any woodturners out there - don't try this at home

I am a woodturner. That is Iuse tools to shape wood on the lathe into bowls, architectural columns, and object d' art. As I do not currently have any pictures of my work available for upload, this picture taken from a friend's website, is a facsimile of what I do.


hollow form

Again, this is not my work, but is similar to what I do

anyway, I am generally pretty safety conscious when I do this, but earlier this evening I nearly had a catastrophe.
For me, turning is very therapeutic and generally satisfying. Plus, I make some cool stuff for gifts and to sell.
I always use wood that is from trees that have been either blown over in a storm, cut for highway right of way, etc.

I would recommend woodturning to anyone, but don't do this at home


1. turn your lathe on before securing eye protection.

Don't do this at home

2. after applying cyanoacrylate (basically, superglue) liberally to cracks and soft wood, turn your lathe on prior to insuring that the stuff is all dry

Don't do this at home, either.

Whatever you do, don't do these things in conjunction with each other.

My first mistake was going out to turn at this hour of night having just waked up...with no one else awake in the house. My second mistake, which was actually my first mistake, was not having cleared a path between my lathe and the back door (my shop is in a state of, shall we say, transition)

I was awake enough to know what I was doing, but obviously not awake enough to actually be be doing it. :(

To make a long story short, I sort of glued my left eye shut ... just a few eyelashes at the corner which I just shaved of. Thank goodness I didn't actually get any in my eye.

If that's the sort of thing you do, you have my admiration.

I'm not sure it's worth supergluing your eye shut, though (and the cure for superglue - nail polish remover - is not anything you'd want near your eye). Me, I make quilts when I have insomnia. The worst I've ever done is jab myself with a needle. Oh, and I once sewed a quilt patch to my jeans by accident. That taught me not to sew and cruise the Internet simultaneously.

when I get a new camera (last one was stolen in London) I am going to put some pictures of my stuff on the web and will show them here.

Actually, I've always wanted to learn to quilt. :)

I do woodworking with old hand planes I've restored (with "scary sharp" blades) and use recycled or blown down wood as much as possible. I've also learned that woodworking and sleepiness are a dangerous combination and have a few nicks and small scars to prove it. 'Seems like those accidents happen when one is in too much of a hurry to bother with safety glasses or gloves.

I'm looking forward to seeing your photos!

:hi:

Nothing beats being attentive to what you are doing, glad you didn't do any worse damage. I thought you were going to say you blew the bowl apart.

I worked in one cabinetshop where everyone was stoned the whole day. I'm still not sure how I made it out of there with all my fingers.

Best way we humans learn... trial and error. :)

Do you sell any of your work locally? Thank goodness you didn't glue your whole eye shut.

of building up my stock for a future craft show. Also, I have had some interest from the owner of a local high end retailer.

I will post more on that as I get more stock ready.

:hi:

I'm in your neck of the woods, so to speak.:hi:

I was carving out the inside of a wooden bowl on a lathe with a chisel. I hit a knot in the wood, the chisel kicked back (fortunately the handle end) hard in my stomach, knocking me onto the floor on my back, and knocking the wind out of me as well. Everyone stood around laughing as I gasped on the floor. I was grateful it wasns't the other end of the chisel.