tom koehler wrote in
net.net:

I'm tom koehler, from Two Harbors Minnesota. Retired last year from 32
years on the railroad as a trackworker (primary job in the track dep't
was track welder). I have been making sawdust in my very small
basement with a Shopsmith for 35 years. I am aware of most of its
shortcomings as a lathe, tablesaw, drill press and anything lese asked
of it, but by golly with the space I have, it is my only recourse. As
a consequence, I live by the words of a tagline in a popular song of
some years ago, "If you can't have the tools you love, then love the
tools you're with..." or something like that.

I have found that if my block of wood is not perfectly balanced, the
SS will dance a pretty jig, when I am not in the mood for dancing. As
mentioned here in another thread, the speed reducer for the SS is kind
of a kludge, but if used with smaller blocks, the work is manageable.
I'm self-taught on the lathe, from books - mostly "The Wood-Turning
Lathe" by Haines, Adams, et al. pub. 1952, Van Nostrand. This was my
dad's book. He had a SS from that period, and I remeber watching him
in his little garage shop, making some Keene's cement lamps from one
of the projects in this book.

My lathe work has been mainly smallish things of a wide variety,
mostly between centers. I have done some faceplate work, split
turnings (brown paper and white glue) and chuck work with purpose-make
friction-fit wood chucks.

I'll scan through and read postings on this NG on a regular basis, to
pick up useful bits of info, and try to post stuff if it is within my
realm of experience. From what I have read here so far, you folks are
some pretty serious turners and way the heck out of my league, so am
not sure what I can contribute of value to you. I will have plenty of
questions, though.

first Q: what is "CA"? I keep seeing references to it, with no idea
exacctly what it is. I have not seen references to a FAQ for this NG,
so will gladly go to it, if there is one.

second Q: I tried going to
http://www.shopss.net/books/WoodTurn...odTurning.html to get
a gander at the book referred to, but could not get in. Message said I
didn't have clearance or permission, or similar message. Another
person in this NG apparently ahs this same book on his website, but no
reference where that site was. Am interested in looking at this book,
I think, so am hoping to get pointed in the right direction.

third Q: refers to a particular type of grind on a bowl turning gouge.
Ah, I am in pretty near perfect woodturner's isolation here, folks, so
will need a more thorough background in bowl turning gouge technology,
here, I think. My tool set is limited so far, to a set of basic
Craftsman turning tools a couple of home-brew tools, and a hefty gouge
I bought from a tool catalog many years ago. Has a peculiar looking
(to me, anyway) grind on its end - intended for bowl work. I've had
mixed results with it, and so will be looking for a clue, again.

Enough for now, so here is a virtual shot and a beer for you if you
want it, for getting this far. Thanks for your time.
tom koehler



Welcome tom. I can't get into the website either, but I think Darrell
Feltmate has the book on his website. http://www.aroundthewoods.com/
Darrell's website can probably answer most if not all of your questions.
Regards,
Hank