Mr. 'Hands off'. "I'm gonna turn it over to you in a second, but first
let me show you how to rub the bevel just to get you started". He gets
carried away. As the sun slowly sets, it's getting dark and the newbie
never got to lay gouge on wood, but the mentor has another nice bowl.

Ms. 'You can use my old cheap lathe & even cheaper tools since they are
ok for learning'. She doesn't give a newbie a fair chance trying to
learn on an Erector Set, a cold chisel and a knotty limb. He's warned
not to touch her Pro-Pms & Oneway.

Mr. 'I had to learn to turn all by myself'. He will save you all the
time it took him to become a good woodturner. Trouble is, he learned all
the bad ways and nobody dared tell him. Not even his one chum, Mr.
'Nevermind what the rest of the club says'. "I've been turning wood
before they were born". Making the same mistakes for 30 years doesn't
guarantee competence.

Ms. 'Trying to do everything at once'. "Here's a pine cone, put it on
the lathe. I have to run to the store, but you go ahead and get
started". "The lathe is over there. Watch out for Junior and his cat.
Turn off the stove if it boils over". See ya in a jiff! That's one
bewildered newbie.

Mr. 'First, let's look at a few of my fine homemade tapes and read all
the articles I've written'. The newbie looks and reads and looks and
reads and looks and reads til the Pulitzer wannabe and sometimes mentor,
pronounces, "That should hold you for this time, gotta run, see you at
the next club meeting. Bye. Oh by the way, if you're interested, I sell
my tapes".

Mr. 'Supremely over Self Confident'. "Here, let me show you how I do
it". He's a full page, half a tape and two rcw threads ahead of the
newbie, but he sure wields the newbie's new $100 gouge with authority
while sharpening it til the flute is one inch long. The newbie is
impressed, although his face has turned a pale green.

Mr. 'Long on hospitality, but short on mentoring'. "Sarah is making us a
quick snack. (ham, eggs, grits, biscuits and all the fixins. plus three
hours at the table looking at bottle stoppers) to be followed by "Let's
have a beer before we get started." The newbie had a good breakfast and
enjoyable morning, but he learned nothing and his innocent wife is now
obligated to put on an even more ambitious spread next day she's off
work.

Ms. 'Golly, I forgot you were coming over today', "I'm so embarrassed
about my messy shop'. I'll only be a minute cleaning up". Two and a half
hours later the shop sparkles and the newbie is dozing peacefully. All
is well and tomorrow is another day.

Mr. 'Let's see, you are?' "Well ok , I'll show you all there is to know
about woodturning?' "Nothing to it, let me find a stick of wood around
here somewhere and you'll be a good turner by noon". He has no plan, no
clue, no mask, some strange tools and really can't take that half
finished hollow form off his lathe today.

Mr. 'Obsequious, over attentive and excessively humble' ...that is until
the newbie is overheard wondering if this milktoast really knows how to
mentor. Then Uriah Heep's dialog becomes blunt and in slightly sullen
monosyllables.
***********************************************
And then there's Mr. and Ms. 'Good Guys'. They know what they are doing,
have been where the newbie is now and have a well thought out and tested
plan. They conserve time and utilize materials properly and they wear
well. They tell the newbie what he will do, lets him do it with
unobtrusive supervision, then tells him what he did and courteously and
firmly corrects his mistakes. Hallelujah!


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

I like it Arch. But then, I know all those guys and gals. Tuesday I gave a
turning demo for the afternoon at the provincial exhibition here in Truro.
There was a young fellow, about 14, watching and chatting for a while. He
had done some wood work but never turned. So I put a bowl blank on the
lathe, turned off the imbalance and showed him how to rub the bevel of the
Oland tool. then I had him turn for awhile. It turns out that I was the
first demonstrator in over five years to get any one to try the lathe. What
kind of teachers are we anyway?

Take care Arch.
______
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com
"Arch" wrote in message
...
Mr. 'Hands off'. "I'm gonna turn it over to you in a second, but first
let me show you how to rub the bevel just to get you started". He gets
carried away. As the sun slowly sets, it's getting dark and the newbie
never got to lay gouge on wood, but the mentor has another nice bowl.

