Just A Few Things
Firstly, from all of us at Ron Brown’s Best, LLC, we wish you a Happy Easter. This is the most important celebration in all of Christianity. It has nothing to do with a bunny rabbit and everything to do with an empty tomb.
I’d like to talk to you about incrementalism for your turning journey. Let’s assume that you already have the basics; a lathe, chucks, spur centers, faceplate, etc. And that you have at least a basic set of turning tools including a few carbide–tipped tools. Also, that you have at least a basic sharpening station for your High–Speed Steel tools.
You’ve made the major capital investment needed. Now let’s suppose you want to turn pens and pencils. You only need a few more things like a pen mandrel to hold the blanks, a drill bit to make the hole for the brass tubing, and bushings to help make the proper sizing easily. You might add a pen press and a drilling fixture if you really decide to make lots of pens, but that’s about it.
What about threaded lidded boxes? There are two routes, hand chased threads, and a threading jig. A great set of thread chasers from Robert Sorby including a depth gauge is only $149.94 on Amazon. With that set you’ve expanded your repertoire to small turned lidded boxes, burial urns, hollow forms with threaded lids, etc. You can add different thread pitches for around $100 with the addition of new thread chasers.
Threading jigs begin at around $250 and go up to over $500, but there is practically no learning curve and you seldom fail.
Let’s say you become fascinated with turning salt and pepper mills. You need a couple of forstner bits and a drill chuck for the tailstock. A drill bit extension for the taller mills is handy along with a couple of mandrels to hold the blank between centers as you shape the body. Pepper Mill kits are inexpensive and now you have added salt and pepper mills to your arsenal for about $100.
And my latest favorite, Bowls From A Board. For under $150 you can add a basic system to your collection and open a whole new world of fascinating possibilities limited only by your imagination. Think segmented turning with 90% less work. It turns out there are hundreds of YouTube videos on making “bowls from a board” so you are guaranteed a quick start.
Turning wood can be daunting because there is so much to learn. Many folks claim this line, “by the yard it’s hard, by the inch it’s a cinch.” I recommend you add one skillset at a time and get the few things needed for that. Pretty soon, you will have to decide which of your passions you want to enjoy next! Remember that wherever you go, there you are. Happy Easter.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
(Ps 32:8 [NASB])
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
(Prov 16:9 [AMP])
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.
(Isa 30:21 [NASB])
Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
(Acts 22:10 [MSG])
"Then I said, 'What do I do now, Master?' "He said, 'Get to your feet and enter Damascus. There you'll be told everything that's been set out for you to do.'
