(click on any photo to open each 'tip' for details)
A Few Tips for Woodturners
(and some interesting links at the bottom of the page)
Woodturning tends to be a solitary profession. Perhaps that is why as woodturners we often share a few of the tips and tricks that we acquire over the years.
I soon learned never to preach to a fellow woodturner, but instead to say
"this is my way... not the only way... but it works for me"
Steam Powered Sawmill- Hull-Oakes Lumber is the last steam-powered commercial saw mill in the USA, and they're one of the few mills capable of cutting large timbers up to 85' long. The mill has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.
Well worth a look!
Maurice Franklin, Woodturner- who was born upstairs above his shop in 1920, and has been working at his lathe since 1933 when he began his apprenticeship. Now at ninety-three years old, being in semi-retirement, Maurice comes in a few days each week, in the early hours to work from four or five, until eight or nine in the morning, or whenever he fancies exercising his remarkable talent at wood turning.
Historic Granville Bowl Mill- their first mill was built over 150 years ago and is still in business today. Over its lifetime, more wooden bowls have been produced in this mill than anywhere else in North America. It is capable of making 100,000 bowls a year!
Holland Bowl Mill- The Holland Bowl Mill opened in 1926 and is still in production. Click to watch a Discovery Channel video of the mill in operation... well worth viewing!
Russ Fairfield (1935-2011)- Russ was very willing to share his love of woodturning and did that in many ways. Russ created a website and posted many tutorials and videos on turning techniques, pen turning and finishing. Russ wrote several articles for websites, magazines and journals including the American Woodturner. Russ was a frequent demonstrator at symposiums and woodturning clubs and also taught classes in his shop.
Here are two wonderful articles he posted.
They are essential reading for all woodturners!