Subject To Change
Knowledge and understanding makes everything subject to change. Each time you attend another meeting you are likely to learn something new that will change everything. When I first started learning about turning wood, one of the objections I had was the cost of kiln dried wood which was thick enough to turn platters, vases and hollow forms. Then someone told me I could turn green unseasoned wood successfully. Everything changed.
Suddenly thick wood for turning was everywhere and mostly for the asking. Free was a price I could afford. Then I learned something else; green wood can be sanded just like dry wood. It doesn’t gum up the sandpaper like I thought it would and render sandpaper unusable. After your work piece dries out you may still need to do a final sanding to remove the last little bit of fuzz. But you can remove tool marks and most major imperfections with sandpaper when you first turn it. Who knew?
And turning green wood is way easier and I think more fun than dry wood. The shavings peel off in ribbons and most species of wood smell wonderful! As an extra added bonus, there is much less dust with green wood and your tools stay sharper longer. My turning world changed dramatically when I learned about turning green wood.
I’ve told this story before, but you need to hear it again. My sweet wife, Janice, asked me to turn a large salad bowl about a week before Thanksgiving one year. She planned to use it at a large family gathering we had scheduled in a few days. I told her that the bowl needed to dry out for several months or it would go oval and warp. To my amazement, she said she didn’t care and that the odd shape would just add character and contribute to the “Hand-Made” look she loved in the first place. She said that if she wanted it to look store-bought she would go to the store and buy it.
Today, I love to turn green wood from start to finish in one session. I turn it from rough to final thickness, sand it, oil it and use it often within 24 hours. Yes, they always go oval, and nearly never crack, (it's got to be the walnut oil) and they are always beautiful. Janice still doesn’t care and loves every one I make with no waiting. Life is good!
The more you learn in all areas of life, the more things are subject to change. Grab hold of new information and use it to make things better because wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
2 Kings 6:17 HCSB Then Elisha prayed, "Lord, please open his eyes and let him see." So the Lord opened the servant's eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
John 9:25 NIV He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! ”
Luke 10:23 NIV Then turning to His disciples He said privately, “The eyes that see the things you see are blessed!
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