In the Workshop
Over the past 20 years as a woodworker, I've learned to read the wood. To see in a raw piece of material its potential. I believe that I am responsible to the wood to help it achieve its highest purpose. Sometimes I'll hold on to an interesting chunk of wood for years because I don't feel that I am ready to turn it. And then the right opportunity will present itself for that special piece.
I've used many types of wood including exotics such as zebrawood, sapelle, and even the pods of banksia trees from Australia. But domestically grown hardwoods such as cherry, maple and walnut are my favorites. Burls are very exciting to turn. These knotty bumps on a tree are an explosion of spiraling grains. There are several trees with burls in the woods behind my house that I'm keeping an eye on. The time will eventually come to harvest these jewels.
Turning is an especially enjoyable way of working with wood. You are really only limited by your creativity and vision. And you can make something from next to nothing. Pieces from the firewood pile, scraps from other projects, and parts of pallets all find their way onto my lathe. I love telling customers that some attractive vase was saved from the woodstove.
Over the past 20 years as a woodworker, I've learned to read the wood. To see in a raw piece of material its potential. I believe that I am responsible to the wood to help it achieve its highest purpose. Sometimes I'll hold on to an interesting chunk of wood for years because I don't feel that I am ready to turn it. And then the right opportunity will present itself for that special piece.
I've used many types of wood including exotics such as zebrawood, sapelle, and even the pods of banksia trees from Australia. But domestically grown hardwoods such as cherry, maple and walnut are my favorites. Burls are very exciting to turn. These knotty bumps on a tree are an explosion of spiraling grains. There are several trees with burls in the woods behind my house that I'm keeping an eye on. The time will eventually come to harvest these jewels.
Turning is an especially enjoyable way of working with wood. You are really only limited by your creativity and vision. And you can make something from next to nothing. Pieces from the firewood pile, scraps from other projects, and parts of pallets all find their way onto my lathe. I love telling customers that some attractive vase was saved from the woodstove.
