Favorite Woodturning/Woodworking Quote?

[Russell Neyman]

I'm working on a project that involves clever or insightful quotations about woodturning. The broader woodworking context may be where I end up with this -- turning is a relatively small part of working with wood -- but I thought I'd throw this out to the Creepers and see what "turns" up.

My personal favvorites are:


"If you don't have a stack of failures in your shop, you aren't trying hard enough. --Richard Raffin.

"Yes, I probably wood." --Anonymous


"It's not thin enough!" -- Everyone

[Jon McElwain]

My second lathe was a 120 year old "Fox Monitor" metalworking lathe that had been converted from belt drive to electric, and which was re-purposed into a wood lathe. I did a little research to learn more about the lathe and the company and found some really interesting information. Along the way, I also found a catalog online which depicted my lathe. The catalog was an electronic reproduction of a pre-1892 catalog. The last few pages of the catalog contained several sections unheard of in modern catalogs. They were titled, "Suggestions to Working Men," "Save a Little Money," "Safe Business Rules," "Law Points," and "Man Can Be Compared to an Engine Lathe." The last section was of particular interest, and I know you will enjoy the read!


Excerpt From a Lodge and Davis Lathe catalog, circa 1890:

Man Can Be Compared to an Engine Lathe

He has his "fast speeds" and later his "slower speeds;" by that time he has had his "full swing." If his "head stock" is light, he is liable to "chatter," which is an "index" of want of "solidity." His "carriage" and "bearing" depend on his "ways," and he is often tied to an "apron" string. If he comes home late to dinner and finds everything cold, he is wrathy, and this may be called his "cross feed." If he attends a banquet and eats and drinks for hours, this could be called his "length feed." While going through life he gets many a good "belt," and finds considerable "friction" in trying to "clutch" onto all the money he can. If he fails to pay his rent, his landlord is "bored" and he gets "turned" out. If he steals money he is "chased" to Canada, which is his "finishing cut." If he ever amounts to much, he commences by "roughing" it, then becomes "smoother," and should in time get some "polish." When old, he has some "lost motion," gets on his last "legs," then "dies," and is finally "chucked" in the grave.

The catalog can be viewed here (http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/lodge/lodgedavis-foldout-brochure-nodate-si.pdf). Check out the catalog and read some of the sections on the last few pages.

[Jeff Jackson]

My favorite woodturning quote to remember is "the inside diameter should not exceed the outside diameter"

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

Turn the pith out of it!

[David DeCristoforo]

Not as good without the accent but an old German cabinetmaker was heard to comment "You never seem to have the time to do it right but you always seem to find the time to do it over..."

[Jason Edwards]

John Jordan said: "Life is too short to turn crappy wood". I understand he may have used a euphemism for "crappy" though....

[Hayes Rutherford]

"Use sandpaper like John Keeton is paying for it"

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

I warm myself by the fire of my mistakes.
faust

[Don Bunce]

Said by a guy that goes by "Baconsoda" in a Utube video about the Oneway Drill Wizard:

"Normally, I have to justify everything before I buy it, but this was a situation where the very fact that it existed was justification enough for buying this tool...it just had to be bought!"

[Roger Chandler]

"measure twice, cut once" that made famous as far as I know by Norm Abrams, who wrote a book with that title, and hosted New Yankee Workshop for 17 years if my memory serves me correctly.

[Reed Gray]

When sphincter tightening exceeds chuck tightening, you have a problem. From 'Pats Fan' over on Woodnet.

If it don't hold soup, it's art. Anthony Yak

The bevel should rub the wood, but the wood shouldn't know it. Unknown

A dull chisel is just a screw driver. From the Work Sharp sharpening people.

Anything with sharp teeth eats meat. Woodworking tools have sharp teeth. People are made out of meat. Australian woodworker, don't have his name.

I probably have more that I just can't remember....

robo hippy

[Prashun Patel]

"Dad, it's cool that you can make things."
My daughter.

"I wish I had a hobby like yours".
My wife

"Will I ever be as good as you?"
My son

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

When sphincter tightening exceeds chuck tightening, you have a problem. From 'Pats Fan' over on Woodnet.

If it don't hold soup, it's art. Anthony Yak

The bevel should rub the wood, but the wood shouldn't know it. Unknown

A dull chisel is just a screw driver. From the Work Sharp sharpening people.

Anything with sharp teeth eats meat. Woodworking tools have sharp teeth. People are made out of meat. Australian woodworker, don't have his name.