Ms. 'You can use my old cheap lathe & even cheaper tools since they are
ok for learning'. She doesn't give a newbie a fair chance trying to
learn on an Erector Set, a cold chisel and a knotty limb. He's warned
not to touch her Pro-Pms & Oneway.

Mr. 'I had to learn to turn all by myself'. He will save you all the
time it took him to become a good woodturner. Trouble is, he learned all
the bad ways and nobody dared tell him. Not even his one chum, Mr.
'Nevermind what the rest of the club says'. "I've been turning wood
before they were born". Making the same mistakes for 30 years doesn't
guarantee competence.

Ms. 'Trying to do everything at once'. "Here's a pine cone, put it on
the lathe. I have to run to the store, but you go ahead and get
started". "The lathe is over there. Watch out for Junior and his cat.
Turn off the stove if it boils over". See ya in a jiff! That's one
bewildered newbie.

Mr. 'First, let's look at a few of my fine homemade tapes and read all
the articles I've written'. The newbie looks and reads and looks and
reads and looks and reads til the Pulitzer wannabe and sometimes mentor,
pronounces, "That should hold you for this time, gotta run, see you at
the next club meeting. Bye. Oh by the way, if you're interested, I sell
my tapes".

Mr. 'Supremely over Self Confident'. "Here, let me show you how I do
it". He's a full page, half a tape and two rcw threads ahead of the
newbie, but he sure wields the newbie's new $100 gouge with authority
while sharpening it til the flute is one inch long. The newbie is
impressed, although his face has turned a pale green.

Mr. 'Long on hospitality, but short on mentoring'. "Sarah is making us a
quick snack. (ham, eggs, grits, biscuits and all the fixins. plus three
hours at the table looking at bottle stoppers) to be followed by "Let's
have a beer before we get started." The newbie had a good breakfast and
enjoyable morning, but he learned nothing and his innocent wife is now
obligated to put on an even more ambitious spread next day she's off
work.

Ms. 'Golly, I forgot you were coming over today', "I'm so embarrassed
about my messy shop'. I'll only be a minute cleaning up". Two and a half
hours later the shop sparkles and the newbie is dozing peacefully. All
is well and tomorrow is another day.

Mr. 'Let's see, you are?' "Well ok , I'll show you all there is to know
about woodturning?' "Nothing to it, let me find a stick of wood around
here somewhere and you'll be a good turner by noon". He has no plan, no
clue, no mask, some strange tools and really can't take that half
finished hollow form off his lathe today.

Mr. 'Obsequious, over attentive and excessively humble' ...that is until
the newbie is overheard wondering if this milktoast really knows how to
mentor. Then Uriah Heep's dialog becomes blunt and in slightly sullen
monosyllables.
***********************************************
And then there's Mr. and Ms. 'Good Guys'. They know what they are doing,
have been where the newbie is now and have a well thought out and tested
plan. They conserve time and utilize materials properly and they wear
well. They tell the newbie what he will do, lets him do it with
unobtrusive supervision, then tells him what he did and courteously and
firmly corrects his mistakes. Hallelujah!


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

Arch,

I like it too. I would add: Mr. "Before we can start, let me tell you
about safety" who, by the time he is done rattling on about face
shields, dust collection, sharp tools and loose clothing, you are
either too bored to turn or too scared.

Joe Fleming
San Diego


Darrell Feltmate wrote:
I like it Arch. But then, I know all those guys and gals. Tuesday I gave a
turning demo for the afternoon at the provincial exhibition here in Truro.
There was a young fellow, about 14, watching and chatting for a while. He
had done some wood work but never turned. So I put a bowl blank on the
lathe, turned off the imbalance and showed him how to rub the bevel of the
Oland tool. then I had him turn for awhile. It turns out that I was the
first demonstrator in over five years to get any one to try the lathe. What
kind of teachers are we anyway?

