Well, lets see, I am 34 years old, and I suppose I have technically been turning for about 7 years. I bought an older 46-700 along with a house and started making bonkers. I was pretty frustrated with turning until I bought a high school woodworking book from the 70's that got me at least holding the tools in a manner that would cut the wood.
My father-in-law bought a lathe a couple years later - it was a 1880 Lodge and Davis (modified to work with a 3/4 horse electric motor). Anyway, it ended up being a stand for his dovetail jig. I was joking with him one day that he should give it to me instead of having it take up so much space in his shop. Well, one day this 500 lb beast showed up at my shop! It's speed range was from around 1500 rpm on the low end to low-altitude-earth-orbit on the high end. I didn't know much about turning, but I knew enough to keep out of the swing!! I am amazed that I never lost a limb and never blew a whole through the roof with that thing.
A move forced me to sell the Lodge and Davis, and I gave the Delta to my father-in-law who was showing some interest in turning again. I upgraded to a Oneway 2436 with all the bells and whistles, along with a Delta 46-460. So now I turn on those in the winter at my home in Colorado. My family and I spend our summers in Alaska, so while there I use a 12" Delta of my dad's.
I went back to school a couple of years ago, about the same time I got the Oneway, and around the time I started at Sawmill Creek. I don't get much time for turning, but I am getting straight "A's", so I figure I'll have some more time for it when I finish next spring!
Love the Creek,
Jon McElwain
Man advances just in proportion that he mingles thought with his labor. - Ingersoll