I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

I know nothing of the business of high end art collectors, galleries or
museums. but from my perspective, it appears that fellow turners will
pay more than the public will for turnings that fit the craft/art's
accepted criterion for good work. Not for the few luminaries, but a sort
of reciprocal 'in-bred' support system for intermediate and advanced
turners whose work is at or above the craft's standard for design and
esthetic.

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

Interesting question Arch, something that I had never thought about.
For my personal sales results (ie at a craft fair or to people who saw
a piece of mine somewhere and came by the house/shop) the number sold
to other individuals who turn is very low: less than ten items, I'm
sure. Also sell thru a few shops and galleries and really have no feel
for who might have purchased things there, but no shop owner ever
indicated that there had been a lot of sales to other craft persons.
My total sales by whatever routes are probably 1100 to 1200 pieces (my
record keeping is not exactly great!) and I suspect that the vast
majority were to non woodworkers

Kip Powers
Rogers, AR

Hi Arch

Yes I do sell, but-----

I think that I am not turning for turners, you know, ultra thin bowls
and hollow forms that have been drilled cut burned and decorated, must
be my dutch upbringing G, I don't know of any turner that bought a
turning of mine, and yes I'm not part of any parochial groups with the
reciprocal buying of members products.

So no choice but to just keep on making my products the way I like
them, and so far it seems there are a few people out there that do like
them to.

My best products (Who is deciding??) seem to get confiscated before I
ever get a chance to flaunt them.

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

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo


Arch wrote:
I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

I know nothing of the business of high end art collectors, galleries or
museums. but from my perspective, it appears that fellow turners will
pay more than the public will for turnings that fit the craft/art's
accepted criterion for good work. Not for the few luminaries, but a sort
of reciprocal 'in-bred' support system for intermediate and advanced
turners whose work is at or above the craft's standard for design and
esthetic.

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

sure. Also sell thru a few shops and galleries and really have no feel
for who might have purchased things there, but no shop owner ever
indicated that there had been a lot of sales to other craft persons.
My total sales by whatever routes are probably 1100 to 1200 pieces

Kip,
Do you have a predominant design, i.e. bowls, hollow forms, utensils,
candlesticks? Local or exotic woods? I need to decide what I'm going to
sell.
Thanks
TomNie

Arch wrote:
I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

SNIP

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


Arch - I think that a lot of turners, pro or hobby buy turned work
simply because they are drawn to it in the first place as their own
hobby. And they probably understand better the amount of work and
material selection that goes into a really nice piece. I don't think I
have seen any pros that are so altruistic as to purchase another's
piece as a sign of support, though. I think that could be a
stretcher....

But I do think that a fellow turner or at least a fellow woodworker
would indeed pay more since they would appreciate the piece more.

Robert

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

Do you have a predominant design, i.e. bowls, hollow forms, utensils,
candlesticks? Local or exotic woods? I need to decide what I'm going to
sell.


Hi Tom:

I make mostly bowls and hollow forms using local Ozark hardwoods, big
leaf maple burl and mesquite burl (the latter two being purchased as
blocks). With my local stuff I try to find wood that has some figure
or maybe "defects" (borer holes, etc.) to add some interest. Rarely
use exotics except as an inlay, handle or other small detail. I've
made a few candle sticks and think I still own all of them. Most of my
stuff would be classed, I guess as decorative, relatively little plain
vanilla treen type pieces. I enjoy making plates out of figured woods,
but find that they sell pretty slowly. I think that pieces that are
fairly tall (ie more vase like than bowl like) probably sell the best.
Only reason that I can figure for this is that they can be displayed on
a shelf or on a table top where as many of the lower silhouette pieces
lose some of their impact if you cannot see the inside.

Hope this is of some help -good luck with sales!

Kip Powers
Rogers, AR

Do you have a predominant design, i.e. bowls, hollow forms, utensils,
candlesticks? Local or exotic woods? I need to decide what I'm going to
sell.


