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grampa simpson
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 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:01 pm Post subject: the discouraged beginner |
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All,
I have been lurking around this group for quite some time. I read many
posts of beginners who start turning and now are so hooked that is all they
talk about. This inspired me to start turning. So I enrolled at a local
community college to take beginning turning.
Our first week, we spent time in lecture and watching the teacher do some
coves and beads. Then he made a ring. It all looked so simple.
Our second week, we spent 10 minutes watching him. He roughed out a little
pine blank. Then he showed us how to hold each tool while cutting. Again,
it all looked so easy. Then he unleashed us. I spent 30 minutes trying to
rough out a little pine blank. To save all of you the details, 3 hrs later,
I still suck!.
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were not
a pro golfer when you started."
Another thing, I have to publicly apologize to all of you guys who turn. I
have always thought that it was just another simple form of woodworking. My
hat is off to all of you that participate.
-the discouraged one
Grampa Simpson |
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Brian Combs
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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Hang in there.
My first turnings came our really well and then suddenly I had a string of
turnings that came apart on me or that I would have a really nice piece
going and suddenly I would get a catch and there would go several hours
work.
Don't let it get you down. As you work on something if it doesn't work out
see if you can use it to try turning something different. I have learned a
lot from that.
It really is fun
Brian |
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Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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grampa simpson wrote:
| Quote: |
I still suck!.
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were not
a pro golfer when you started."
|
You know, (he mused) it's hard to figure out how to help when your
e-mail is munged and we don't know where you are. If you look at my sig
line you'll see the URL for the AAW. There is a link on that page to
the state/local chapters. If yo can find one near you, the odds are
that you can find someone who can help you. I take it that you didn't
take woodshop in school. <G>
Dave in Fairfax
--
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
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Kevin
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:03 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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Hello gramps,
Chuck had a good suggestion- get a piece of good green wood. It cuts really
well and makes those lovely long shavings. Also, Raffan has a good point in
one of his books. - Start with a cut you are good at and build on it.
Getting that cut is a matter of practice.
"grampa simpson" <secret@secret.com> wrote in message
news:1012hcbavn6uoa9@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: |
All,
I have been lurking around this group for quite some time. I read many
posts of beginners who start turning and now are so hooked that is all
they
talk about. This inspired me to start turning. So I enrolled at a local
community college to take beginning turning.
Our first week, we spent time in lecture and watching the teacher do some
coves and beads. Then he made a ring. It all looked so simple.
Our second week, we spent 10 minutes watching him. He roughed out a
little
pine blank. Then he showed us how to hold each tool while cutting.
Again,
it all looked so easy. Then he unleashed us. I spent 30 minutes trying
to
rough out a little pine blank. To save all of you the details, 3 hrs
later,
I still suck!.
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were
not
a pro golfer when you started."
Another thing, I have to publicly apologize to all of you guys who turn.
I
have always thought that it was just another simple form of woodworking.
My
hat is off to all of you that participate.
-the discouraged one
Grampa Simpson
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grampa simpson
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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Dave,
I dont know if I am looking for help. I guess in my ramblings i was looking
for support from others that have been through the same process. OR maybe I
needed to hear that i am just an uncoordinated bafoon. It is just venting.
I did not take any shop in school. I began the process of woodworking about
a year ago. It was not as painfull as this has been.
BTW Im in Los Angeles
Thanks
<dave@fairfax.com> wrote in message news:40115789.18F7F0A@fairfax.com...
| Quote: |
grampa simpson wrote:
I still suck!.
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were
not
a pro golfer when you started."
You know, (he mused) it's hard to figure out how to help when your
e-mail is munged and we don't know where you are. If you look at my sig
line you'll see the URL for the AAW. There is a link on that page to
the state/local chapters. If yo can find one near you, the odds are
that you can find someone who can help you. I take it that you didn't
take woodshop in school. <G
Dave in Fairfax
--
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
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DJ Delorie
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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chaz3913NOSPAM@yahoo.com (Chuck) writes:
| Quote: |
Stick with it, get away from the PINE and try your hand a nice piece
of green hardwood for some real pleasure.
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I second that. I "learned" on KD red oak and KD pine. Both are nasty
to turn. The first time I got a wet cherry log on the lathe, it was
like a little slice of heaven.
When I do demos at the local craft fair, I let pretty much anyone have
a turn at turning. Kids get scrapers, adults get a gouge. Nobody has
failed to do it right yet, you can too.
OTOH an instructor that waits a week before any hands-on, then
"unleashes" his students without an initial one-on-one hands-on, is
not my ideal instructor. If it were me, I'd have everyone making
shavings the first day - just back and forth, turning logs into
streamers.
Another thing to consider is to find a local turner (check the AAW
roster for local clubs) who can give you some practice time, while
watching to see how you're doing it. There are a few common mistakes
that can be easily corrected (and should be corrected before they
become habits) if someone watches. |
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Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:31 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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grampa simpson wrote:
| Quote: |
Dave,
I dont know if I am looking for help. I guess in my ramblings i was looking
for support from others that have been through the same process. OR maybe I
needed to hear that i am just an uncoordinated bafoon. It is just venting.
