Charlie, Really cool read. If Arch isn't jealous I am.
And Malcolm Tibbetts? Well, buddy, you're looking at a lot more than "Look
what I can do" since he has such a talent at creating awesome visual impact
beyond just the technical craftsman. Arch might call him an "artist". I
certainly would. Just go to the thumbnails and look at Tolerance; and Just
Imagine; or in another direction Mobius Sonata; and we can go on.
It could be his "lWICD" is in visualizing, conceiving, and implementing -
but he doesn't seem to SSSNAPPPP. He's a highly respected member of the WoW
family on the internet that Owen Lowe graciously put me onto. Lots of great
postings and info including how-dids with the pictures. Seeing some of these
works is like watching Tiger play golf and then going downstairs to play 18
holes. Sorta keeps things in perspective.
TomNie
"charlie b" wrote in message
...
The Look What I Can Do Trap
James Krenov, a cabinetmaker, determines when a piece is done when
there's nothing more to remove in order to improve the design. His
pieces are crisp, clean and apparently simple - no trim, no molding, no
decorative overlays, no carved shells, no inlays, no fancy hardware.
Clean and simple. Easy, nothing to it right? Until you look more
closely and think about it a little. There's no place to hide - a
mistake, an uneven edge, a straight line that isn't, one of a dozen
dovetails that isn't quite right. Everything has to be as close to
perfect as possible - or it shows - and detracts significantly from the
piece.
With "between centers" turning, there's the tempation to fill the space
with details - beads, coves, grooves, ogees and so on. "Look what I can
do!" is the trap so easily caught in. The temptation is really easy to
succumb to. Set up a piece of stock between centers, turn on the lathe,
get things roughed to round and then turn everything in my shapes
repetoire that'll fit. When I'm done I've got - a very decorated
dowel. Interesting, but still just a decorated dowel.
So "eccentric" turning becomes attractive. If I put the centers like
this - and then turn right here. And then if I shift the centers this
way - and turn this spot like this . . . With a bit of trial and error
some interesting/ odd pieces begin appearing. And once again, the "Look
what I can do!" trap springs shut. The results are still just decorated
dowels - asymetric - but just a crooked dowel. Perhaps interesting to
look at - but that's it.
"I'm going to make something that actually does something. What can I
make with scraps I've got lying around? How about a hair stick - you
know, something to replace the pencil or ball point pen women with long
hair use to hold their wound up hair in place? "
Cut a piece of scrap into a 3/8" square, about 10 or 12 inches long,
find the centers and mount it between centers. Rough to round, taper it
almost to
a point and then do some fancy stuff on the last inch or so of the fat
end.
And somewhere about that time "Look what I can do!" kicks in. That last
inch or so ends up with four beads, five "disks" and a little "spire" on
the end.
"Hmmm - the shaft is awfully smooth. This thing will fall out if I
don't turn some things In the shaft to hold it in place. A bunch of
little coves with a bunch of little beads should do the job. "Look what
I can do - really small!"
SNAP!
All right - how about some spatulas and spoons? A one foot piece of
cherry, 3/4" thick, six inchess wide and a foot long. - perfect for
making TWO 3" wide spatulas. A little bandsawing to get two basic
blanks, find the centers on each end and set it up between centers.
Roughing the handle to round gets a bit tricky at the handle/spatula
interface.
"I'll just cut a bead where the spatula joins the turned handle."
SNAP!
The handle is turned to a Feels Good In Hand shape. "I'll just decorate
the end with a cove and ball."
(can you hear the release mechanism moving?)
"And maybe I'll turn in some V-grooves - just to provide some grip."
(the jaws begin to move - ever so slightly - at first).
"Hell, three long ovals with beads between them would fit in here
nicely."
SSSNNNNAAAAPPPPPPPP! The Look What I Can Do Trap got me again.
If or when I get a lot better on the lathe I know there's The Because I
Can Trap waiting for me. Two foot diameter hollow form - with a dime
size opening, a cowboy hat perhaps or maybe a 2,500 piece segmented bowl
- just because I can. Now don't get me wrong - if any of these things
is a way of getting an idea out of your head and so others can
experience at least some of what you had in mind - more power to you.
But that's not driven by
"Because I Can".
This man's stuff is amazing - and amazingly complicated. But not
for complexity's sake. Definitely worth checking out - if you haven't
found his site yet.
http://www.tahoeturner.com/
Have you found other "traps"?
charlie b