Hi Tom:

I make mostly bowls and hollow forms using local Ozark hardwoods, big
leaf maple burl and mesquite burl (the latter two being purchased as
blocks). With my local stuff I try to find wood that has some figure
or maybe "defects" (borer holes, etc.) to add some interest. Rarely
use exotics except as an inlay, handle or other small detail. I've
made a few candle sticks and think I still own all of them. Most of my
stuff would be classed, I guess as decorative, relatively little plain
vanilla treen type pieces. I enjoy making plates out of figured woods,
but find that they sell pretty slowly. I think that pieces that are
fairly tall (ie more vase like than bowl like) probably sell the best.
Only reason that I can figure for this is that they can be displayed on
a shelf or on a table top where as many of the lower silhouette pieces
lose some of their impact if you cannot see the inside.

Hope this is of some help -good luck with sales!

Kip Powers
Rogers, AR

I can't say that I have ever had another turner buy any of my work. I
have noticed that those who look closest at my work are some times
other woodworkers, or they just love wood. Some of the higher end shows
will have those people who come into the booth and look for what they
want and buy it, without looking at the price. Other times people come
in and they have a set budget, and spend within its limits. I haven't
purchased another turners work yet, mostly because the ones I like best
are out of my budget range. Heck, I can't afford most of the furniture
pieces that I make. What sells best for me? It would have to be
utilitarian food bowls, perhaps 75% or more of my sales.
robo hippy
wrote:
Arch wrote:
I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

SNIP

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


Arch - I think that a lot of turners, pro or hobby buy turned work
simply because they are drawn to it in the first place as their own
hobby. And they probably understand better the amount of work and
material selection that goes into a really nice piece. I don't think I
have seen any pros that are so altruistic as to purchase another's
piece as a sign of support, though. I think that could be a
stretcher....

But I do think that a fellow turner or at least a fellow woodworker
would indeed pay more since they would appreciate the piece more.

Robert

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

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:18:34 -0400, (Arch) wrote:

Arch... IMHO, trying to sell my work to another turner would/wood be like a
plumber selling his work to another plumber....

Most of the things that I sell are bought because the buyer thinks the creation
was some sort of magic... to another turner, it would be too much about wall
thickness, bowl depth, finish, etc. then about the wood and the basic
"touchy-feely" reason to pick something out..

I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

I know nothing of the business of high end art collectors, galleries or
museums. but from my perspective, it appears that fellow turners will
pay more than the public will for turnings that fit the craft/art's
accepted criterion for good work. Not for the few luminaries, but a sort
of reciprocal 'in-bred' support system for intermediate and advanced
turners whose work is at or above the craft's standard for design and
esthetic.

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:57:28 -0400, "Tom Nie" wrote:

sure. Also sell thru a few shops and galleries and really have no feel
for who might have purchased things there, but no shop owner ever
indicated that there had been a lot of sales to other craft persons.
My total sales by whatever routes are probably 1100 to 1200 pieces

Kip,
Do you have a predominant design, i.e. bowls, hollow forms, utensils,
candlesticks? Local or exotic woods? I need to decide what I'm going to
sell.
Thanks
TomNie

Tom... sorry if this offends, but IMHO, you don't concentrate on what will
sell... you do your best work on what you do well and see what moves in your
market...

You're never going to get your equipment investment back, so enjoy your hobby
and see what folks will buy....

Again, this is just MY opinion, but if you're going to learn to make what sells,
you might as well send one to chi-wan and have them make a few thousand for
you... YMWV



Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

mac davis wrote:
On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 06:57:28 -0400, "Tom Nie" wrote:

sure. Also sell thru a few shops and galleries and really have no feel
for who might have purchased things there, but no shop owner ever
indicated that there had been a lot of sales to other craft persons.
My total sales by whatever routes are probably 1100 to 1200 pieces
Kip,
Do you have a predominant design, i.e. bowls, hollow forms, utensils,
candlesticks? Local or exotic woods? I need to decide what I'm going to
sell.
Thanks
TomNie

Tom... sorry if this offends, but IMHO, you don't concentrate on what will
sell... you do your best work on what you do well and see what moves in your
market...

You're never going to get your equipment investment back, so enjoy your hobby
and see what folks will buy....

Again, this is just MY opinion, but if you're going to learn to make what sells,
you might as well send one to chi-wan and have them make a few thousand for
you... YMWV

My mileage does seem to vary Mac. I sell through a store here in
Juneau, and I've more than paid for my shop. Most of my tools/machines
were purchased after I started selling and I still have $ left over for
fishing gear! g I try to make what will sell, but I also try to make
them as well, and I make things I enjoy turning. Gotta keep it fun.

