The variation, nuisances and beauty of wood are often what inspire woodworkers to craft this amazing material into handsome objects of function and art, and can cause some woodworkers to hold a reverence for the actual trees behind the wood source. If you appreciate trees, this video on the science of water movement within trees may blow away any notions you’ve held about how water makes it to the upper most leaves on a tree.
By Curtis Turner
Round Rock, TX
I continually try to improve my processes and methods to become a more skilled woodworker. But in one area, I have allowed myself to go unchallenged and haven’t made improvements: maintaining a super-sharp edge on my curved carving tools. I finally had enough and decided I would turn a stropping slip with a handle.
CLICK HERE to learn how to make your own stropping slip:
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this month’s issue of The Highland Woodturner:
Well it’s that time of year again. Time to get organized and set new goals for the year ahead. I would encourage you to think about your own turning goals. Consider stretching your turning horizons and join your local turning club. If you are already a member, volunteer to conduct a demo or bring a finished piece for your club’s show and tell. You can’t cross an ocean with one foot on the dock!
My turning goals for 2013 are as follows:
1. Demonstrate my spring pole lathe for my club.
2. Attend the Southwest Association of Woodturning Symposium.
3. Make another stool.
4. Visit Berdoll Sawmill & Furniture Co. A mill east of Austin that handles extremely large trees. For example rare 30”+ diameter mesquite trees!
5. Teach my 11 year old son some basic turning skills.
As 2012 comes to a close, I have begun to think about goals for next year. The ringing in of the New Year brings the opportunity to re-evaluate and reorganize with the promise of a fresh start. So, I recently reconsidered my shop setup, and how I use my tools.
CLICK HERE to read about the changes Curtis made to improve his workshop for the new year:
CLICK HERE to take a look at the rest of the December issue of The Highland Woodturner:
As woodworkers it can be pretty easy to shop for us, since there is always another new tool we would like to have in the shop. The holidays coming up are providing many opportunities to increase the number and/or quality of those tools in our shops, and now is a perfect time to write up our wish lists so our family and friends will know exactly which tools to get us! Curtis Turner wrote up his wish list below – take a look!
1. Gransfors Bruks competition throwing axe – I have participated in several friendly axe throwing events and they are a blast. Do I need one? Well, not really but they are just so cool.
2. The complete collection of Roy Underhill DVDs – I have watched the Woodwright’s Shop for decades and have always been amazed at Roy’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the craft.
3. Easy Wood hollower #3 – I think this may be just the tool I need to improve the surface of those hard to reach places in my hollow forms.
4. Auriou rasp #10 9″ – I have seen Michel hand stitch raps. I admire his dedication to this ancient skill. These rasps work wonders at shaping wood.
5. Foredom Angle grinder – This would be a fantastic accessory for my Foredom TX flex shaft.
Did you know you can create a wishlist at Highlandwoodworking.com and send it out by email to anyone who might be searching for the perfect gift for you? CLICK HERE to get started with your own wish list.
Curtis is 2012 President of Central Texas Woodturners, a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and a member of Fine Woodworkers of Austin. Curtis teaches and demonstrates nationally for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also owns a studio where he teaches and works. Curtis lives and works in Central Texas with his wife and four young children. Take a look at his website at www.curtisturnerstudio.com.
Long-time customer Tom Schmitt shares some personal musings on working in the shop while taking into consideration life changes that affect our working ways. A local neighborhood resident, Tom often graces the aisles of Highland Woodworking in search of tools needed to maintain his guitar building habit and for simple, friendly conversation about woodworking dilemmas, Labrador Retrievers, raising teenagers and the nature of the universe.
Arthritis is a nearly inevitable consequence of aging in humans. For many human males, it seems the desire to do some woodworking is also. There are many things the modern woodworker can do to minimize the impact of woodworking on one’s arthritis and to also minimize the impact of arthritis on woodworking.
CLICK HERE to read some of Tom’s suggestions on dealing with arthritis and woodworking.
I received a call for help from a sweet lady named Linda Grisham. Her story was very interesting, the kind that tugs at your heart and keeps you from forming the word “No” as a response.
Linda explained that her husband James was a woodworker and had built several Maloof style pieces of sculptured furniture. He’d finished several rockers and was working on a cradle when a drunken driver hit and killed him during one of his early morning bike rides near Carrolton, Georgia.
Linda asked if I would finish the cradle because their first grand child was due in June. See what I mean?