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I Can’t Remember Everything I Already Know

I used to be able to make an Acorn Lidded Box complete in just under 12 minutes. I’ve made hundreds of them using black walnut for the lids and maple for the nut. I even made a DVD and have an Acorn making kit for sale on my website. However, since I haven’t made any acorn boxes for a while, I won’t remember just how I used to do it and I’m sure it would take significantly longer until I do a few and remember what I already knew before. I’ll probably have to stop in the middle to hunt for some of the bits and pieces I used before. The same thing with spinning tops. I could finish one complete with texturing and color in less than 5 minutes and I’ve made somewhere well over 10,000 of them.

I’m not just out of practice, the truth is we don’t remember all of the details we know if we don’t use those skills often enough.  That is why, as a very experienced turner, I still watch YouTube videos on turning and, when I can, I still attend turning demonstrations. Although I know a lot, I don’t know everything and it is always a good reminder of the things I actually already know.

Besides, there is always more than one right way to do something especially in turning wood. If you asked a group of 5 woodturners how to do something you would get at least 10 right answers. None of those answers might be how you already do the same thing.

In industry, companies often require recertification in certain areas because they understand that we forget what we know over time. Or, we simply might remember it slightly different than what we were taught the last time around. We need a slight course correction from time to time.

Just as it is my habit to quickly sharpen all of the turning tools I plan to use on a particular project before I start, some very experienced turners begin each session with some warm up exercises on scrap wood. My favorite is a 2x2x10 piece of scrap 2x4 to rough down, roll beads and scoop out some coves then bring to a cylinder with my skew. I almost always do this before I am going to turn delicate finials out of Ebony or African Blackwood. Those woods are expensive and I don’t want to make a mistake because I was not ready although I have made hundreds, it still pays to warm up first.

Instead of just diving in on the good stuff, when you warm up first, your movements will be smoother, your tools will be sharper and you should have everything you need out and ready to go. Otherwise, you will probably have to stop in the middle to get something you didn’t remember you needed or you might even snap a $10 piece of ebony and have to start over. Stopping in the middle interrupts your rhythm and can easily throw you off.

Our church gave everyone a copy of “One Year Through The Bible” in January of 2019. It has 365 chapters one for each calendar day of the year. If you read one chapter each day, you will have read the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation each year. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover several times and I still discover new stuff each time. More often I am reminded of what I already knew but had forgotten. Remember that wherever you go, there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this message:

Job 11:16 NIV You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.

Prov 4:5 NIV Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Heb 13:16 HCSB Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

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Sharp Tools Are The Key!

Without sharp tools nothing else works the way it is supposed to. You have to force the cut, the wood tears rather than shears off. It is difficult to roll a bead or scoop out a cove cleanly. You will sand forever on a bowl with torn grain.

Properly sharpened tools are a joy. They cut easily, cleanly and with little effort. The Quick Sharpening Package contains everything you need to properly sharpen every HSS lathe chisel you own. Use the Quad Setting Jig to quickly set the platform to the proper angle for Scrapers, Skews, Roughing Gouges and Parting Tools.

Use the Set Up Blocks to set your VariGrind 1 or 2 in seconds for reteatable Bowl Gouge grinds including Standard, Ellsworth Style and Bottom Feeder type. Quickly set your jig for fingernail grinds on your spindle gouges.

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