It varies from year to year too. Some years salad bowls practically
walk out the store by themselves. Other years, it'll be some other
item. Go figure.

Last month another turner did buy one of my items - a salad bowl I
think. He was up from California on a cruise ship. As far as I know
he's the only turner to ever buy something of mine, but I never meet my
customers since I don't do craft shows anymore.

S'later...

....Kevin
--
Kevin Miller
http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
Juneau, Alaska
Registered Linux User No: 307357

My mileage does seem to vary Mac. I sell through a store here in
Juneau, and I've more than paid for my shop. Most of my tools/machines
ere purchased after I started selling and I still have $ left over for
fishing gear! g I try to make what will sell, but I also try to make
them as well, and I make things I enjoy turning. Gotta keep it fun.

It varies from year to year too. Some years salad bowls practically
walk out the store by themselves. Other years, it'll be some other
item. Go figure.

Last month another turner did buy one of my items - a salad bowl I
think. He was up from California on a cruise ship. As far as I know
he's the only turner to ever buy something of mine, but I never meet my
customers since I don't do craft shows anymore.

S'later...

...Kevin

You're a lucky guy, Kevin!

I don't try very hard to sell my stuff yet, mostly friends and referrals, but
looking around the shop at several thousand bucks worth of tools, I don't even
want to figure how many bowls or whatever I'd have to sell to cover that..
assuming that wood and supplies were free, of course.. *g*


Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

I've sold a few items in the past to friends needing gifts for wives,
girlfriends or mothers.

Several people have suggested to me that I put things one ebay. However
with the charges that they tack on I'm not sure how profitable it can be.

I figure about $15 an hour when I price something I make these days but
I know people that set a price of $30 or even $60 (their stuff is
perfect compared to mine). However, the $15 an hour is optimistic. A
hollow form may take an afternoon or sometimes a couple afternoons if
I'm starting from a raw log. Then there is the finishing and sanding
and fixing of checks etc so I'm actually getting much less.


Arch wrote:
I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

I know nothing of the business of high end art collectors, galleries or
museums. but from my perspective, it appears that fellow turners will
pay more than the public will for turnings that fit the craft/art's
accepted criterion for good work. Not for the few luminaries, but a sort
of reciprocal 'in-bred' support system for intermediate and advanced
turners whose work is at or above the craft's standard for design and
esthetic.

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

My experience echoes Kevin's (hi Kev, long time, no see, buddy). I have
tried pretty much everything in woodturning at one time or another.
Sometimes when I come up with a line of items I am especially fond of and
they don't sell well, then I am disappointed because if they don't sell I
don't have an excuse to make more of them. Sometimes things will sell
well, but only if the price is too low to make it worth my while. On the
other hand, I don't make things I don't enjoy purely for the purpose of
making sales. Life's too short for that. So I have weeded out things
that don't sell and things I don't enjoy making and have ended up with is
a range of hollow forms, vessels, and weed pots that I enjoy making over
and over again on a continuing basis. That keeps me happy and also keeps
the sales coming in.

As for sales to other turners, the reports I get from my galleries are
that not often do other turners buy my work. More commonly, they come in,
study the pieces on display, and then go home and try to do it themselves.
And that's okay.

-mike paulson, fort collins, co

Many thanks for all your responses. They made me rethink the question:
That we turn primariIy for ourselves is a given, but forget that for now
_please. I should have asked if you turn more for other turner's
approval (not necessarily for their purchase) or for the general
public's acceptance? I know the lathes 'turn for thee', but the better
paraphrase here would have been; 'Ask not for whom the lathes turn,
they turn for other turners'. Well maybe so, but not always.

Lathes also turn for customers, family and friends. They must else there
would not be so many weed pots, candlesticks, oil lamps, little salad
bowls and all the other common items that are so often seen on the
shelves and tables of the public, but are seldom seen on the tables of
our instant galleries. Some do show up on the pic forums, but usually
only if unique or very well done, which raises another question.

I hear all the time that we should _always turn every object the very
best we can. Is turning out simple objects to the standard of public
acceptance and affordability doing the very best we can? I think it can
be. We all turn lots of these bread & butter items for our customers
and friends, but in our pic forums, clubs and instant galleries you
might not think so.

