>I have been so busy working on the house, shop, 2 kids, wife, and a job from hell. I have lost my way when it comes to turning. I can't get anything to flow from the tools to my hands, but I have a floor full of nice curles and dust. I don't no if I am trying to hard to make something in stead of going with the wood or the other way around. My last piece that I would claim was done in Dec. I do no that I am (trying or atempting)to get more out of what wood I have or (trying or atempting)use the woods figure to show more in the finished piece. I tried last night just to turn a bowl nothing fancy. I ended up with a bell shaped piece of scrap. Is there a thing called turners block or blank as in my head. I know this sounds funning but it's true. Turning use to be the one thing that I could get lost in, now I can't get in. Any Idea's or words of wisdom. Thanks JHD in NC.
>Where in NC are you located? We have several turning clubs around the state, and all of them would have guys that would be more than willing to help. You can also try out various turning demos, but I would think simply turning elbow to elbow with someone might help the most.
>The only thing I can tell you is that yes, it happens. From October until March I worked solely on bedposts, table legs, finials etc. All the work was repetitve, between center turning. I didn't turn a bowl during this entire time. When I finally got caught up with spindle work, I couldn't wait to just put a blank on the lathe and make something, anything that didn't require exact measurements.
My first three attempts at hollow forms were disasters. I blew through two of them, and the third's shape was terrible. Like you, I didn't feel comfortable while turning; things weren't flowing like they used to. I felt like I had lost the "touch" and didn't look forward to going down to shop as much.
The three things that helped me out of my slump were reading back issues of AAW magazines, demonstrating for our club and keeping up with this messageboard, especially the pics!
>I think it happens to all of us at some point or another. When it happens to me I walk away from the lathe for a day or so and then try again. Relaxing and taking it slow plus the other suggestions mentioned by others work well. Even if you've been away for awhile like you, it can take a few starts and stops to get back in the swing of things. (pun intended)Best of luck and most of all, let it be fun again. Sean
>It happens to me every time I do not turn for any extended period (like a week or two). In fact, I don't fight it anymore. Now, when I go back to the lathe after a hiatus, I start by turning wood that I don't care if I blow up, and will only move onto better material once I can feel the moves flowing again.
I have been known to wing a piece across the shop in sheer frustration. The next day, I'll attempt the same job, and accomplish it with ease. It happens, I guess.
I agree with a previous post, join a club, that should help tremendously. good luck,Keith
>The first few years I was turning, I had a similar situation, everything seemed to interfer with my time in the shop. When I would come back to turning after a period of not turning on the lathe, I started turning half a dozen spinning tops. They don't take long to do and use a lot of different cutting techniques. I sort of had my tool control back and my eye working a bit better. Then I could tackle a bowl or something else. You might give this a try.
I can relate to your frustration -- thanks for bringing it up. I am self-employed in a stressful position, and lately my dad, who taught me to turn in his shop, has been going through the final stages of decline from lung cancer -- he may be down to a few days, certainly no more than a few weeks.
Life simply overtakes us from time to time, and it can be real difficult to get our heads back into turning.
I have had some success in two ways: One is to put a few chunks of green junk wood (Poplars are weed trees around here, and available all over), and just turn urn or lamp shapes, beads, coves, smooth transitions from one curve to another, even solid box or hollow form shapes, aiming only to get the flow right, and making no effort to make a finished object. By having no expectations, and no pressure (enough of that at work !), I just get into playing with the wood.
Another way is to get up and out, and give myself a few hours to look at shapes in store windows, museums, galleries, gift shops, kitchen stores, glass or pottery shops, and even jewelry shops. I either take mental notes of something that appeals to me, or bring a pocket-size notebook to make a few thumbnail sketches. If I can find some quiet time at home (sometimes I need to ask for a few hours alone) can also consume a pot of coffee looking over pictures in books, magazines and even turning catalogs. If you have any turning friends nearby, you might get a lot out of a visit to their shop.
Good luck getting your mojo back -- I can really relate, as I'm sure most of us can.