I did not take any shop in school. I began the process of woodworking about
a year ago. It was not as painfull as this has been.
BTW Im in Los Angeles
|
Despite appearances, turners tend to be a helpful lot. Many of the
peole here had someone show them how to do something, asking or
receiving help isn't something to be ashamed of. Didn't pople show you
how to golf? Most of us help others who want to learn, all you have to
do is be willing to accept help. Venting on the OTOH is also goood
clean fun. <G>
Dave in Fairfax
--
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
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David Babcock
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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"grampa simpson" <secret@secret.com> wrote in message
news:1012hcbavn6uoa9@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: |
All,
I have been lurking around this group for quite some time. I read many
posts of beginners who start turning and now are so hooked that is all
they
talk about. This inspired me to start turning. So I enrolled at a local
community college to take beginning turning.
Our first week, we spent time in lecture and watching the teacher do some
coves and beads. Then he made a ring. It all looked so simple.
Our second week, we spent 10 minutes watching him. He roughed out a
little
pine blank. Then he showed us how to hold each tool while cutting.
Again,
it all looked so easy. Then he unleashed us. I spent 30 minutes trying
to
rough out a little pine blank. To save all of you the details, 3 hrs
later,
I still suck!.
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were
not
a pro golfer when you started."
Another thing, I have to publicly apologize to all of you guys who turn.
I
have always thought that it was just another simple form of woodworking.
My
hat is off to all of you that participate.
-the discouraged one
Grampa Simpson
Being new at this also, I can understand your frustration. But as I tell the |
kids I teach computer stuff to, playing with something is one of the best
ways to learn.
How I started was to take a piece of green hardwood, put it on the lathe and
make little baubles, or turned x-mas decorations. I didn't matter a whole
lot what they looked like, and I could try anything I wanted to, inside
curves, banding, whatever, and if it broke or came out different than I
wanted, no big deal.
As that little old Painter on TV used to say, "There are no mistakes, just
happy accidents." |
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Chuck
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:19 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 08:01:15 -0800, "grampa simpson"
<secret@secret.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were not
a pro golfer when you started."
|
Oh, Grampa, don't be so discouraged. You're just finding out that
there IS a learning curve to nearly everything. I don't think there's
a turner here or at any other gathering of said addicts, who would say
that they've learned all that there is to know. We all learn
something every time we pick up a tool and poke it at a spinning piece
of wood, no matter how refined our particular "pokes" may be.
Stick with it, get away from the PINE and try your hand a nice piece
of green hardwood for some real pleasure. If my 11-year-old nephew
can do it, you can too. Sounds like the wood the instructor gave you
is half the problem. What a lousy thing to inflict on students! UGH!
--
Chuck *#:^)
chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply.
<><
September 11, 2001 - Never Forget
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
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Dave Mundt
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 12:23 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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Greetings and Salutations...
On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 08:01:15 -0800, "grampa simpson"
<secret@secret.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
All,
I have been lurking around this group for quite some time. I read many
posts of beginners who start turning and now are so hooked that is all they
talk about. This inspired me to start turning. So I enrolled at a local
community college to take beginning turning.
Good Deal! |
| Quote: |
Our first week, we spent time in lecture and watching the teacher do some
coves and beads. Then he made a ring. It all looked so simple.
Our second week, we spent 10 minutes watching him. He roughed out a little
pine blank. Then he showed us how to hold each tool while cutting. Again,
it all looked so easy. Then he unleashed us. I spent 30 minutes trying to
rough out a little pine blank. To save all of you the details, 3 hrs later,
I still suck!.
Hum...I can understand the annoyance factor of watching an |
expert, as they DO make it look SO easy. Richard Raffen comes to
mind, as he peels away vast amounts of wood with his skew with no
catches and no apparent stress or strain. It is possible but, there
is a learning curve.
Hang In there!
| Quote: |
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were not
a pro golfer when you started."
Another thing, I have to publicly apologize to all of you guys who turn. I
have always thought that it was just another simple form of woodworking. My
hat is off to all of you that participate.
-the discouraged one
Grampa Simpson
First off, I hope that the teacher is moving about the |
classroom and doing some individual instruction to help overcome
that frustration. Secondly, I don't think that pine is the BEST
thing to learn on. most of the pine available today sucks as
wood, and, is hardly good enough for concealed stud construction
in houses. It is too soft and difficult to turn for learning on.
The only "good" thing about it is that it is cheap.
I would suggest that you get a chunk of Poplar from
a local lumber yard, or, contact one of the local arborists
to see if you can get a limb or two from one of their jobs.
Learning to turn on Green wood is probably the best way to
start, because it requires learning the same skills, but,
is far more forgiving than kiln dried stuff.
Also, what tools are you using to try and round
the stock off. You should be using a gouge of some sort
(and NOT a bowl gouge).
