and his family from Texas were able to spend a week with us. He helped me get the garage cleaned up in preparation for the reunion and we had a day and a half together to play in the wood shop.
Ron has been a wood worker for a lot of years and has done some spindle turning for a crib that he made for his grandsons and granddaughter. He hadn't turned any bowls so we set him up with a couple blanks to start practicing.
He is a fast learner and his skills quickly developed. There is a distinctive sound when you "get a catch" and usually a noticeable gouge in the wood when you turn off the lathe. He had to experience the catches in order to learn to control the gouge. He uttered some "Ooops" sounds but he did improve quickly.
Ron made several "treasures" that documented his first attempts.
Then he quickly began to make some really fine work. He finished the second day with a maple bowl for his daughter. I think he also left with the hopes of doing some more turning in his Texas shop.
Usually you try not to share a contagion with anyone, but this time it was really enjoyable to pass this on to my brother.
The reunion was fun and seemed to go smoothly. One of my favorite memories of that reunion will be the time Ron and I spent together in the shop just enjoying each other and playing with wood.

Almost but not quite

I listed this saw for sale on Craig's List. A guy named Gus called me and wanted to buy the saw. We dickered on price, agreed, and then set today at 10:00 AM for him to show up with the cash and pick up the saw.
Guess who didn't show and didn't call! I would have appeciated a call since it would have saved me a few hours waiting around.
So, I still have the saw listed and will hope that someone else responds. I'll probably be a little less trusting with that someone because of this experience.
Anyone want a radial arm saw? This is the ad content:
"Sears Craftsman Model # 113.197150 10-in Radial Arm Saw and Stand. Has Radial Guard Retrofit Kit #RPL 29012 which includes new safety shield for the blade and a new table top (both still in the box). Also includes Freud 10-in combination blade, shaper head with two molding head bit sets, 7-in dado blade set. Saw is wired for 110V. It does run but I have never used it. Located at Lake Buckhorn. Purchaser to disassemble and move."

Woodturning Exhibition

The Northcoast and Buckeye Woodturners sponsored a competition and exhibit at Wayne Center for the Arts in Wooster, Ohio. The exhibit runs from July 9 through August 28, 2009. Here are some pictures from that exhibit. The work is stunning.

Buckeye Wood Turners

I travelled up to Clinton, Ohio to Camp Y-Noah on Saturday to attend my first meeting of the Buckeye Wood Workers and Woodturners. The group meets on the third Saturday of each month and combines a short business meeting with a demonstration by group members or visiting demonstrators. They have a show table of members' turning work and photograph each piece for display on their "Gallery" section of their web site.
This month's demonstration was about pen turning by club member, Bob Taylor. His presentation was full of information and technique suggestions. Most interesting to me was his use of some unusual materials - corn cobs, shredded currency, and denim fabric - to make blanks for pens. I learned a lot about using CA glue in finishing a pen blank as well as micromesh for wet sanding acrylics.
Since wood turning is most often a solo hobby, it was nice to be with a group who enjoys the same activity and willingly shares a lot of information with each other.
Following the morning meeting there is often a hands-on activity for members to try out skills. The club has a large Powermatic lathe and many Jet min-lathes for these meetings. It really impressed me as a group seriously devoted to wood turning.
I am looking forward to returning next month when an internationally known turner, Cindy Drozda, will be presenting a members-only demonstration. (If you want to see some beautiful turnings, follow that last link)