Name: Ken Fitzgerald
DOB: 1949
Physical description (G-rated, please)
6'1" 245lbs....gray hair receding fast
Location (for how long, previous locations, etc)
I was raised oil field trash and served 8 years in the Navy so I'll just say Lewiston Idaho for 24 years and Illinois, Georgia, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Texas and Mississippi.
Family information (brag on your spouse, kids, grandkids, dog, etc)
Been married to the LOML, Sharon for 37 years. 3 adult children, 5 grandchildren, soon to be great grandparents. Oldest son is a local deputy sheriff, daughter works for an airline in Phoenix, AZ and youngest son is a dental school student at the University of Texas Houston. Oldest son served 9 years in the Army; youngest son served 5 years in the Navy and is in the inactive reserves. LOML is a CNA and works as a special ed. teaching assistant.
Vocation (what do you do for a living, and what have you done previously)
I am a service engineer for a large corporation where I install and maintain CT & MR scanners and x-ray equipment. In the Navy I worked as an electronics technician maintiaining equipments in air traffic control centers and aboard a subtender repairing equipments aboard fast attack subs. I have worked as a carpenter, numerous factory jobs, oil field roughneck, a draftsman and as a farm laborer. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
Website?
No
Equipment Overview (lathe, tools, etc)
lathe, a/c, SCMS, lunchbox thickness planer, benchtop 6" jointer, t/s, drillpress, numerous handtools
How many lathes have (or do) you own? Tell us about 'em.
1. the "Bomb"...Jet VS Mini
How many turning tools do you have?
12 or so....too many....not enough
Tell us about your shop
The LOML had a empty shell 24'x30' with 10' ceilings built. 2x6 construction, poured footing, wall, floor. I've painted it, insulated the walls to R19; the ceiling insulated to R-38. I installed a separate meter box and 200 amp electrical service. Walls finished with 1/2" ply and ceiling with 5/8" sheetrock. I WAS mudding the ceiling until the BOMB showed up.
How long turning?
since mid-February 2006
What got you into turning?
I was shoved into the vortex by the inmates here.
What do you enjoy most about turning?
The surpirses you find while you're turning and the continuing education process.
What was your first completed turned project?
Andy's s/n 1 Official Idaho Salmon Bonker
What is your favorite form that you turn?
Tough one due to my inexperience....the latest mahogany bowl I turned and the few boxes I've turned
What is your favorite form someone else turns/has turned?
NEs and HFs
What is your favorite wood to work with and why?
so far...Honduran Mahogany....turns and finishes well
Have you met or hung out with any turnin' Creekers? Tell us about it.
Robert Ducharme....he came all the way from Colorado to get the wood from my english walnut tree that was removed to build my shop. Nice guy! Had a great time visiting with him. But there's a lot more I'd like to spend time with!
What is your favorite individual piece that you have turned, and why?
My latest mahogany bowl....it turned out like I imagined it.
What is your favorite piece someone else has turned, and why?
Tough.....anybodys HF or NE...
What do you not turn now that you want to - or plan to - in the future?
NE's and HFs
What brought you to SMC?
I was at a manufacturer's unmoderated site where a lot of flaming was going on. Someone there mentioned this site.
Got any nicknames? How'd you get it?
2.....Fitz...of course.....and my hillbilly relatives call me "Kenny Paul" ....please don't!
(Editor's note: Uh oh, KEN... now you've gone a done it...)
Now let's get a little deep... If you were a tree, what tree would you be and why?
Oak..........It doesn't take details well, it's not the smoothest thing even when finished....but it's big, strong and will be there when you need something tough and lasting!
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