Are Wood Turners Proned To OCD?
charlie belden
>Although this seems to be true of woodworkers in general, it seems to be most noticable with turners OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Four turning tools will cover most turning needs - yet most of us have a dozen or more. A bench grinder will sharpen turning tools well enough - but a ceramic or diamond honing tool will make them even sharper - even though only for the first part of the next cut. So All Things Sharpening find there way into the shop - to meet an existing perceived need - or some potential future need.
Sharp isn't enough. The edge has to be insanely sharp - and prefereably polished to a mirror finish.
If one or two faceplates, or chucks, or chuck jaws are handy to have - surely more is even better.
If a spur drive is handy, two must surely be even better. And two or three Steb Centers are handy to have - for some special need.
Can't fogret collets chucks - and jacobs chucks.
Tool Rests! You NEED a short one and a long one, and a curved one and a one that you can use on the sides of the piece AND the end grain as well.
LIghts! You've GOT TO have good lighting. Goosenecks - with a magnifying glass - that's a Gotta Have right? Oh and don't forget a little LED you can stick inside a hollowing.
Even if you've got the sharpest tools and use them perfectly - something is going to need sanding. So add a BUNCH of sandpaper - and steel wool - down to 00000. Don't forget a power sander - and one of those non-powered versions as well.
Oh - and finishes and finishing equiptment - rags and buffers with four or five different buffing wheels - in wool and felt and cotton and flannel - stiched as well as unstiched. And sticks of waxes and cans and bottles of Secret Formula finishes - with their corresponding solvents.
A piece of tubing and some lung power can blow chips and shaving and sawdust out of a hollow form - BUT - compressed air works SO much better. Add a compressor and some hoses and tips to the list.
Since you have to have a compressor - throw in an airbrush - and a bunch of cups or jars for it - as well as a box full of airbrush paints and dyes.
A flex shaft - with several handpieces - and four or five dozen burs and sanding disks - you have to have them right?
A hollowing system - you need them - for safety. If there's going to be catches - why not let the hollowing system deal with them - rather than some part of your body? Be sure to include all the accessory "tips"
A little lathe is nice - but a BIG lathe is even nicer!
Can't forget vacuum chucks. Having at LEAST one can get you out of a bind. Throw that in as well.
While free wood is usually readily available, a nice big chunk of some really nice burl is worth BUYING.
If you have a source for green wood - and who doesn't - get a gallon or two of AnchorSeal and start hording grocery bags - for turned green pieces that you've roughed - and will surely get back to - in a few months - or years. Of course they'll need a place to be stored - so get some shelves - a lot of shelves.
A bandsaw! You MUST have a bandsaw - prefereably one with a 12" or more range - and a table big enough for cutting rounds from logettes.
A CHAINSAW! There's all that free wood available - IF you have a chainsaw - and a chain sharpener.
A pyrographic set up expands Surface Treatment - add one to the pile - along with four or five or so "pens". Or better yet - make one - from a battery charger, some nichrome wire and some Radio Shack parts.
With all the stuff you have, or will, turn - you're going to need some display shelves and cabinets right?
If this isn't a description of an OCD suffered I'm at a loss for a better example of an otherwise "normal" person.
Or maybe it's just me who is afflicted - right?
See where I am going with this?