I probably have more that I just can't remember....

robo hippy

I attended SWAT this year - third year for me.

the new "catch phrase" among many of the professional turners is "float the bevel"

[Roger Chandler]

I attended SWAT this year - third year for me.

the new "catch phrase" among many of the professional turners is "float the bevel"

Stuart Batty stated "float the bevel" numerous times at the Virginia Symposium last weekend...........never did see the need to bear down on the bevel myself, but I suppose there are some people you have to tell........that is a wall, not a door! :rolleyes::D

[Dale Miner]

"I just make stuff" - Art Liestman

One of my faves. Kinda applies too.

[Shawn Pachlhofer]

Stuart Batty stated "float the bevel" numerous times at the Virginia Symposium last weekend...........never did see the need to bear down on the bevel myself, but I suppose there are some people you have to tell........that is a wall, not a door! :rolleyes::D
Stuart wasn't the only one that I heard say it. Rudy Lopez, maybe Al Hockenberry and someone else.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

No matter how many times I cut this board, it is STILL too short.

Don't know who said it first.

[Mike Hollingsworth]

"I'm not too fond of the Human Race, but I can tolerate woodworkers."
-Mike Hollingsworth

[Wally Dickerman]

"Make your mistakes look that's what you intended to do in the first place."

Never ever say "That's good enough"

[Doug Ladendorf]

"...and that my friends is what we call a 'design opportunity'!"

[Maurice McLeod]

I'm just one tool away from being really, really good.

[Dave Cullen]

"Never chuck anything with double sided tape that you're not willing to be hit in the head with".

Ernie Conover (I think)

[Ralph Lindberg]

There is no turning so bad it can't be burned
Dale Nish

[Marty Tippin]

"Don't get blood on the wood"

[Steve Paxman]

So many of these are really great. What a great thread to read first thing in the morning.

[Stephen Musial]

"Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship"
Zeuxis of Greece 5th century BCE

[Mike Golka]

"The difference between an amature and professional is the pro knows how to fix his mistakes" my grandfather.

[John Altberg]

Two phrases that I run through my head when designing and turning are: 1) Less is more. 2) Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

[Richard Moran]

The difference between a wood worker and a craftsman is the craftsman knows how to "finish" a project (details, not wood treatment)

Turn it to shape, sand it to submission and drown it in Polyurethane.

Leave it long and leave it fat - so you can redesign it when you catch a tool.

The Seven "Ps" - Proper Planning and Preparation Prevent Piss-Poor Performance Live by it!

A properly sharpened tool in the hands of a craftsman can produce a 400 grit finish.

[Don Bunce]

A carpenter works to the nearest 1/8 inch.

A cabinetmaker works to the nearest 1/64 inch.

A boatbuilder works to the nearest boat.

[Harvey M. Taylor]

I turn the bowl to get the money to buy the food to get the strength to turn the bowl. a

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

When Rude Osolnik was asked, "Rude, how do I become a good turner?", Rude replied," stand at the lathe."

[Jason Edwards]

Another funny one attributed to Rude Osolnik: All tools are hammers, except for chisels, as those are screwdrivers.

[Russell Neyman]

"Rotten cannot be carved." -- Chinese proverb

This would also apply to woodturning.

[Richard Moran]

A 10 lb. rough log spinning at 500 rpm when it loses its mounts - takes a long time to stop...

[Mike Peace]

"If it it is almost sharp it will almost cut." unknown

"There is no such thing as a bad tool. Just tools we don't use as often." David Ellsworth

[Darrell Duvall]

I have heard a lot of these applied to work in days as a stair installer and cabinetmaker.

One of my favorites about woodturning came from Mike Stafford who has been teaching me woodturning.

He said he knew he was a wood turner when his wife let him bring his turnings in the house.

I didn't know how true that was until my wife wanted the first bowl I turned. She was more excited about that bowl than about a lot of things.

[John Sincerbeaux]

My guitar instructor told me this years ago, but it pertains to so many things we do.
"practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect"

[John Sanford]

"There is no such thing as a bad tool. Just tools we don't use as often." David Ellsworth Clearly, Mr. Ellsworth hasn't experienced the joys of some of Harbor Freights's finest.

[Justin Stephen]

Humor, rather than wisdom, but here is what TV star and woodworker Nick Offerman had to say when asked if he would build is own casket (warning, contains profanity):

http://imgur.com/sy7GH8l

[Don Orr]

Where will it go if it slips?

Applies to any tool anywhere-shop, garage, kitchen, garden, etc. Keep your hands out of the path of a tool-especially those with cutting edges. And even those without. It hurts a LOT when you slip a dull, rusty Phillips screwdriver out of the screw and into the palm of your hand.

[Mark Detrick]

I'm not sure where I heard this first but I seems to come in handy when the credit card statement arrives:

"I'm one tool away from perfection"

[Russell Neyman]

"A chip on the shoulder is an indication that there is wood higher up."
-- Jack Herbert

[Russell Neyman]

Found these:

http://www.wackywoodworks.co.nz/sayings.php

[Russell Neyman]

"The safest thing a woodturner can do is never turn the lathe on."
-- not sure; might have been me.

