What do you LOVE most about turning?

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

TomW In SouthJersey

>My favorite moment is taking a freshly polished piece whether a little bottle stopper or a larger hollowform off the lathe and hold it up for the first time. Especially satisfying when I can't spot a sanding flaw.

Tom

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Carole in VA

>Everythng else except the two things I hate! LOL

In addition to your list, Molly, I also love:

The excitement of finding some logs and seeing what's inside.

Sharpening (because there is nothing quite as satisfying as putting a really sharp tool to wood)

Heck, I even like sanding...seeing and feeling the wood progress to a satiny smooth finish.

But #1 has got to be seeing that first coat of finish hit the wood!

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Duane C.Leach

>I love the expression on someones face who really appreciates a quilty turning as they hold it in their hands.

Turning is fun

Duane Leach

A couple of things

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi Molly,

I have to say that I love being able to complete a turning project in an hour or so, I enjoy that feeling.

Most of all, meeting other turners and sharing in our fun, that is the best sense of enjoyment I have! The support of our own visions and support with help and advice, well that is great!

Take care,

Jim

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Sean Troy

>The end result. I have been turning hollow forms from garbage wood to improve my abilities.the wood would have gone in the garbage if not for using it for practice. Some of the hollow forms are comming out quite nice,so I inlayed some turquoise in the cracks and actually have some pretty darn good looking turnings. i like the end result and suprises like this. Sean

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Hawaii Turner

>I love everything about turning.

The comraderie with friends at our meetings or in the field disecting a log, and sharing in the discovering of its innermost beauty and possibilities.

Turning the wood and finding the shape that fits it, or turning by design, like segmenting.

I enjoy the sanding somewhat,as it means that it is now dry, and I am finishing my piece.

When the buffing and finish pops the grain, is about as exciting as when I contemplate what I will sell it for.

But, most of all, the most excitement is when I walk into a gallery that says that things are rather slow, and I show her only 17 pieces of which the buyer "can't let these go" and writes me a XXXX check on the spot,THAT'S LOVE OF TURNING. It happened last week.

Aloha, Doug

My favorite thing is when people give me money.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Verne

>I made my living as a commercial and fine artist. Though hardly famous, I was fortunate enough to make a good living. What I love about turning is the same thing I love about painting. It is the process of watching something come into being that never before existed. It isn't the end result . . . the painting, or the turning itself, but rather it is the process of creating. I am fascinated by it. If others like what I do, terrific. If they like it enough to want it, even better . . . BUT, I would do it regardless - because it is the process of standing, all alone, at my lathe with a tool in my hand searching for what lurks in a piece of wood and watching it slowly show itself that I love.

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

JL

>The wood.

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Terry Quiram, Roanoke Illinois

>I love roughing. I really couldn't care if I ever finish a bowl. I just love roughing.

Learning and problem solving

Mike Schwing from Md.

>I love the endless learning curve. In fact, thats one of the things I also love most about life. I love learning. I absolutely love adding information to my brain. I love it even more when it helps me solve a problem I'm having, like with tearout for example - I want to learn WHY it occurs, not just how to fix or prevent it.

Turning really is a combination of all of the other woodworking techniques that I've experienced - from hand tools to finishing - lots of learning available there. Lots of potential problem solving.

What Verne said!

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Molly,

This is a GREAT idea for a topic!

I think Verne hit the proverbial nail on the head for me. I love watching the tool travel along the wood to reveal the hidden grain and shape of the piece. Whether it is a scraper that's just barely altering the surface or a bowl gouge that taking out big hunks of shavings, I am addicted to that process of watching the metamorphosis of the wood from a chunk into a bowl or vessel. Every piece is different and I love the exploration of the wood to discover the piece hidden within.

High on my list also are the incredible smells that some of the woods can produce. I was turning a nice hunk of olive yesterday and I can still imagine the smell. Olive, ash, camphor, sasafras, sapele, they are all some great smells.

Like others have said, at this point in my turning "career", I don't care if I sell anything, it is the creation process itself that I have to do. The fact that I do sell a few pieces now and again is certainly OK, it gives me a little money for more wood and or tools!

Great idea for a thread!

Mike

Killing me with no shop time today in Apex, NC...

Re: Learning and problem solving

John Lucas

>I have to agree with Mike. It's the problem solving. I love to take a chunk of wood that would be junk to anyone else and make something out of it. I love trying to figure out how to mount and turn something really different. I love the learning process, everything from figuring out why sandpaper doesn't work to what angle cut better and wood movement. It's just so cool.

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Raymond Overman in SC

>My favorite part of woodturning is the initial cuts, the shaping of the piece and determining the design or outline of a new piece. When a curve comes out just the way I envisioned it and I know exactly what the piece is going to look like as a finalized piece it's such a comforting and satisfying feeling.

My second favorite part of woodturning is looking at other peoples work and coming up with a technique that I think would emulate it. Not necessarily following through with the work, but just thinking about the cuts and the original block of wood that they used. It really helps me focus on a new piece of wood when I'm in my shop.

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Dick Hines

>The hunt for the perfect chunk of wood. Every log I get I think this is it. But as good as the figure is I am always thinking there has to be a better log out thee some where.

Like the pot of gold at the ehd of the rain bow I just may find the perfect piece of wood.

Hope I live that long!!

Ditto, Molly plus......

Ruth Niles

>All you said, Molly, plus meeting other turners, like yourself! When I'm at a show or just chatting with other turner's my whole body seems to soak up enthusiasm, encouragement, inspiration, new ideas, love, friendliness, commeraderie, etc., etc., etc.

This List

Ron in Drums PA

>

Re: Learning and problem solving

Ron in Drums PA

>I agree with Mike and John.

Here is a favorite quote:

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. ~Pablo Picasso~

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

Bernie

>At the beginning of the process when the bandmill

slices that log and I see what I have to work with.

At the end on the process when the oil hits the

perfectly sanded piece.

The Process!

Jorge Castaneda ~ Downeast Maine

>Molly,

Great idea for a tread, have not read the other post but here it goes;

The never aging fascination of watching something emerge, a new shape, hidden aspects of the wood, is like an alchemy, the wood is transforming into something else and we ourselves are transforming too.

I love it!

Jorge.

Re: Learning and problem solving

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Ditto, Guys

Mark

Living on the edge!

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>I'm a thrill seeker.....

Some fun things about turning for me are:

1. The chance that a huge chunk of wood will fly out of the chuck...in my direction.

2. Using a skew...always a chance for some "excitement"

3. Forgetting to unlock the indexer and wondering why thet belts are squeeling.

4. Forgetting your drive is in reverse and seeing how long it takes you to figure it out.

5. Taking a lunch break and returning to a bowl that suddenly developed the grand canyon thru it over the last hour while you were away.

Ahhhh turning...good times indeed. ;-)

Tommy

Re: Learning and problem solving

Ed in No.VA

>The entire creative process from start to finish including even the sudden design changes in the middle.

Re: What do you LOVE most about turning?

David

>When I was a kid, basically my job was to "hold the tools" for dad. Dad gave me a few tips when I was a kid, but that was the extent of it. Whatever I've picked up along the way, I've found a way to learn on my own. I never even laid eyes on a lathe until earlier this year. It means a lot to me to be able to say - I found it, hacked it out with my trusty bow saw, sealed it, air dried it, turned it, finished it, and made it oh so smooth.