Take care Arch.
______
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com
"Arch" wrote in message
...
Mr. 'Hands off'. "I'm gonna turn it over to you in a second, but first
let me show you how to rub the bevel just to get you started". He gets
carried away. As the sun slowly sets, it's getting dark and the newbie
never got to lay gouge on wood, but the mentor has another nice bowl.

Ms. 'You can use my old cheap lathe & even cheaper tools since they are
ok for learning'. She doesn't give a newbie a fair chance trying to
learn on an Erector Set, a cold chisel and a knotty limb. He's warned
not to touch her Pro-Pms & Oneway.

Mr. 'I had to learn to turn all by myself'. He will save you all the
time it took him to become a good woodturner. Trouble is, he learned all
the bad ways and nobody dared tell him. Not even his one chum, Mr.
'Nevermind what the rest of the club says'. "I've been turning wood
before they were born". Making the same mistakes for 30 years doesn't
guarantee competence.

Ms. 'Trying to do everything at once'. "Here's a pine cone, put it on
the lathe. I have to run to the store, but you go ahead and get
started". "The lathe is over there. Watch out for Junior and his cat.
Turn off the stove if it boils over". See ya in a jiff! That's one
bewildered newbie.

Mr. 'First, let's look at a few of my fine homemade tapes and read all
the articles I've written'. The newbie looks and reads and looks and
reads and looks and reads til the Pulitzer wannabe and sometimes mentor,
pronounces, "That should hold you for this time, gotta run, see you at
the next club meeting. Bye. Oh by the way, if you're interested, I sell
my tapes".

Mr. 'Supremely over Self Confident'. "Here, let me show you how I do
it". He's a full page, half a tape and two rcw threads ahead of the
newbie, but he sure wields the newbie's new $100 gouge with authority
while sharpening it til the flute is one inch long. The newbie is
impressed, although his face has turned a pale green.

Mr. 'Long on hospitality, but short on mentoring'. "Sarah is making us a
quick snack. (ham, eggs, grits, biscuits and all the fixins. plus three
hours at the table looking at bottle stoppers) to be followed by "Let's
have a beer before we get started." The newbie had a good breakfast and
enjoyable morning, but he learned nothing and his innocent wife is now
obligated to put on an even more ambitious spread next day she's off
work.

Ms. 'Golly, I forgot you were coming over today', "I'm so embarrassed
about my messy shop'. I'll only be a minute cleaning up". Two and a half
hours later the shop sparkles and the newbie is dozing peacefully. All
is well and tomorrow is another day.

Mr. 'Let's see, you are?' "Well ok , I'll show you all there is to know
about woodturning?' "Nothing to it, let me find a stick of wood around
here somewhere and you'll be a good turner by noon". He has no plan, no
clue, no mask, some strange tools and really can't take that half
finished hollow form off his lathe today.

Mr. 'Obsequious, over attentive and excessively humble' ...that is until
the newbie is overheard wondering if this milktoast really knows how to
mentor. Then Uriah Heep's dialog becomes blunt and in slightly sullen
monosyllables.
***********************************************
And then there's Mr. and Ms. 'Good Guys'. They know what they are doing,
have been where the newbie is now and have a well thought out and tested
plan. They conserve time and utilize materials properly and they wear
well. They tell the newbie what he will do, lets him do it with
unobtrusive supervision, then tells him what he did and courteously and
firmly corrects his mistakes. Hallelujah!


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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

On 28 Aug 2006 20:20:19 -0700, "Joe Fleming" wrote:

Arch,

I like it too. I would add: Mr. "Before we can start, let me tell you
about safety" who, by the time he is done rattling on about face
shields, dust collection, sharp tools and loose clothing, you are
either too bored to turn or too scared.

And one further addendum:

Mr. "It's sort of tough to *cut* with the chisels- I've found that
just holding them straight and pushing them in seems to work the best
for most people. Be back in a bit."

Good thing we have the internet, or I'd probably still be trying to do
that way today- seems like a foolish thing for a guy getting paid to
teach a woodworking class to say, but I guess he wasn't much of a
turner. In the guy's defense, he was very sharp when it came to flat
work, and I did learn a thing or three in the class.