Turner Interview: tod evans

[Mark Cothren]

Name: tod evans

DOB: 7-13

Physical description
bald head, fuzzy face, beer belly, scars from a life of hard work-n-play

Location (for how long, previous locations, etc)
mt home, before that springfield mo.

Family information (brag on your spouse, kids, grandkids, dog, etc)
wife- emma, two step kids trevor-n-ashley and my son ian

Vocation
woodbutcher, started working at 10, caddying at a golf club, at 12 we moved to the sticks so i bucked hay and mucked stalls for cash,about 14-15 i started carrying hod for one of the neighbors joined the service at 17 fresh outta h.s. learned that i don`t play well with others so after serving my time started doing commercial carpentry, got sick of that and framed residential for a while then learned that trim carpenters made better money and the boards where lighter. started my first remodling business in my 20`s, that led to building sashes and specialty millwork for the local lumber yard which led to referals for high end trim work as my skills and tools grew furniture was the logical progression.....

Equipment Overview
yup!

Tell us about your lathe(s)
one now a minimax copy lathe

How many turning tools do you have?
?20+?

Tell us about your shop
4k foot block

How long turning?
started on a monkey wards lathe about 12?

What got you into turning?
i`ve always been a tool nut and dad brought home a lathe, sans motor..so with an old washing machine motor and some old reground chisels i started spinnin` stuff

What do you enjoy most about turning?
the same thing i enjoy about woodworking in general, being creative

What was your first completed turned project?
a candle holder

How do you manage to feed those wooly mammoths you call dogs? (Is that why there aren't many Amway sales ladies in Mountain Home?)
i work my butt off!

(Editor's note: them suckas are HUGE!!!!)

What is your favorite form that you turn?
huh? round?

How do you most enjoy incorporating turning into your flatwork projects?
nowadays turning is only for parts for sale, balasters, chair parts ect. i hope in a few years to do some of the artsy stuff, time permitting

What is your favorite form someone else turns/has turned?
i really like lots of the collered h.f. i see

What is your favorite wood to work with and why?
walnut or mahogany, tools by hand or power cleanly and pretty when finished

Have you met or hung out with any turnin' Creekers? Tell us about it.
you -n-dennis and frank came by for a bit

What is your favorite individual piece that you have turned, and why?
no favorites, the pleasure is in the journey

What if your favorite piece someone else has turned, and why?
i like lots of folks work depends on the day and phase of the moon

What do you not turn now that you want to - or plan to - in the future?
artsy stuff

How about some info on those old auto restore jobs you have done (and are doing)?
the wifes 39 is 85% complete, she`s using it for a daily driver(chevy p/u) my ol` panel is mechanically sound and i hope to get around to making it pretty in the next year or so? ashley is putting together a 48 chevy p/u for her 16th b-day, so far she`s stripped the front clip to bare metal and is hopping to pull the bed and cab this weekend... that`s all the old rigs for now......oh-yeah they`re all stock.

What brought you to SMC?
the sane-n-civil atmosphere

Got any nicknames? How'd you get it?
nope

(Editor's note: I don't think I believe you...;) but I'll let ya slide...:))

Now let's get a little deep... If you were a tree, what tree would you
be and why?
bo-darc, prickly exterior, strong-n-flexable and not nearly as ugly on the inside.

[Mark Cothren]

I'll add another comment or two here...

I rode with Dennis up to Tod's to meet him - this has been a few months back - before we hit triple digits in temp....:( In fact, if I remember right I had a jacket on that day and was wishin' I had some long johns on, too!!! (Ever get that heat going, Tod? ;) )

Tod was a very gracious host! We got a very detailed tour of his shop and store front. We even got to go into the office and see where he sits when he is typing replies on SMC...:D

Tod is in person just like he is in here with his posts.

But I'm still wondering about how he feeds them mules...:confused: :eek:

[Keith Burns]

Tod, nice to meet ya and get to know a little more about you. Good interview, very straight forward and to the point. :) :)

[Don Baer]

Nice to get to know ya better Tod

[Corey Hallagan]

Tod, it is a pleasure to know more about you. I have enjoyed your shop photos in the past and some of your molding and sash work that you have posted.

