Summer 2009

Springtime is perhaps my favorite time of year. Winter is coming to a close and those 60° “teaser days” are happening with more frequency here in northeast Ohio. As I write this editorial, the trees are beginning to green-up and the winter grime is starting to dissipate with the coming of the spring rains. More importantly, the “Symposium Season” is just starting—the anticipation makes this time of year even better. I always try to add a couple of different shows to my schedule each year so I can meet readers in other parts of the country. This year, in addition to the Utah and the AAW Symposiums (where we will have a booth), I’m going to once again attend the Ohio Valley Woodturning Symposium, which is held every other year in the Cincinnati area. It’s a great gathering of turners and, best of all, it is close to home. I’m going to attend “Totally Turning 2009” in Saratoga, New York, and I’m looking forward to going at the end of March. I’m also thinking about going to the biannual North Carolina Woodturning Symposium in Greensboro, NC, in October. If you see me at any of these shows, please stop me and say hello.

In this issue, we have a great array of interesting items. There is a total of seven different projects for you to try your hand at, including a few tool-building projects. Wilford Bickel teaches you how to build an inexpensive PVC vacuum chuck, and in the next issue, we will feature a different take on the subject by Ron Sardo. We’ll take a tour of Barry Gross’ shop, learn how to make a simple beading tool and mushroom boxes, get finishing tips from two masters, and learn how to recycle scrap wood.

A little housekeeping from last issue is in order as well: I guess my wife is right—how do I expect others to read my handwriting if I can’t even read it myself? This issue raised its head again after I misspelled Steve Sinner’s and Dave Hiller’s names in the article about the Chicago Symposium. Sorry guys!
One of our sharp-eyed readers spotted a minor error in the Staved Birdhouse article. In the “Supplies Listing” we indicated that 17 slats are needed, but if you count the slats in Figure 6, you’ll see that 18 are actually used. Finally, there was a bit of extra mystery involved with the Mystery Salt Shaker article. The cone-shaped funnel that dispenses the salt should be glued in place, and to fill the shaker, you merely pour the salt into the shaker through the same hole from which it comes out.

The Showcase this issue features the work of Terry Scott of New Zealand. The New Zealand turners are in the forefront when it comes to developing new and unique items and styles of turning. I’m impressed by the innovative techniques I see coming from that area as I surf the Internet, and Terry is certainly one of the leaders of that movement. The photo shown here arrived a little too late to include in Terry’s Showcase, but I still wanted to share it with our readers. The “Burl Tree” shown in the Showcase required a bit of engineering just to turn the openings. Terry sent me this photo to show how he had to counterbalance the turning while forming the different offsets. Amazing!

Happy turning             

Readers' Gallery
Woodturning Design also periodically publishes a “Reader’s Gallery” of work made by readers. If you are interested in seeing your work in the magazine, e-mail me photos at editors@woodturningdesign.com and we will publish them as space permits. You can contact me by regular mail at 1882 St. Rt. 45 North, Rock Creek, Ohio 44084.