Are some of us beginning to feel a little guilty about serving bread &
butter even as we recognize that serving truffles
& caviar isn't always appropriate or even the best we can put on the
table. "Our
Best" is probably a "Movable Feast".

Of course, I'm not sure of what I'm trying to say. That's the beauty of
musing.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

mac davis wrote:

You're a lucky guy, Kevin!

I don't try very hard to sell my stuff yet, mostly friends and referrals, but
looking around the shop at several thousand bucks worth of tools, I don't even
want to figure how many bowls or whatever I'd have to sell to cover that..
assuming that wood and supplies were free, of course.. *g*

I am a lucky guy. But I guess I outta say that I didn't outfit my shop
all at once - I'd got a new toy or two each year for several years
running. Now I have pretty much all the basics except room! ;-)

Of course, there's still room for improvement. I have a 6" Sears
jointer that is worthless as side pockets on a pig. No matter how I
adjust it, the edge comes out concave. Frustrating as all get out. One
of these days I'll upgrade it.

Wouldn't mind upgrading my Nova to a Stubby some day too, but that's a
lot of salad bowls! In the mean time there's fishing gear to buy...


....Kevin
--
Kevin Miller
http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
Juneau, Alaska
Registered Linux User No: 307357

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:48:29 -0400, (Arch) wrote:

Arch.. I know that I'm not Joe Average, but I could care less what other turners
think about my stuff....
I'm the one guy at the club meetings that doesn't do show & tell... unless it's
a tool or something that might help someone..

After meeting several professional turners, which I guess I am classified as, I
promised myself and my family that I'd never depend on the turning income.. too
damn many constraints..

If it's a hobby that pays some back, it stays fun, IMO... If I have to start
worrying about how much time I have invested in something or if an item will be
popular and/or profitable, a lot of the fun is gone..

I remember something that George said a few years ago when he was talking about
the sweep of the chisel down the bowl side... that he didn't get the cut that he
wanted and had to scrape, which needed to be sanded...
The bottom line, which IS intended as a pun, is that he said that he had $60
worth of time in a $25 bowl, or something like that... and that's just not my
temperament when I'm working on the lathe..

An average pen takes me 5 or 10 minutes to turn and up to an hour sanding and
buffing... should I only spend 1/2 the time sanding to increase my profit
margin?
Maybe use friction polish and skip the buffing?
I guess I could really increase my profit if I send a bowl to chi-wan-ea and had
them send 10,000 copies... *g*

Sure, I do find things to make that might have a market, but only if it's
something that I want to learn or try...
Ceiling fan pulls would be a good example of that... I really don't like spindle
work but know that it's something that I need practice at, so I got a lamp pull
mandrel and had at it... very much like pens..
As I was doing the first crude ones, I realized that this could be a nice little
market in Baja when we move... most homes down there have at least 3 fans, we
just took 5 down to our builder...

If they sell, it's a nice feeling to know that someone likes your stuff enough
to want to own it...
If they don't sell, they're made of scrap and were time well spent... and they
make a gift that nobody else gives.. *g*

Damn.. I think I've achieved a minor musing!!



Many thanks for all your responses. They made me rethink the question:
That we turn primariIy for ourselves is a given, but forget that for now
_please. I should have asked if you turn more for other turner's
approval (not necessarily for their purchase) or for the general
public's acceptance? I know the lathes 'turn for thee', but the better
paraphrase here would have been; 'Ask not for whom the lathes turn,
they turn for other turners'. Well maybe so, but not always.

Lathes also turn for customers, family and friends. They must else there
would not be so many weed pots, candlesticks, oil lamps, little salad
bowls and all the other common items that are so often seen on the
shelves and tables of the public, but are seldom seen on the tables of
our instant galleries. Some do show up on the pic forums, but usually
only if unique or very well done, which raises another question.

I hear all the time that we should _always turn every object the very
best we can. Is turning out simple objects to the standard of public
acceptance and affordability doing the very best we can? I think it can
be. We all turn lots of these bread & butter items for our customers
and friends, but in our pic forums, clubs and instant galleries you
might not think so.

Are some of us beginning to feel a little guilty about serving bread &
butter even as we recognize that serving truffles
& caviar isn't always appropriate or even the best we can put on the
table. "Our
Best" is probably a "Movable Feast".