Finally, of course, if the tool is not sharp, it
is going to be a lesson in frustration no matter HOW
you approach it. As part of the course, the instructor
really should have a section on sharpening tools (and,
frankly, IMHO, should have STARTED with that).
It would be really helpful to make contact with
your local woodturning group (and I am sure there is
one handy). The folks in it are all turning for the
love of it (true amateurs) and can be a valuable
resource and support for learning. There are also
videos and such to rent from the library or buy.
The AAW (American Association of Woodturners) has
a lot of resources out there too...
It is tough to start off from scratch, but
given time and a bit of patience, it will all come
together and become "easy". You will still have
frustrating bits of wood to fight with, because
that is the nature of dealing with a living thing.
Good luck!
Dave Mundt |
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AHilton
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:13 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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I'll add my own voice to the others saying that it IS hard to start out with
that you shouldn't give up. It will get better (and sometimes worse <g>)
and you'll be REALLY hooked at that point. I taught myself how to turn and
didn't see anyone else turn by video or in person for 2 years after I
started. I finally found a woodturning club and it opened up my woodturning
world for me. It made a HUGE difference just seeing and having them help
you in a hands-on manner.
Keep practicing each tool and just plain playing with it until you feel
comfortable. I still go through "exercises" about everytime I go to the
lathe where I make my series of cuts with each tool. I guess it's somewhat
like doing "scales" in music class. It's a good warmup and you can work on
the basics each time.
Keep it up and don't worry about venting here. We all know. <g>
P.S. I'm very interested in your experiences with the community college
class. I'm starting a new thread on that topic (Woodturning Classes) and
hope you relate those experiences for us.
- Andrew |
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George
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 3:04 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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We use eastern white pine for instruction, as well as firewood, and it's
pretty friendly. I like the way it compresses, showing me if they're trying
to lever a shaving versus following one. The compressed areas produced by
the rear of the bevel are obvious!
I keep recommending the Shaker peg as the ideal spindle figure. Cove, bead,
taper and shoulder all in one. No evidence to support it, but you have to
wonder if the Shakers didn't break in their new turners on the ubiquitous
peg. I know I like it.
Problem with sharpening lessons is that new turners can get their shorts in
a bunch too quickly over something that isn't really as consequential as
tool presentation or selection. I start 'em with a 1/2" spindle gouge -
period.
"Dave Mundt" <xmundt@esper.com> wrote in message
news:40117253.174671087@newsgroups.bellsouth.net...
Secondly, I don't think that pine is the BEST
| Quote: |
thing to learn on. most of the pine available today sucks as
wood, and, is hardly good enough for concealed stud construction
in houses. It is too soft and difficult to turn for learning on.
|
| Quote: |
Finally, of course, if the tool is not sharp, it
is going to be a lesson in frustration no matter HOW
you approach it. As part of the course, the instructor
really should have a section on sharpening tools (and,
frankly, IMHO, should have STARTED with that). |
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Reyd Dorakeen
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 3:36 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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I think maybe the instructor is following the suggestion in
woodturning a foundation course, start on pine, and when you can get a
good finish off the tools on it, everything else will be easier.(I
don't like the idea but it could be the instructor does) The first
thing I did was a 6 inch, incredibly ugly bowl out of maple, it was
hard, and any catches made a large bang, the pine that i tried just
seems to get a piece cut off with any catches. I've gotten a little
better since, but I still end up with at least 1/2 of my projects as
firewood, going for a trip to the other side of the shop.
| Quote: |
Stick with it, get away from the PINE and try your hand a nice piece
of green hardwood for some real pleasure. If my 11-year-old nephew
can do it, you can too. Sounds like the wood the instructor gave you
is half the problem. What a lousy thing to inflict on students! UGH!
--
Chuck *#:^)
chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply.
September 11, 2001 - Never Forget
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
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Maxprop
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:09 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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"grampa simpson" <secret@secret.com> wrote in message
| Quote: |
The bottom line, THIS IS DAMN HARD. I want to quit. (waahhh) But, my
wife will not let me. She keeps going back to the same line, "You were
not
a pro golfer when you started."
|
Are you now?
Max |
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Maxprop
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:26 am Post subject: Re: the discouraged beginner |
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"grampa simpson" <secret@secret.com> wrote in message
I spent 30 minutes trying to
| Quote: |
rough out a little pine blank. To save all of you the details, 3 hrs
later,
I still suck!.
|
Everyone has their own learning curve, Gramps. Getting discouraged at this
stage is a bit like deciding to give up sex because you were a bit
*premature* the first time. There are no instant pros in anything.
I'm new at turning as well, having done some in woodshop in junior high
school but none since. I'm finding that some of it is coming back, and some
things are more difficult to do. But I'm learning. And anything worth
doing is worth doing well.
A renowned sailor once said of world cruising on one's own boat: "If this
were easy, everyone would be doing it." Same with turning. Accept the
challenge, acknowledge your lack of skills, and pledge to develop into a
first-rate turner. Quitting will only foster regret.
Max |
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