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Thank Heaven for Mentors!

2K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  ArlinEastman 
#1 ·
First AAW Mentor session - Wow!!

After having a "bad bowl day" last week, I called a nearby AAW mentor from our local chapter list. Today was the day, and WOW was it a good afternoon! Spent some time exchanging backgrounds and going over the pile of tools I brought (bowl gouges, scrapers, parting and pyramid tool), it was rewarding that all my sharpening studies and practicing have paid off. The tools passed muster, yeah!

OK, time to turn. After he green-turned a cherry bowl from start to finish for an overview, we mounted my bowl in the lathe. It is a maple bowl I green-turned about 5 years ago, now very dry, and carried a couple of scars from my catches last week. The general shape met with approval :) and the grain is nicely arranged. I learned a couple of new things about how to approach a slightly warped now-dry bowl, and under close supervision used my Schweitzer 3/8" bowl gouge to clean up the outside. Then turned it around to do the "eeeek!" inside. That was tough, but eventually I got there, riding the bevel and getting fairly clean cuts. A little curved scraper work to clean things up, a little more tomorrow in my own shop, and then on to sanding and finishing.

No pics tonight, I'm exhausted! Five hours at his shop, more mental concentration than I've done in quite awhile! Bless the AAW, what a fantastic organization and group of people.

Jamie
 
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#2 ·
Jamie,

It's really great to have a good teacher to help you along . . . and, I'm sure, your gratitude is an encouragement to him as well. It sounds like you're a good student, too! You'll soon be in his shoes, teaching others.

Can't wait to see your bowl.

L/W
 
#5 ·
Ulp. nevermind. It's woodTURNERS isn't it? I did a Google search and it looks like the closest chapter is about 2 hours from me. Bit far for weeknight meetings that are probably only a couple hours long. I'll keep looking for someone nearer that is good on the lathe and try to get a few private lessons.

I could learn a LOT about the basics in use of the different tools. I can only guess that someone who knows what they're doing would cringe if they saw my tool handling skills. :)
 
#8 ·
Ulp. nevermind. It s woodTURNERS isn t it? I did a Google search and it looks like the closest chapter is about 2 hours from me. Bit far for weeknight meetings that are probably only a couple hours long. I ll keep looking for someone nearer that is good on the lathe and try to get a few private lessons.

I could learn a LOT about the basics in use of the different tools. I can only guess that someone who knows what they re doing would cringe if they saw my tool handling skills. :)

- JoeinGa
Joe, there may very well be mentors who belong to that faraway chapter, but live close to you! If you can find the time to go to one meeting, you can meet turners there, ask about the mentors they may have and go from there. We have members from 2 or more hours away who mentor local to their homes.

I'm sure all chapters are different, but with our chapter the first half-hour is just for signing in, meet-and-greet, look at the "show and tell" table, check out the wood they'll auction off that evening (fund raising), all while the room's getting set up. Our members are very friendly and helpful, always happy to see a new face. There are a few announcements about upcoming activities and then the demo for the night starts (or sometimes a hands-on session where we learn about finishing or actual turning). All told, 3 to 3.5 hr.
 
#9 ·
Jamie,

It s really great to have a good teacher to help you along . . . and, I m sure, your gratitude is an encouragement to him as well. It sounds like you re a good student, too! You ll soon be in his shoes, teaching others.

Can t wait to see your bowl.
L/W
- lightweightladylefty
Thanks, L/W, I hope I live that long, LOL! I love to teach (started at age 14, tutoring a neighbor's kid in music), but it's hard to imagine right now teaching turning. I now have two Turning Teaching Heroes-Bonnie Klein and Mr. Mentor from yesterday. Bonnie is just flat fabulous, took a 2-day workshop from her years ago. Yesterday, I was impressed with how Mr. Mentor could, when I was having trouble, just take the end of the gouge between thumb and finger and guide it while I was still holding the tool. Gave me a great reference feel for how the tool should feel as it approached and cut the wood.
 
#10 ·
I am SO happy for you!!!

I had Lyle Jamieson stop by here 3 times and he shown me everything I was doing wrong and I am a better turner now.
So what I learn I pass on to other vets like me I teach.

- Arlin Eastman
It must have been great to have Lyle there! I looked on the map, and there's a chapter in Omaha that might not be toooooo far from where you live. Might be worth checking out.
 
#11 ·
Pictures. Bowl is Big Leaf Maple from near our house, turned green ages ago, almost finished yesterday. The bowl after my spate of catches (several days ago):


Here is Mr. Mentor demonstrating the approach that was giving me trouble. Love the Robust tool rest!
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Here's the almost-done bowl. The pencil line on the interior is an slightly raised area that need a touch-up with the scraper.



The rim is not as proportionally big as it looks in the picture. It's 1/3 the height of the bowl.

 
#12 ·
I am SO happy for you!!!

I had Lyle Jamieson stop by here 3 times and he shown me everything I was doing wrong and I am a better turner now.
So what I learn I pass on to other vets like me I teach.

- Arlin Eastman

It must have been great to have Lyle there! I looked on the map, and there s a chapter in Omaha that might not be toooooo far from where you live. Might be worth checking out.

- ForestGrl
They moved to Glenwood IA and I am only 8 miles from it. I have been a member there for 3 or 4 years now. :)
 
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