AHilton wrote:

Personally, I prefer to use "structural" and the people I do buisness with
perfer it too, even the architects. ...

I'd include larger columns, but your description is pretty much what I
had in mind when writing "architectural."

It's not my main job by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a steady
income and it's fun. I can't say from experience whether it's a steadier
paycheck than the crafts or arts end of the spectrum because I'm just now
getting into really pushing those things of mine into the public.

Hmmm. Now you have me curious. If structural turning isn't your main
work, and you are just getting into the arts-and-crafts market, what's
left? Or isn't turning your primary occupation?

A good person to talk with or, even better, go see and take a class from is
Ernie Conover at http://www.conoverworkshops.com/index.htm regarding this.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of him.

I can't really tell you about the earning potential as it really seems to be
very geographical.

Regrettably, that probably makes this an academic exercise for me. I
moved to Florida two years ago. Not much call for stair spindles around
here, nor much else that isn't made of cinder block. Not that this
factor comes as a surprise.

Basically, you're going to be making custom woodworking wages. ...
This is just a start. Hope it goes well for you,

At the moment, this is just exploratory. It will be a long time before
I am good enough to go pro at turning of any sort. It just seemed that
this must be the meat-and-potatoes market for anyone who really wanted
to make a living as a turner, and I'm so burnt out on my day job that
anything even vaguely interesting gets at least a once-over for its
income potential.

Thanks for your many suggestions. They help a lot.

Owen