Survey: Turning more during pandemic? Or less?

[Russell Neyman]

I was talking to a couple of the suppliers that are peripheral to the woodturning craft -- exotic wood dealers, retailers, tool manufacturers -- and most are saying that their business is down during the Great Pandemic of 2020. So, that begs the following question:

Are you turning MORE, LESS, OR ABOUT THE SAME?

[tom lucas]

Same, but I have to go to work just about every day and I only have a few hours of "free" time for turning each month. It might be that people just are not buying "new" things, either because they don't want to go out in public or don't want to spend the money.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

far less. cant say why exactly. seems life is much busier during the shutdowns, even the liquor store has a max capacity, the clubs I belong to aren't meeting, etc.

[Robert Henrickson]

More than last year -- some weeks several hours almost every day, other weeks several hours only a couple days. I've been on a roll -- several basic new ideas which have provided a lot of scope for exploration. Since I turn for my own satisfaction and not for sale, the absence of shows/sales has been irrelevant. I turn as much or as little as my degree of interest prompts. One major interest in turning is simply problem-solving -- coming up with an idea, figuring out how to execute the design, then developing further designs from the lessons learned.

That said, suppliers would say I've been completely *inactive* because I haven't bought any tools or equipment and few turning or finishing supplies since March. Wood -- I never have used or bought exotic wood, and rarely buy large blocks of domestic woods. Large pieces I get in log form (an advantage of living in KY) for free (listen for chainsaws), but I've made few bowls or hollow forms in the last several years. Those which I have done were preparation for the Folk School classes for which I have been the assistant, but both were cancelled this year. I have bought more than 100 BF of 4/4 white oak this year -- but as roughsawn planks direct from a sawmill so turning suppliers again would not be aware of my purchases. I have used almost all of it. Almost all of my turning in the last 6 months has been complex spindlework, making structures incorporating up to 30 separate spindles. In the last 6-7 months I've done close to 100 separate constructions. One of the few supplies I have bought this year is ammonia for fuming the white oak, but that came from the grocery store.

I have begun work on a couple Windsor chairs, but again no purchases involved a turning supplier. The white oak log for spindles etc and 8/4 poplar for the seat came from the sawmill, maple for the undercarriage came from a log from a friend.

[Richard Coers]

I haven't turned one thing all year. The 2019 holiday show I do each year was the worst it's ever been over the last 15 years. About $2,000 off my best year. With that result I have 7 Rubbermaid tubs full of inventory, and no shows or events this year. So this year has been all about cycling so I can get the heck out of the house! It looks like 2021 will be all about selling my 45 year wood collection. Anyone need a box truck full of turning blanks?

[Alex Zeller]

I haven't turned anything since February. While I feel the pain of those who are out of work it's been totally opposite for me. I'm busier at work and when not at work I have far too much to do. The small amount of free time that I have had has gone to finding more tools to the shop. If I ever get free time I'm going to try to built some small jewelry boxes for Christmas presents (rectangle not turned) to put the money I invested into a jointer and planer to use. After that I'll try a couple segmented bowls so I can use the drum sander.

[John K Jordan]

Very little turning since March but really nothing to do with the pandemic. Spring and summer are usually busy on the farm but this year it seems like things are busier then normal. I did process a bunch of green wood into turning blanks and turned two things (posted photos here.)

JKJ

[Peter Blair]

Less but making just as many pieces. Some tools some flat work some wall hangers etc etc.

[Paul Williams]

The same, although my activity runs in short bursts. I turn a bunch of things one right after another, and then I find something else to do for awhile, then back to turning. I have not bought too many things in the last several months. I avoid stores, and have plenty of local wood.

[David Delo]

The same, although my activity runs in short bursts. I turn a bunch of things one right after another, and then I find something else to do for awhile, then back to turning. I have not bought too many things in the last several months. I avoid stores, and have plenty of local wood.

+1...…………….

[Jeffrey J Smith]

I’ve been turning at about the same frequency - spend 3 - 4 days a week on average. Took a couple weeks off to do some flatwork I’d been putting off for a while. I source all my wood locally and made a major investment in tools before retiring three years ago so I’m not the typical customer - I buy sandpaper and finishes and thats about it - and even that is rare.

[Reed Gray]

I only do one show any more, and that one was cancelled. I am spending time trying to get the new shop set up, mostly the flat work room and lumber storage. Been getting more done in the last week since all outdoor activity is out due to smoke, and my pool closed, again... It cleared up last night, and rain is supposed to come in tonight.

robo hippy

[Melvin Feng]

The same, although my activity runs in short bursts. I turn a bunch of things one right after another, and then I find something else to do for awhile, then back to turning. I have not bought too many things in the last several months. I avoid stores, and have plenty of local wood.

I'm very similar, and rotate through my hobbies often. I find this helps me prevent getting burned out by doing one thing over and over, and really makes all my hobbies more sustainable for the long haul.

Specifically for turning, I've go through spurts during the pandemic. I've been able to do some pretty nice upgrades to my turning setup though, which has been fun in itself - I have a Laguna 12/16 lathe (I know, it is small... I'm stuck with it for now), and I've added the 10" extension for outboard turning, the 20" extension for longer spindle turning, the stand and mobility kit, as well as an additional chuck and tool rests.

I've also been buying a lot of tooling lately to replace cheap tooling that I bought when I first started turning, and I've also added some tools to increase the diversity of projects I can work on. I've been getting D-Way gouges, Negative rake scrapers, etc. I also got the easy wood tools #3 hollower so that I could work on some hollow forms. I still have more on my list to buy!

[Thomas Wilson80]

I was turning a lot more back in April/May while my job was bumped to half-time, but we have been busy the last couple months and I have returned to my norm (1-2 times/month).
Tom

[Steve Nix]

A lot less, have ran out of room to store turned items, all craft events canceled and no club meeting to show new items plus it’s too dang hot in my shop.😷😢

[Bernie Kopfer]

I volunteer at a low cost clinic and since the pandemic set in we have been closed. My wife for good reasons insists that I stay quarantined And as much as possible I do and now do teleconferencing with patients as my clinic contribution. But love the pandemic! ( I know that’s sick but being forced to stay home has been beneficial.) Learned how to cut up green logs and turn green bowls and dry them. Discovered I need a bigger bandsaw! Amazing right? And now am learning how to turn The dried bowls etc.
But also got the shop cleaned and a couple of boxes of excess stuff to sell or exchange with other woodworkers in the future. Did a complete master bath remodel and update. And had the outside of the house repainted. Hope my sweet wife does not come t believe this is the new normal!

[Russell Neyman]

I've slowed somewhat, but still crank out a large project once a week for the pure joy of it. I can't have the normal flow of woodturning students through my shop, of course. I guess the good news is since I have limited ability to teach, I've been forced to work on my video skills. I can't wait to the past this.

[Reed Gray]

Well, for me, the only show I do any more was cancelled this year. So, I am finally getting around to trying to set up my new shop. Some thing I have kind of put off for the last 2 years....

Russell, you are a Groucho Marks fan... He had a lot of words of wisdom.... Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

robo hippy