Name: Hilel Salomon

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How young are you? 68 going on 100

Physical description:
I look like a professional football player (who’s been dead for quite some time)

Where is home?
Columbia S.C., and Afton, VA. I’ve also lived in Philadelphia, St. Louis, NY, Asia, and South America. I was born and raised in Bolivia, and came to the US at age 10 or so.

Family information:
Same wife for 42 years, a son w/wife and two kids in Va.; a daughter w/husband and 3 kids in Paris, France; a son w/wife and two kids in Boston. Total of one wife, three children, and 7 (4 boys and 3 girls) grandchildren. I now consider myself a professional grandfather.

Do you have a website?
Not really.

Well gee, Hilel. That’s only marginally better than, “Nope”.

Vocation:
I’m a retired university professor – I taught Chinese History and Philosophy. I now baby-sit, read, write and listen to baroque music with a glass of single malt scotch.

Shop Overview:
I have a shop in my basement in Columbia (30 x 30) which I excavated and quasi finished. In Va., I made a barn/workshop out of green poplar, which is 20 x 40 and is about 40 feet from the little house up in the mountains. Have two each (in Columbia and VA.) of all the large woodworking machinery (table saws, jointers, planers, shapers, sliding miter saws, radial arm saws, drill presses and bandsaws. I like making furniture for my kids and boxes for my grandkids.

How many lathes do you own?
I first bought a Vega many, many years ago. Never used it, but sold it at a profit and bought another Vega. Didn’t like it. Now I have a Powermatic in Columbia; and a Nova DVR, Reeves drive Delta and Fisch in VA. I love the Powermatic 3520 B, and like the DVR XP.

How many turning tools do you have?
I have over a dozen chucks, and scores of chisels. (My family considers me to have an illness about buying things on credit, and I probably am a little crazy) Almost all are store bought, and 3 are home made. I like the Vicmarc and Oneway chucks, and Hamlet and Crown gouges.

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
The kind that has Dr.Kevorkian's picture on the carton, considering the fact that I’ve had two heart attacks.

What do you enjoy most about turning?
When the shavings come out in long clean strips, it is medicinal for me.

What do you enjoy the least about turning?
Sanding and cleaning up.

Do you belong to a turning club?
Palmetto Woodturners in Columbia, and the CVA in VA.

What’s your favorite individual piece that you have turned, and why?

A very large ambrosia maple bowl and platter. I love the markings and it was the first time I got to use a corer.

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?
Narrow opening vases.

How do you take your Moxie? (Straight up? beer chaser? neat? with corn flakes?)
With a side dish of Pepto Bismol.

Harumpf!

What’s your favorite form someone else turns?
Thin walled hollow forms.

What’s your favorite individual piece someone else has turned, and why?
There are about 20 or so in every edition of the 500 bowls. No one favorite.

What brought you to SMC?
Members are fantastic about giving advice and sharing information.

Do you recall the first thread you started?

Undoubtedly a request for advice.

Yup. You got it.

What’s your favorite old thread on SMC?
Numerous ones. No one stands out.

Have you met or hung out with any fellow Creekers?
Most recently I met Clancy Courtney, who is also a member of the Palmetto turners. Also met a slew of them over beers at the Louisville AAW

Now let's get a little deep... If you were a turning tool, what tool would you be and why?
A Lady’s skew so that I could be held by a charming young woman.

If you won the Irish Sweepstakes what part of your life would change?
I’d build even bigger shops and get even more tools.

Thanks for sharing, Hilel. A pleasure to learn more about you. I also have to congratulate you for your Off the Radar status with Google. A major achievement these days.