Finally Set up my "Shop" in Baghdad

Well, I have spent the past few weeks getting my lathe together. I received a lathe for Christmas and deployed shortly thereafter. Fortunately for me, it was a lower-end midi model that I felt comfortable hauling to Iraq when I deployed at the beginning of February. Now, with my Masters out of the way, I have a few odd hours each week of spare time. I found a stash of wood (I have no idea what species) that was evidently cut down years ago…completely dry with large checks throughout. That said, there is some salvageable wood in there for small turnings. My first task one early Sunday morning in the 115 degree heat was to divide up one of the better shape trees into manageable size. I had ordered a 30 inch bow saw and spent about 3 hours trying to cut through this tree. I was smoked at the end, but had 3 pieces I could get back to the unit. My next step was to assemble a lathe table. I was able to scavenge a variety of plywood and 4×4s and cobbled together a decent table. I weighted it down with sandbags (plenty of those in Baghdad!) and cinder blocks. The lathe is bolted through the top. After humping my lathe in and out of my room for a couple of nights, I decided to add a cover to the table that I could secure and weather proof so I could leave the lathe outside. The cover doubles as a tool table when I am turning and turned out to be a great timesaver. I am on project number two now (a bowl). Almost everything is scavenged here. I have a few of my tools here, but no band saw or chainsaw, so my blanks are only roughly cut to size and diameter. I spend almost as much time prepping stock as I do on turning. There is no grinder, so I am hand sharpening gouges by hand. Boy, I never, ever realized how much time and effort is saved by using a grinder for sharpening! There are no finishes to be seen here, either, although I was able to order beeswax tonight and get it shipped here. I can buy superglue at the PX for $2 for a .07 oz bottle. And, to top it off, the variable speed box is no longer working and I have to send it back for repair. When all is said and done, however, it was all worth it after I spent a good 5 hours total turning a 4 inch x 4 inch by 9 inch piece of wood into an egg. I am so glad that I brought my lathe and look forward to many more hours using it. -Eric