Name: Keith Christopher
DOB: 10/14/1965
Physical description:
I’m 6’2” tall, stout build, brown hair, smashingly handsome.
Where is home?
I’ve lived here in Baltimore, Maryland most of my life. Except when I was in the military I was stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas. And the Army was kind enough to send me all over the world.
Family information:
I have two kids, Joshua and Ashleigh. Had the best cat in the world. Prolly never find one to replace him. There are pics of him floating about in here. But you gotta look for ‘em.
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So Keith, I’ve heard that Baltimore’s sister city is Buffalo, New York. How come?
Aww man!
Do you have a website? Nope.
Vocation:
I am currently Senior Manager IT for a major corporation. I’ve worked in IT management for the last 12 years and before that I was a UNIX systems architect.
Shop Overview:
About 30 x 30 and it’s part of the existing house. Maybe someday I’ll get around to putting up that pole barn and move it to there but fine at the moment.
Tell us about your lathes:
I currently have one and I’m working towards getting a Oneway, (yeah baby! ed.) but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Wanna hone some skills on the Rikon and see if I can make it give up the ghost.
How many turning tools do you have? Store bought; home made; favorites?
I don’t have enough fingers and toes with which to count them all. I keep getting lost around 11 and have to start over. The skew is my favorite!
How long have you been turning, and what got you started in the first place?
My grandfather got me started in woodworking in general. In my youth I would spend the summers helping him – he was a cabinetmaker – and I considered it indentured servitude at the time. Only now do I realize I learned something wonderful. I used to watch him turn, and once I watched in amazement as he turned balusters for a stair railing, he turned one, liked what he saw and made 12 more EXACTLY like it without a template or guide. I never messed with a lathe because I knew I would never be that good. Then I decided to see what I could do. I like it. I’m not there yet but give me a few more years…
What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Pistachio
What do you enjoy most about turning?
Watching the wood evolve as I put the tool to it. The wood tells me how it needs to be treated, and when you form it and see what it wants to be, well that is gratifying. Corny I know, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
What was your first completed turned project? You get bonus points for a picture of it.
My first was a mahogany bowl.
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What’s your favorite individual piece that you have turned, and why?
My rice bowl. I like the shape and size. It just looks cool and well proportioned.
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What’s your favorite form that you turn?
Bowls
What do you not turn now that you want to - or plan to - in the future?
I’m about to break into hollow forms and inside-out turning. Watch out! I’m coming all you HF turners.
How do you take your Moxie? (Straight up? beer chaser? neat? with corn flakes?)
Moxie? What’s Moxie?
What’s your favorite form someone else turns?
Love the hollow forms.
What’s your favorite individual piece someone else has turned, and why?
I love ALL the hollow forms! I don’t think I’ve seen a bad one. But then again why would someone show off a bad one?
Umm Keith - that's all Travis ever shows!
What’s your favorite wood to work with and why?
Hmmm. There are so many I like, but I’d have to say mahogany. I love the feel and smell of it. It finishes like a dream (once you fill the pores.)
What brought you to SMC?
Truthfully, I was looking for a message forum that catered to woodworkers and was more personal and homey. I did a Google search for WW forums and this was the third one on the list. I popped in signed up and the rest is history.
Have you met or hung out with any fellow Creekers? Tell us about it.
Brian Hale – an awesome gent and VERY talented woodworker. His DVD cabinets were wonderful. Great design and construction.
John Hart, while my GF and I were visiting her parents in Ohio, I stopped in and spent a good part of the day with Mr. Hart and his lovely wife and kids, and his HUGE but oh so softie dog. We cut up some logs at the stump dump and hung out a little. I did injure my head on his “If you’re taller than me I’m gonna get you back” trap. Worked like a charm. His house is adorned with all the turnings he does and never shows on here.
What was your first post about? Or don’t you remember?
It was about my tools and a question I think. I can’t count past 10 so how am I supposed to remember over 1000 posts ago.
How about the first thread you started?
See above.
Sorry Keith I can count - without fingers and toes even!
So, ya got any nicknames? How'd you get them?
At work they call me Sage. Apparently someone who cannot count past 10 can offer sagely advice.
Now let's get a little deep... If you were a tree, what tree would you be and why?
Ok wait…. I’m not a tree? Man that explains A LOT! Seriously though, I would have to say a maple, I’m just one of many and I like it that way.
If you won the Irish Sweepstakes what part of your life would change?
Well if the prize were like $60 I’d have that new parting tool I saw and that’s about it, but if it were like $60,000,000 I’d prolly never be seen again as I turned day in and out down in Jamaica. And I’d have a lathe for every occasion, I’d never change centers or jaws again.
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Couple more pics - hang on.
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