Eponyms have been around since antiquity, they abound today and for
better or worse are here to stay. Named diseases alone number in
thousands. The word has many meanings and relates to many subjects, but
I'm musing about the eponyms we use in woodturning as something titled
by a person's name.

As with our acronyms, the same eponyms often title several different
things and also different eponyms often title the same thing. Ex: "Liam
O'Neil Grind", "Ellsworth Grind" for an extended or swept back or side
ground gouge. "Oland Tool" for an inserted bit tool used not only for
hollowing but also for spindle and face turning. I suggest the eponym
"Feltmate cutting Tool" when inserted bits are used in addition to
hollowing. Maybe the eponym "Thovaldson Soak" would save us having to
repeat the "World Famous Treatise" that so well describes it.

Some of our craft's eponyms appear to confuse more than describe, others
save much tedious description. Some evoke arguments re authenticity or
originality of the 'eponymee' who more often than not published or
publicized a tool or technique that someone else originated long ago.

I reckon that as an eponym becomes universally agreed upon and used, it
becomes useful, almost necessary, to describe a grind, tool, technique,
attitude, philosophy etc. Until that happy day arrives, an eponym can
cause trouble.

What do you all think about our eponyms? Which ones are helpful. which
are not? Who cares? I doubt "McBurney's Point" will join the "Raffin
Cut" in our vernacular. Anyway, it's no "Hobson's Choice".

BTW, you might want to try the "Arch Grind" on your best skew; the edge
is blunt, nicked, ragged and blued. It lost its temper... and so will
you.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 12:02:15 -0500, (Arch) wrote:

Eponyms have been around since antiquity, they abound today and for
better or worse are here to stay. Named diseases alone number in
thousands. The word has many meanings and relates to many subjects, but
I'm musing about the eponyms we use in woodturning as something titled
by a person's name.

As with our acronyms, the same eponyms often title several different
things and also different eponyms often title the same thing. Ex: "Liam
O'Neil Grind", "Ellsworth Grind" for an extended or swept back or side
ground gouge. "Oland Tool" for an inserted bit tool used not only for
hollowing but also for spindle and face turning. I suggest the eponym
"Feltmate cutting Tool" when inserted bits are used in addition to
hollowing. Maybe the eponym "Thovaldson Soak" would save us having to
repeat the "World Famous Treatise" that so well describes it.

Some of our craft's eponyms appear to confuse more than describe, others
save much tedious description. Some evoke arguments re authenticity or
originality of the 'eponymee' who more often than not published or
publicized a tool or technique that someone else originated long ago.

I reckon that as an eponym becomes universally agreed upon and used, it
becomes useful, almost necessary, to describe a grind, tool, technique,
attitude, philosophy etc. Until that happy day arrives, an eponym can
cause trouble.

What do you all think about our eponyms? Which ones are helpful. which
are not? Who cares? I doubt "McBurney's Point" will join the "Raffin
Cut" in our vernacular. Anyway, it's no "Hobson's Choice".

BTW, you might want to try the "Arch Grind" on your best skew; the edge
is blunt, nicked, ragged and blued. It lost its temper... and so will
you.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

====As usual, Arch, your reasoning is superb and flawless, but with
one exception. I cannot in good conscience lend my name for an eponym
pertaining to the LDD process. That well and truly belongs to Ron
Kent (praised by his name) and should be in this form: the Kent
Solution. After all, I am but His prophet and shill!!!*G*

Leif
Festina lente

Names are only as good as their ability to accurately communicate your
idea to another. I could talk about the Fleming this or the Fleming
that (all very excellent, mind you), but the response I would get back
from most anyone is the deer in the headlights look.

Many times, names are nationally know, but not internationally. Fewer
and fewer people in the USA know the O'Neil grind, or who O'Neil is.
The attribution has lost its meaning on me.

I am preparing to give a demo about coloring to my club. I will refer
to the Derry look, the Hosaluk painting, or the Andi Wolfe style
because my club members have seen them. Most would gloss over a
reference Michael and Liz O'Donnell because they have never seen them,
though some have read their books. I suspect, more accurate
descriptions would be "high gloss hand-rubbed lacquer finish", acrylic
painting for color, and color with Prismacolor markers.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Hi Arch

Don't know about the Thorvaldson dip but I'm sure everybody knows about
the Archmusing around here ;-

Have fun and You do take care You hear !!
Leo Van Der Loo

http://homepage.mac.com/l.vanderloo/PhotoAlbum4.html

wrote: Don't know about the Thorvaldson dip
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm pretty sure I have seen it in worldclass dancing competitions.

Joe,
Thanks for picking up once again. Any Fleming "this or that" would get
respectful stares from all of us. Which makes me wonder if you could
edit your coloring demo as an essay on rcw?


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

Joe,

Don't you think the "Wade Whoops!" or the "Fleming Flub" would carry a
cetain cachet? ;o)

David


Joe Fleming wrote:
Names are only as good as their ability to accurately communicate your
idea to another. I could talk about the Fleming this or the Fleming
that (all very excellent, mind you), but the response I would get back
from most anyone is the deer in the headlights look.

Many times, names are nationally know, but not internationally. Fewer
and fewer people in the USA know the O'Neil grind, or who O'Neil is.
The attribution has lost its meaning on me.

I am preparing to give a demo about coloring to my club. I will refer
to the Derry look, the Hosaluk painting, or the Andi Wolfe style
because my club members have seen them. Most would gloss over a
reference Michael and Liz O'Donnell because they have never seen them,
though some have read their books. I suspect, more accurate
descriptions would be "high gloss hand-rubbed lacquer finish", acrylic
painting for color, and color with Prismacolor markers.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:35:39 GMT, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:


wrote: Don't know about the Thorvaldson dip
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm pretty sure I have seen it in worldclass dancing competitions.

Leo: You keep getting LDD mixed up with Leif's Sheep Dip Plus, I
don't dance competitively, too boot!!*G*

Leif
Proud Proselytizer for:
Kent Solution,
Leif's Sheep Dip and Woodturners' Body Lotion

Actually as I was putting some kindling into the wood stove, the term
Feltmate Flop came to mind.

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com

Hi Leif
Was that "sheep" or "cheap" ??
You wouldn't dip sheep would you ??, or would you ??

Have fun and keep that back well.
Leo Van Der Loo

Darrell
You mean the wood did not meet the expectation, yes you have to cull
those before it is to late G
FLOPS NEVERRR

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

Leo
As an old friend and far better turner than I once said, "I never make
mistakes, only kindling." I have some of the prettiest kindling in the town
if I do say so myself."

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com

I want a whoop! ...................... What's a whoop? ;-)

Joe,
Not a whoop, a WHOOPS! Also known as Drat, Darn, Oh Dear, and "design
opportunity"'
DW (Darn Whoops!)

Joe Fleming wrote:
I want a whoop! ...................... What's a whoop? ;-)