[Michael Mills]

This is from the last page of a Harbor Freight manual. Copyright 2000
“Warning: The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in thisinstruction manual cannot cover all possible conditions andsituations that may occur. It must be understood by the operatorthat common sense and caution are factors which cannot be built intothis product, but must be supplied by the operator.”

[Dan Jechura]

In my shop I always hear from a pile a blanks, " My Turn, My Turn" as I'm going to pick up a different blank.

The best one I heard was "The wood speaks to me"



i

[Tim Rinehart]

...just one more cut ...

[Prashun Patel]

I'm turning Japanese maple.
I'm think I'm turning Japanese maple.
I really think so.

[John Grider]

"I have cut this board 3 times and it is still too short!"

[John K Jordan]

>"measure twice, cut once" that made famous as far as I know by Norm Abrams

This just caught my eye. I don't know when Norm made this famous, but he is a latecomer. Over 50 years ago an old craftsman was helping me build my first little chest of drawers. He told me to always remember to "measure twice, cut once. I think he must have been close to 70 at the time and said he was taught this when he was a kid, so there's 100 years right there. I wasn't surprised to find this saying was much, much older and widely repeated all over the world.

This interesting article traces this "proverb" back to 1560 as "measure seven times and cut once":
https://idiomation.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/measure-twice-cut-once/
Perhaps it was much older. Mortise and tenon joints have been found from 7000 years ago.

JKJ

[Gary Chester]

I like the one below in my signature... Red Green... "Any tool can be the right tool"

If I remember correctly, the clip on his show showed him with a 2x4 in front of him with various types of screws started ready to be driven in. He was explaining the differences and advantages between them, slotted, phillips, square drive etc. And just when you thought he was going to pull out a drill and screw them in... he pulls out a big ole' hammer and beats them in like they were nails!! "Any tool can be the right tool"

[Robert Edington]

One I heard Norm use many years ago has stuck with me. I use it on my wife all the time for justificatiion.

"There's no such thing as too many clamps"

RP

[hu lowery]

Well, I guess it's time for the most obvious as I haven't read it yet, might have missed it.

"It's wood, this stuff grows on trees" Covers when I fail, covers when I give away a success.


Another hoary old one, "When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail."


One that I hung up at my business for a short time but took it down because it was too true:
"This isn't Burger King, you get it my way or you don't get it!"

Of course when I call my suppliers it is the other way around:
"If I wanted it tomorrow I would have ordered it tomorrow!"

When it comes to getting up in the morning:
"The early bird gets the worm but the early worm gets eaten!" "the early bird gets the worm but who wants to eat worms?" I know a lot of sayings warning of the perils of getting up early!

"I saw a flash of light. At first I thought it was a great idea, turned out it was a major short"

"Try, try, try, then give up. No sense being a danged fool about it!"

The favorite of every auctioneer, "Think long, think wrong!"

"Never put off till tomorrow what will wait until next week" or "Never put off till tomorrow what someone else can do today."

Ending with something that is really good advice, "When in doubt, don't"


Hu

[robert baccus]

Never spray lacquer on a june bug nite.

[hu lowery]

Never spray lacquer on a june bug nite.


It was a curse back when I had a body shop. I could spend an hour going over every inch of my spray booth, every inch of the car; every time I sprayed white paint on a car one of the huge gypsy moths would flop over backwards and do a big fluttering death circle making a one to two foot ring in my paint job about an inch and a half wide. Happened six or eight white all over paint jobs in a row. I still hate gypsy moths!

Hu

[Aaron Craven]

"Treat every cut as if it were a finishing cut"

Saw it in a youtube video, but I can't remember which on of the hundreds I've watched.

Also some variation on "when in the shop, if you're doing something that scares you or feels wrong, STOP."

[Geoff Whaling]

"Oh crap (or insert your favourite four letter word.)"

but on a more serious note

"You are the craftsman, work to the tolerances required for the project." - my father David Whaling. Dad was a stickler for a good job but only if the client was paying for the level of craftsmanship, which leads into the next one - source unknown

"We do three types of work, - good - fast - cheap; you can have any two of the three - a good job done fast, won't be cheap; a fast job done cheap, won't be good; a good cheap job, won't be fast." I first saw this in a General Carriers office Toot's Holzheimer's in fact - a Cape York legend.

[Wayne Kuhn]

Never, ever take the last cut.

[john taliaferro]

Heard at craft shows [ is it a burel ] no its from the trunk of the tree just a log [but is it a burel]