As I sit at my parents house pining for my workshop I have got to thinking about my woody beginnings. I’m not really talking my poor attempts at high school woodwork, but my first attempts at a new found hobby.
This was it, not really inspiring. I just put a peace of scrap pine between centres, spun up the lathe and with no knowledge of what each tool did, speed changes, or what was safe. This was it, tear outs galore, no objective shape, but about 20cm of pure joy. I still have it hidden away in a box somewhere.
I soon wanted to investigate more.
This was my first bowl. It was made of layers or scrap pine stuck together (pine is very under-rated). It has thick walls where I was too scared to go too thin and lots of chips and tears. Again it was a work of enjoyment. Now I would be horrified to produce something, how shall I put it, rustic? Also turning wood has made me a better photographer, these early shots are not so well composed, or even focused.
And finally my first pen. This was a slimline made from, I don’t know what……wood. Its turned too thin, the ends are undersized and it looks a little wrong, but I still use it today.
Of course these are all learning experiences. With each creation comes knowledge, and enjoyment. I am happy to look back at where I came from, and compare to the things I turn now, and it always makes me smile. I wonder what my old woodwork teacher would think of what i am doing now?
What was the first thing you made?
My first project since high school was a hall table, earlier this year. I cut the half-lap joints with a thin kerf sawblade on my amazing bad table saw- I did dowel joints using an old curtain rod. The whole thing is made from structural pine and pallet boards. But it's square, stiff, and flat. It also fits neatly in the little nook by our front door :-)
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