Re: Southern States Symposium - GLOAT
Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL
>I though that the Southern States Symposiuw was really good - better than I thought it would be. I got to see/meet several WC/WOW folks I had not met before, Like Ruth Niles - a very nice lady, as well an many "Old" internet friends.
Many of the demos were so-so, just my opinion, based on my interests, others with different interests really liked them. HOWEVER, if you ever get a chance to attend a demo or class with Stuart Batty, DO IT. He is without a doubt (again my opinion) the best and most knowledgeable demonstrator I have ever heard (except maybe Russ). I took a demo of his on "making a bowl with just a gouge": Basically a class on his gouge grind and the push cut used by most all European bowl turners. It leaves a cut on even Spalted Maple that is the equivalent of about 400 grit. Incredible!! It is hard to describe, and will require much practice. It's prime virtue (along with his grind) is that it cleanly cuts endgrain. It is not much better than a pull cut or shear scrape on face grain, so it it will not necessarily help me on segmented bowl, but may be worth the practice. His grind has to be done by hand, and he can be at the lathe, step to the grinder, sharpen, and be back on the lathe in 10 seconds. Basically his grind it a fingernail grind, but all cutting surfaces are ground at a 40 degree angle. When I got home, one of the first things I did was regrind a gouge, and I really like the grind.
I also attended his demo on turning a tall thin vessel. Much if it was about his push cut as well, but also covered Negative Rake Scrapers, chucking on a jam chuck, etc.
Then I attended, TWICE, his demo on Steel and Sharpening. It was the best description of all of the types of steels used in turning gouges, the various flute designs that I have ever heard. Stuart lives a mile from Jerry Glaser, and has convinced Glaser to change to a Sorby like U-shaped flute design. He thoroughly described the Pros and Cons of each steel type and the sharpening of each. Lots of really good explanations on how each tool cuts, and why it cuts. REALLY GOOD, as I said, I attended it twice.
I was so impressed with him, that I have started working with the rest of the club presidents in GA to see if we can get him down here some time for some hands on classes. When I was discussing it with one of the guys, Don Duden from FLA heard me and said - Hey, count us in, I can get you about 4-5 guys (Stuart will take up to 6 in a hands on class). Then someone from Caroline Mountains Club said the same thing. SO.... the idea is really taking off. He can do a two day course of just technique, if we go 3 days, it is 2 days of technique, and one day of a bowl project. Our biggest problem is a venue. Most everyone agreed that lathes were not a problem.
I also went to a John Jordan Hollowing Demo -and was less than impressed. I have his Hollowing Video - one of the best, he shows all sorts of tools and ways to hollow. Now that he is selling turning and hollowing tools, the demo is one big info-mertial on his tapes and tools. I walked out half way through.
Did not really attend more that a few minutes in some of the others - Turning Talc and Alabaster, Decoration Bowl and Platter Rims., etc.
Gloat: A very sick part of me sees these auctions as a sort of informal competition - (yes I said I was sick) and a potential ego builder (not that I need it). I was lucky enough to donate a 6" segmented bowl that brought in the high price for a single item. Next highest was an increasable Cocobolo goblet that Stewart Batty turned in a demo. This thing was about 24" tall with a stem on it that could not have been 1/8" in diameter. If you blew on it the cup just swayed back and forth. It went for $400. I was really please when they started the bidding on my bowl at $50 (like most everything else), and 50 hands went up, then some one yelled out $200. It went to $450 in less than a minute.
OK, so much for the gloat.
I really had a good time at SSS. Good to see all of you there.
Mark