Of course, I'm not sure of what I'm trying to say. That's the beauty of
musing.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

Interesting point Arch, but I have not seen the same interest from
other turners. I make mainly pens and small turnings. I have only sold
two items to turners. The first turner used to turn pens years ago. I
think he was mainly interested in how the craft had changed since he
used to do it. The second was to a turner who mainly did furniture and
did not feel confident enough to turn a pen.
Most of my sales are to those who appreciate the beauty of wood,
sometimes wood workers (non-turners) or most often those who look and
are amazed.
I am finding that wood, especially exotic wood has gotten so
expensive and rare that many young people are seeing these exotic woods
for the first time when I show them my work. When I tell them a little
about exotic woods, the turned items gain value in their eyes.
I usually don't sell my work, I simply show people what I am doing
and many ask to buy an item that attracts them. That is one of the
things I love about wood turning, it is unusal enough that people look
at me in amazement when I explain that I made that pen.
I only do turnings part time, so turning is still fun, and I hope it
stays that way.
Brad
HardingPens.com

Arch wrote:
I don't sell and my experience re the buying and selling of turned wood
objects is limited to observing buyers at craft shows, art festivals,
club and symposium auctions and shows, gift shops and minor galleries.
My perception of what people will pay for and how much is obviously
narrow and may be flawed, but I suspect I see the major kinds (not
necessarily in dollars) of woodturning sales.

I know nothing of the business of high end art collectors, galleries or
museums. but from my perspective, it appears that fellow turners will
pay more than the public will for turnings that fit the craft/art's
accepted criterion for good work. Not for the few luminaries, but a sort
of reciprocal 'in-bred' support system for intermediate and advanced
turners whose work is at or above the craft's standard for design and
esthetic.

Is my perception false? Excepting the mundane 'rent payer' items, does
your best work, whatever that may be, sell better and for a higher price
to the public or to fellow turners? Granted that turner's can better
appreciate good work, but I wonder for whom the lathes turn.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

On 1 Aug 2006 06:20:59 -0700, "Brad" wrote:

Interesting point Arch, but I have not seen the same interest from
other turners. I make mainly pens and small turnings. I have only sold
two items to turners. The first turner used to turn pens years ago. I
think he was mainly interested in how the craft had changed since he
used to do it. The second was to a turner who mainly did furniture and
did not feel confident enough to turn a pen.
Most of my sales are to those who appreciate the beauty of wood,
sometimes wood workers (non-turners) or most often those who look and
are amazed.
I am finding that wood, especially exotic wood has gotten so
expensive and rare that many young people are seeing these exotic woods
for the first time when I show them my work. When I tell them a little
about exotic woods, the turned items gain value in their eyes.
I usually don't sell my work, I simply show people what I am doing
and many ask to buy an item that attracts them. That is one of the
things I love about wood turning, it is unusal enough that people look
at me in amazement when I explain that I made that pen.
I only do turnings part time, so turning is still fun, and I hope it
stays that way.
Brad
HardingPens.com


I have to jump in here, since Robohippy didn't...

My wife and I met Robo when he was down in our area doing a show and one of the
things that he was selling were kitchen brushes for about $20 each...
A guy was looking at them and we talked a bit.. he was a furniture refinisher
that was a hobby turner... He offered to buy a brush if Robo would tell him how
he attached the bristles to the handle... He got a brush and the info and Robo
got a sale.. a win-win situation!
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 08:22:59 -0700, mac davis wrote:

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 15:48:29 -0400, (Arch) wrote:

Arch.. I know that I'm not Joe Average, but I could care less what other
turners think about my stuff....

Pretty much all of my work is for sale but I take the attitude that a part
that takes me too long to make counts toward my education. When things go
well, I earn good money. When I don't know what I am doing and things slow
to a crawl while I learn them ... well, the difference in pay is my
tuition for the day.

AFter perhaps a hundred pens over the past two years, I'm just now
starting to get good with CA. But I can get a pen off the lathe in under
30 minutes now if things go well. OTOH, sometimes I spend two hours making
something that ultimately ends up in the "turn the wood off / keep the
brass" box.

So be it.

I've always relished the challenge to 'get good' with something. This is
just one more go 'round of that.

Bill