Corey

[Andy Hoyt]

Sheesh Tod. The one time we have a chance to get to know you better and you put your keyboard on a diet.

What're ya doing? Saving up the letters for helping out things on the flat side?:D

[tod evans]

Sheesh Tod. The one time we have a chance to get to know you better and you put your keyboard on a diet.

What're ya doing? Saving up the letters for helping out things on the flat side?:D

ain`t ya figgured out yet that i`ll talk all day about woodworkin` or to help folks out but don`t talk much about myself...just how i was raised i guess.....tod

[Barry Stratton]

Good interview Tod! And "THANKS" for all the info and advise you so freely share.....it helps make the creek a GREAT place to hang out.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Nice to know more about you Tod! You are indeed on the of the understated resource assets here at the Creek!

[George Conklin]

Great interview, Tod. Short, sweet and to the point;) . Hope I get to meet you in person some day:) .

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great interview Tod. Nice to meet you and to get to know you better.

[Vaughn McMillan]

Nice to meet you a bit more, Tod. I know I've learned a lot from you in the past, and I'm looking forward to picking your brain for more learnin' in the future. You're one of the pros around here and you opinion carries a lot of weight.

- Vaughn

[Karl Laustrup]

Thanks for taking the time to do the interview Tod. You are indeed one of the great resources here. I would hope to someday get down to your neck o the woods and check out your puppy dogs and say howdy.

Karl

[Dennis Peacock]

Good interview Tod..!!!!! Nice to know more about ya. :D

[Wes Bischel]

Tod,
Thanks for taking a bit of time to tell us more about yourself. It's good to know someone else appreciates the ol' stovebolts! (motorhead speak):D

Wes

[John Miliunas]

Hey Tod, great interview and nice to know just a wee bit more about you! :) You're definitely on my "short list" of Creekers I Want To Meet but, I'm just not sure I can get there from here! :eek: :D :cool:

[Jim Becker]

Yet another fine introduction!

[Frank Fusco]

Good interview with Tod. When I first pulled up, I wouldn't get out of the truck until he assured me the dogs (and they are HUGE) had been fed. Tod was a gracious host. No doubt he is a talented craftsman. His shop and work is a world apart from my pitiful projects. As said, you know where you stand with Tod. I like that. Phoniness is not a virtue. Haven't been back yet. Tod isn't retired, I am. I can waste time and don't want to waste that of an independant businessman. But, I will. He needs a break now and then. :rolleyes:

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Hey Tod, great read, thanks!

You are surely one of the guys that make this place what it is!

And you like old trucks, man I just love them old trucks!

Cheers!

[Don Orr]

That'll do just fine Tod. Nice to get to know you a bit. Heck, who would'nt like to know a guy who fixes up old trucks and has dogs. And a woodworker on top of it all.

Take care,

[Bob Noles]

tod.....

great interview and soooo you :) i have long admired your straight forward manner and no waste of words. there is much to be desired in that as well as all the help you have offered us on this forum.

a great down to earth guy in all areas of woodworking and good to learn a little more about you.

[John Bailey]

Good one todd.

John

[Curt Fuller]

That'll do just fine Tod. Nice to get to know you a bit. Heck, who would'nt like to know a guy who fixes up old trucks and has dogs. And a woodworker on top of it all.

Take care,

As I was reading your interview and all the replies I was thinking about how 'down to earth' you are. Then Don put it into words for me.

Nice to know more about you. I went to Branson Missouri a couple years ago and while there took a drive to Eureka Springs Arkansas. Man, that part of the country is a piece of heaven. Is that near your neck of the woods?

[tod evans]

I went to Branson Missouri a couple years ago and while there took a drive to Eureka Springs Arkansas. Man, that part of the country is a piece of heaven. Is that near your neck of the woods?

yup, `bout an hour west of eureka springs. once you`ve lived in the sticks they`ll keep calling to you. bugs, snakes,backwoods politics and inbreads aside it really is beautifull country. thanks ya`ll....tod

[Ernie Nyvall]

Nice to meet you Tod. I liked the interview.

[John Hart]

Nice to meet you Tod! Hey...how 'bout some pics of the puppies?;)

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Thanks for sharing, Tod.

Bruce