Hey.. You guys are great. but......

I have lot so question and usually get answeres within hours.;-))

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

The information I have been trying to get was directly from ShopSmith. I watched a sawdust info video and nick edgler was using a powerstation as a lathe ,I havethe powerstation and thought I would try to make pens. I have ADHD that’s not an excuse biting have been looking for the parts to transform my powerstation into a lathe. But I like to think about woodworking but I guess I don’t have what it takes to put the effort out to getter done. Thanks guys it has been interesting.

-- If i'd a knowed you coulda goed I'd a seen you gotta went

Big _Eddy

I have severe ADHD and I have found that woodworking is where I can focus the most.

Try allowing yourself to enjoy all of woodworking, not just pen turning.

I know if I get disappointed with something, I am ready to quit, but, I also know that not quitting woodworking has been the biggest help in my life. Keep trying, pick a different aspect of woodworking and go from there.

-- http://www.ahomespecialist.net, Making design and application one. †

Eddy, Even if you are not doing wood working anymore, DON’T LEAVE US! We are a crazy bunch and can always use as many members as possible!

”Never under estimate the power of crazy people in great numbers!” LOL!!!!

-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX

Hey, Eddie, I wouldn’t be so hasty in getting rid of your stuff. You’ll probably find that you will loose money on it right now because we’re in a recession/depression[?] and everybody and there brother is selling stuff right now because they’re having a hard time to make ends meet. So I’d wait a while before I sold it if you can afford to. And if you can afford to wait a while maybe you just might hold off on deciding about whether to keep on woodworking as a hobby. You don’t have to do woodworking in a way that it dominates your whole life. The idea is to have fun with it and on top of that you can build stuff that you can use and repair stuff that’s broke, not to mention you can fix up a whole house with your tools and equipment. So woodworking is not just a hobby it’s something that can save you some money if you use it that way. So, what do ya say? Wait and see a little bit and you might just change your mind. Woodworking might even be in your blood anyways so you may come back to it even if you sell your stuff and then have to start over. Of course you know best for yourself because you’re the only one that walks around in your own shoes. Whatever you do I hope that all of your endeavors turn out good for you.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

Eddie;
I have a shopsmith and found the best information on pen turning with a shopsmith from PennState Industries.

-- DeputyDawg

Hi Eddie

Sorry to hear you have lost interest in woodworking. When I read your home page, it sounded like a grandpa on a mission. Why don’t you buy some books or videos on things you might want to know more about or build. I think you should just put the tools aside and try to spark some interest. Have you ever seen a grand child or family members face when you give them a toy, a box, or anything made from you? Ask any woodworker who has, it is priceless!!! If you ever need any help or have any questions answered drop me a PM. I do not clam to know it all but would love to talk shop with you anytime.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Big Eddy, if you have a bad case of ADHD then get on some meds. I have ADHD and had a huge problem focusing all my life through school and at work. About a year ago I decided to try medication and its worked far better then I would have thought. On medication I can stay focused on projects and work like a mad man.

I will add that you don’t NEED medication and there can be negative effects to some meds but if your at the point where your giving up on stuff due to the ADHD then I would talk to your Dr about it if you have not all ready..

-- Dan - "Collector of Hand Planes"

Big Eddie, I don’t know how but I missed the fact that you have ADHD. I had a couple of kids and a nephew that have that. Lot’s of folk have that and they take medicine for it. Sometimes it takes a little while to get the medicine just right. Now knowing that I still will let what I said stand. I think that you will do well to keep your stuff awhile before you make this decision. Like I said, woodworking doesn’t have to be an all consuming hobby and there doesn’t have to be any kind of pressure on how much work you turn out or how fast you take yourself to the next level. You should enjoy it first of all and it can be very rewarding once you get across a few hurdles and you will get plenty of help on Lumberjocks because I’ve seen it too many times. However, you’re the one who has to decide for yourself on all of these kinds of things in your life. If it were me I’d give it a little while longer.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

It would be a real shame to loose someone because of a company.

Their tech support is—Available Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Eastern time). Call us at (800) 762-7555

Now if you really cannot get the answers you need—
Shopsmith
6530 Poe Ave
Dayton, OH 45414-2591
Phone: (937) 898-6070

Ask for the president’s office and ask for the president’s secretary, explain your problem and the problems you have had with the company. The last thing they would ever want to hear from a customer is that they were leaving woodworking because of them.

-- David in Damascus, MD

I sent an email to ShopSmith —wait an hour or so and call them

-- David in Damascus, MD

Charlie – That part of my comment came out wrong… I can work very hard with no medication. The medication does not make me work hard. The medication just puts me in a state of intense focus and when working hard that focus gives me better ability to stay on task and pay attn to detail. Without it I will find myself taking more breaks and working a little less time on projects due to loosing that focus.

I want to state that ADHD meds will not MAKE you work. They will just effect your focus which will help you on what ever task you are doing. If your sitting on the couch watching tv then you will be more focused watching tv.

I usually don’t like to talk about taking meds for ADHD because it often sparks a big debate. I don’t promote or advise people taking often but if your at a point where your giving up then its something to consider.

-- Dan - "Collector of Hand Planes"

Dan, that is my understanding as well. They help people concentrate on the task at hand instead of their mind wandering off to soemthing else.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

You know, Big Eddy has touched on a problem that is significant. A lot of people in the industry see that this recession has created a large amount of people dropping out of woodworking for a variety of reasons. Economy, job stresses, hours worked at the primary job, kids, and the like are acceptable losses, I guess. When a vendor/manufacturer gets someone so frustrated that they drop out of a potential hobby or industry, that is a whole different situation. I don’t know any specifics nor do I care to. I sent a copy of what Big Eddy posted and my comments to Shopsmith – they really need to fix the problem, help him, guide him, etc… I have seen companies shut down for much less and none of this is good business for anybody.

Maybe if any of you know anyone over there at Shopsmith you could give them a heads up and get this person some assistance that he needs with his equipment.

My thoughts—

-- David in Damascus, MD

I want to thank all of you for your input , I have found a person that has a greenie (that’s a special model of the Mark V ShopSmith) and we are going to make a trade , so I don’t have to worry about making my equipment do something it wasn’t designed to do but did quite well according to the demo I saw, I was hoping that working with wood was going to be a great outlet for me and thanks to you folks I see there are other people in my same predicament, thank you all for your support you have been able to help straighten out my feelings as ADHD people I know live by the seat of our pants and are quite spontaneous . Thanks again I will be here if maybe I can be help to someone else , I do computer stuff for a living , I don’t have all the answers but I have alot of resources .

-- If i'd a knowed you coulda goed I'd a seen you gotta went