A Short Version of Woodturning’s Long History.
THE LATE Wally Dickerman —a man who spent more than 70 years in front of a lathe— once told me that he marveled at the tools and gadgets surrounding our … Continue reading
The Horsetrader: How I Kept Upgrading My Lathe.
MY FAMILY ROOTS took hold in Erie County of the Keystone State, that strange bump that connects coalmining country to Lake Erie. That makes me a “Pennsylvania Dutchman.” Those who … Continue reading
Wally Dickerman: Eight Decades at the Lathe
By Russell Neyman When Wally Dickerman first picked up a woodturning tool, Amelia Earhart wasn’t lost, baseball was strictly a daylight game, and The New Deal was new. That was … Continue reading
The Mystery and Magic of Madrone.
“Working with madrone is like going on a blind date: it’s risky, exciting, and you’re guaranteed to have a surprise or two.”
With Apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.
“I looked at the gas can, and there was a fancy bottle stopper stuck into the end of the spout, where the gas cap should have been. Now who but a woodturner would do that!?
Dangerous Conversations.
“Ironically, the most awe-inspiring turnings present the greatest possibility that pieces of wood will fly all over the shop.”
This Blog and That Author.
I’ve been spinning things almost all of my life, and for the past 23 years it has been wood on a lathe. Previously, I “spun” sports stories as a journalist, … Continue reading
Sourcing Wood.
“How do you get your hands on great-turning wood without spending a fortune? Easy: ask for it.”
Turnabouts! 