I was all set to mount the bed extension on my Mini and try some turning when...the phone rang! Down x-ray machine in Clarkston WA. A couple of hours later and a stuck relay later, I got back home...ate lunch...took a nap....watched some Olympics and into the shop.
I mounted the bed extension and placed the last of my 2x2 from the 1990 and began my spindle exercises......lalalalalalalalal........shift keys....lalalalalalalalalala........one higher .....lalalalalalalalalala....Finished with the 1990's 2x2 .............I cut and chucked up a piece of that maple limb I snagged on the way to work last week..................WOW!.
First it was the largest and heaviest thing I'd spun up yet. Lesson 1.....turn down the speed on the lathe before spinning it up..........I already had it in the lowest range so it wasnt like it was going too fast but still...........whew....got my attention! And even though I used my newly acquired center finder....wow more weight out of balance has a impressive effect when you spin it up! This was the 1st piece of wet wood I'd turned. Boy is that easier than shop dried decade old fir 2x2! I actually got curlies...not sawdust....curlies......cute little rascals! Curlies.....Carole you were right! Wet wood = fun turning! This piece was also the largest diameter stuff I'd turned. I used a roughing gouge to get down below the bark and then began making a spindle. When I got done......no sanding .....I showed it to SWMBO...........her reaction............Smiling......it's spindle table time.....she wants a full sized replica of Bill Stevener's itty bitty contest entry and she wants one for her shoppping teacher and buddy neighbor!....I've got to get that shop finished so I can set up tools, lathe and benches and begin making furniture.....some round...some flat......but I'm sure I'll need a lot of round practice!
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