Hill Country Turners
A local chapter of the American Association of
Woodturners
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AS THE HILL COUNTRY TURNS Volume # 8 Issue # 12 December 11 CHRISTMAS Hill Country Turners will meet at the Inn of the Hills on the Junction Highway in Kerrville for the annual Christmas dinner and party, this month only. Editors Note: Well, gee, what can I say! I went on walk-about last month and got some new body parts! “They” call it a “Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator”. Only got to worry when I get the Oneway going over 15,000 rpm! The static electricity developed may “interfer”. Anyway, it was really a humbling experience (somewhat out of character for me) to see the support from my friends and acquaintances. Never have I belonged to ANY ORGANIZATION like the HCT with so much support for only having known me for such a short time! Geez, you guys made the big boy tear up, didn’t know I had so many friends. Thank you very sincerely, one and all. “HEADSTOCK CHATTER” (Everybody needs a boss to blame stuff on! This is the boss’s vent!) THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT IN THE NOVEMBER NEWLETTER WHERE I DROPPED THE BALL, AND I THOUGHT IT SO GOOD I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL GOT IT! OUR PRESIDENT IS A WONDERFUL FELLOW, ISN’T HE? Every now and then the opportunity occurs to do something exciting.Turning brings that opportunity to those of us who have chosen it as a hobby. But it is more than a hobby. Single words do not provide the means of describing the satisfaction resulting from participating in the art and craft of wood turning. Each time we pick up a piece of wood, whether a log or board, the challenge is presented to do something with it.
Most often I decide what I am going to do after I pick a piece of stock. Oh, there are times when the idea comes first and the search for the wood follows, but for me that is less frequent. I like the task of examining the piece and considering the opportunities presented. Each piece of wood offers new options. Consider the variables. What characteristic does this type of wood have? Is it hard or soft, tough or weak, heavy or light, even texture or curly? The questions are endless, as are the answers. Even two pieces of the same specie differ in grain pattern and color. What is to be the purpose of the turning, utilitarian or decorative? Even that question has so many possibilities. Most of these questions occur informally rather than consciously and so do the answers. For me, that is the practice. Sometimes, however, I approach the process more formally. This is when I find a unique piece of wood that deserves more than a casual approach. Then I am likely to examine it for special grain and color opportunities. I will then measure and determine size and proportions and put all this to pencil and paper to explore shapes and features. As I do this, consideration of turning techniques are made. How will I hold it? What tools will I use? What characteristics do I want to enhance? How can I best do that? Should the finished turning be light or substantive? Even as I write this I fail to recognize all the variables that are taken in account in the actual process. I do think of the shapes I have seen in other media as well as in woodturning to consider these as a possible basis for this one. There is another advantage of attending such gatherings as SWAT. Can that really be done in wood? Sometimes, I even consider, do I have the expertise to do this? That is part of the excitement. When I started turning, about five years ago now, I turned lots of items just to practice techniques. I had to learn what authors and demonstrators meant when they said or did something with a tool. Now, I am still practicing and expect to do so as long as I turn. Hopefully, I am making progress but find so much yet to do. Why this long diatribe on the processes of wood turning? I could say to fill the space allocated me by the worthy newsletter editor, Lewis Dodd. But more accurately, it is the story of my life. I have found that despite all the planning one could do for their life, the real challenges and exciting events come from dealing with the realities with which we are faced and making something of them. It is exciting isn’t it?
CLASSIFIEDS (FOR SALE) (Make room for more and bigger tools, sell those old ones here) (Same exclusion as above applies) THIS IS LATE!!! Better call and see what is left! Sorry about this Larry, I was “out fishing” and not taking care of business! Dear
Chapter Presidents-- I
have had a good response to my previous e-mail, but about half of what I've sold
has been at the meetings of the 2 clubs to which I belong. So, I thought
I'd ask you to announce this sale at your club meetings, so that everyone, not
only those on my e-mail list, would be advised of the sale. I list the
sale prices below. Here's
what we have left to sell: Note that we pay all postage, the prices
are net. Also, with each purchase, we are giving a free TTT Cap and a free
drink coolie, left over from the "old days".
One dustier Grizzly G5979-12”X35 ½” variable speed wood lathe on stand, $350.00. Call or see Lewis Dodd. (830) 997-3652 or e-mail ripsawed@ktc.com (I am gonna have to change that to “rustier” pretty quick!)
3. RADIAL ARM SAW...Ryobi 81/4 " bench top radial arm saw, may also be used as a pin router. $100.00 or will trade for a bench top, small capacity band saw in good condition. Bill Hussey 830-896-8093 “THE BIG CHIPS” of KTC Hill country turners is a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners dedicated to providing education, information and a place to meet and discuss woodworking and woodturning. President:
DALE LEMONS
Vice President: Jimmy
Holton Treasurer:
Cynthia Johnson
KACC Liaison:
Uel
Clanton Special Events
Bill Hussey
Newsletter
Lewis
Dodd OUR WEB BOWL
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