Macrocarpa Bowl

This bowl is turned from Macrocarpa approx 12" x 4" colored with spirit stain and lacquered

John's beech Bowl

Today my Student was john and here he is the nice Beech bowl he turned.
Well done John that is a very nice Bowl.
John has got all his own equipment as as soon as he sorts out his workshop he will be ready to start turning

Bernie and his Christmas present

Today Bernie was with me to have his days woodturning tuition which was a Christmas present from his Wife Annie.
I think Annie will be pleased with this bowl that Bernie is going to give as an aniversary present.
Well done Bernie you did well Mate.

Four happy customers

Today Mark Sanger and myself carried out an introduction to Bowl turning course for four Students.
We all had a great day and our Students made really nice Bowls to take home.
On the left is Phill who is going to take up woodturning as a hobby.Next is Brian Father of the two young ladies Hanna and Sarah.
Hanna and Sarah bought a days woodturning for Brian as a Christmas present and decided it would be a nice day out for them as well.
Hanna is shortly going to buy a new house and I have a feeling space will be made for a new lathe.
This was one of the best days I have had teaching, everybody was a lot of fun which makes it all worth while.

Looking for insperation

I have been researching the internet for sites of inspiration for woodturners.
Here are a few sites you might find interesting and inspirational.

Nick Arnull Very interesting original works

http://www.studiopottery.co.uk/images/Geoffrey/Swindell/2664

 http://www.holstengalleries.com/artists/category/108

http://vickihardin.com/wordpress/2011/08/12/surfing-the-web-geoffrey-swindell/

http://greenbaumpottery.com/

Steve's Christmas Present

Steve was my student today it was a Christmas present from his partner Karen.
We had a very enjoyable day and Steve made a very nice bowl from Macrocarpa.
Very well done Steve.

Paul's Christmas present

Paul's partner Denise treated him to a days woodturning tuition with me for Christmas and this is the lovely Beech bowl he made.
Well done Paul
He looks pleased with himself and so he should.

Very well done Liz

Today my student was Liz a lovely Lady who really had her work cut out to make this very nice beech bowl
This was one of the hardest bits of beech I have ever seen it was as hard as rock
Liz persevered throuoght the day and as you can see it all turned out well.
Very very well done Liz you must be very proud.

Why a Bowl

Hi all.

Recently somebody asked me why is it that most of your novice turners always seem to make a bowl.

Well there are a number of good reasons why as an introduction to woodturning I consider the the best introduction is to make and take away a  Bowl.

Making a bowl in my opinion covers a great deal of the disciplines needed to go away with and practice with a good knowledge of safety,tools to use and tools not to use.How to present the tools to the wood to get the most efficient cut and also very important how to sharpen tools.

I once asked another woodturner who also teaches what he teaches on an introduction to woodturning day and his reply shocked me.He said the day consists of spindle turning and at the end of the day the student takes  away  a Garden dibber.

Now I cannot imagine a more fruitless way of spending a day learning how to use a Spindle roughing gouge ,Spindle gouge, parting tool and possibly a Skew chissel to take away a Garden dibber worth about six pounds.

My students always go away with a well made Bowl made by themselves worth about fifty to sixty pounds that is what I call value for money.