First Turned Piece

[Tom Hamilton]

Greetings:

Wow, this is fun and even better it doesn't take a long time to have a finished piece.

The dust and chip mess is another story, but no pain no gain.

So, I got this little Delta LA 200 midi, bought some blanks from Rockler for the price of a pint of bait shrimp and had a lesson from master turner, and fellow Houston Creeker Rich Souchek. Rich lives in the area and invited me to visit his turning studio last Saturday.

And this is the result:

72691

The blank is maple and the figure is just wonderful.

72692

I had some problems with tool marks but sanding from 150 grit to 1500 fixed that. Smooth to the touch. A little BLO and Johnson's Paste Wax and Bob's your uncle!

72693

I know, it's not that big a deal, but it sure was fun and satisfying.

Plus when I go to the Gulf Coast Woodturners meeting for the first time I can tell them I turned an aquarium for my first project:

72694

Thanks to Rich for the training (you should see him turn, backhanded, cross handed, one handed, pretty amazing) and the Turners Forum for generating the interest to try this phase of woodworking.


Tom, in Housto, pretty exciting about this turning thing and thinking about a 3520B already.

[Jason Christenson]

Very nice. How big is it?

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great looking piece Tom. Wood really has some stuff going on. Well done.

[Kyle Laird]

I like it.

[Jim Becker]

Very nice work, Tom.

[Tom Hamilton]

Thanks for the kind words.

Jason, it started as a 2x8 blank and is now 7 3/4 across and 1 3/4 tall.

Or, about two dozen goldfish wide!

Tom

[Neal Addy]

Beautiful work! An obsession is born.

[Nancy Laird]

Beautiful piece, Tom. That maple is talking real LOUD!!!

Nancy (84 days)

[Steve Schlumpf]

Very impressive for your first piece! Great form, beautiful wood and a great looking finish!

Welcome to the Abyss!!!

[Pat Doble]

Very nice piece Tom. First turning and already dreaming of mustard.... You're hooked:) . Kiss all your $$$ goodbye.

[Doug M Jones]

mmm... lessons, maybe thats what I need.

I've been at this for 6 months and have yet to make something that nice. Very pretty piece. Keep up the good work.

[Paul Engle]

Very nice Tom, keep it up and we may have the next Travis on our hands:eek: :D

[Dennis Peacock]

Beuatiful...absolutely beautiful. :D

[Tom Sherman]

Awright Tom, and excellent effort, great wood work and finish.

[Brian Weick]

Very nice work Tom- You did a great job on that, and that was your your first turning Tom - WOW:eek: that's all I can say.
Brian:)

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Tom, this is just plain BEAUTIFUL!! Way to go my friend!:)

[Tom Hamilton]

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement.

It is fun and a very different kind of woodworking than flat work.


In the interest of full disclosure Bowl # 2 is in several pieces on the shop floor. A little unsupported chisel edge and BAM, big blowout! Oh, that's what they mean about riding the bevel. Naturally it was close to the end of the project, I was just going to take one more thin pass on the edge! Gotcha!

Chris, I'm looking forward to our time together next Saturday.

Tom, in Houston, headed to the shop to true up a blank for Bowl #3.

[Mike Vickery]

Tom, that is a beauty. It is almost scary that it was your first bowl.

[Brett Baldwin]

Great piece Tom. You were obviously paying close attention in your lesson.

That blowout is what is refered to around here as a design modification. They are frequent and often unintentional.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Tom......that's the finest 1st turned piece I've ever seen.....If I'm going to sell my PM3520B ....now'd be the time to do it as it's still crated!:rolleyes: Very well done sir!

[Tom Hamilton]

Gee, Ken, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. If I leave tomorrow morning I can be on your doorstep Wed.

Just think when you come to Houston to visit Mike I'm only a half mile away. You can visit your FORMER lathe any time. I'll even leave the air conditioner on for you!

See you Wed, about lunch time, I'll bring pizza, what's your fav?

Tom, in Houston, googling a route from Houston to Lewiston

[Rich Souchek]

Tom,
That's sure a pretty bowl or dish. You must have absorbed a few things, and then learned all sorts of stuff getting a bowl that pretty so soon.
Looks like the time spent on bowl design and details was well spent. It took me months to get a bowl rim that thin, and was scary a heck too.
I'll try to call you tomorrow.
Congratulations.
Rich S.

[Glenn Hodges]

Tom you chose a beautiful piece of wood to make this beauty. You are off to a great start, we look forward to more pictures of your work, thanks.

[Keith Christopher]

Tom,

You're doomed now the abyss has you ! Great piece of work !


Keith

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Outstanding effort! Made even better by the fact that it's your first try!

Bruce

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Gee, Ken, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. If I leave tomorrow morning I can be on your doorstep Wed.

Just think when you come to Houston to visit Mike I'm only a half mile away. You can visit your FORMER lathe any time. I'll even leave the air conditioner on for you!

See you Wed, about lunch time, I'll bring pizza, what's your fav?

Tom, in Houston, googling a route from Houston to Lewiston


Tom,

I'm very sorry but I am tied up Wednesday. I'm on a low sodium diet and can't eat pizza. Besides with the price of gas, it'd be cheaper to go to the Cutting Edge not too far from you and just buy the lathe.:D

[Jason McCrory]

Tom, I apologize to you and other readers for misusing the forum for this purpose... I am trying to get more information about what happened to Frank Wittwer, re: the announcement you posted in January 2006. I was a friend of Frank's in the late 80s. If you are willing, please contact me using the email feature on my profile. Thank you, Jason McCrory (in Austin)