Expert or Butter Scotch Artist?
Without knowing it, many of you have silently become experts in many areas of turning wood. You might be a qualified expert in bowl turning, stabilizing pen blanks, certain kinds of pen making, delicate finials for Christmas ornaments and hollow forms, natural edge bowls, hand chasing threads and so much more. Although most of us hesitate to call ourselves “Expert Turners”, there are certain things we know very well. As I list some criteria below, see if you don’t discover that you actually are an Expert in more than a few things.
How do you know if someone is really an expert? What is an expert anyway? By definition it is someone having comprehensive or authoritative knowledge in a particular area. As woodturners who often deal with large pieces of wood weighing more than enough to do us some serious harm while spinning around at hundreds or thousands or revolutions per minute, we need to know which advice to take and which to ignore.
Some Tangible Signs will help you know if you are dealing with an Expert or “Butter Scotch Artist”.
Documentation If licenses or some kind of board certification is available, do they have those documents? In the UK, professional turners can obtain the certification of RPT, Registered Professional Turner. As far as I know, the USA or Canada does not offer anything similar. Length of time in field Someone who has only been turning for a short time may be a quick learner, but it is unlikely that they have had sufficient time to develop in depth expertise. Experience Conversely, just because someone has been doing something for 20 years might mean they have only one year’s experience 20 times and not the maturity 20 years of experience should bring. However, if that person has been doing something for 20 years and has made hundreds or even thousands of a particular style of item, chances are that they have learned a few things along the way and may well be worth your time. Evidence If they set hard evidence before you which obviously took great skill and expertise to accomplish, they might actually know what they are talking about. That would be a good sign that you might want to pay attention to what they tell you. Reputation and Affiliations Someone who has been involved in their field for a long time and who is apt to teach will have earned a reputation for knowing their stuff. These individuals have instant credibility as an expert. The organizations they are publically affiliated with will say a lot about their credibility. My friend and mentor Nick Cook scores very high in all of these categories including his very visible affiliation with the Jet and Powermatic Equipment Company.
One other point about woodturning experts, just because an individual is expert in one discipline in no way means they are an expert in another field. Someone might be an expert bowl turner, but know practically nothing about lidded boxes, or delicate finials, etc. Be particular about the specific skill set being discussed and don’t fail to exercise diligence when deciding whether to take their advice at face value because wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
2Pet 2:1 NIV But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Job 6:30 NIV Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
Prov 13:5-6 NIV The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Time to think about what you are going to present to family and friends this Christmas Season.
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