dazzaman
Apprentice Member
Hi all,
I probably should have done this before starting my own thread, but here goes.
I am new to woodturning, but not to woodwork. I have been a musical instrument maker professionally since 1986, having made my first instrument in 1981 when I was at school. I make keyboard instruments (harpsichords, clavichords, virginals, spinets), as well as make guitar-family instruments for my own enjoyment and use. For a number of years a took a bit of a side step away from full time making, and worked as a museum curator in instrument museums in the UK and then Copenhagen.
At present I teach keyboard instrument making at the Royal School of the Arts in Gent (Belgium). It is only part time, a few days every couple of weeks, but gives me access to lathes etc, as well as colleagues (professional woodwind maker and seriously good students) who really know how to use them. So I am jumping at the chance to learn the ropes.
I have only ever had one prior attempt at woodturning. I needed legs for an instrument I was making and a friend invited me to use his lathe and showed me the basics. Trying to turn a leg from 2.5" beech on a very cold winters day was not a good introduction to it.
But I love pens (like most here, I guess, I have a reasonable collection) and the size of them is much more in keeping with what I want to do - been wanting to do it for years. So far it has been a brilliant start. i am making up my blanks for next time I am over with the lathe.
Cheers!
I probably should have done this before starting my own thread, but here goes.
I am new to woodturning, but not to woodwork. I have been a musical instrument maker professionally since 1986, having made my first instrument in 1981 when I was at school. I make keyboard instruments (harpsichords, clavichords, virginals, spinets), as well as make guitar-family instruments for my own enjoyment and use. For a number of years a took a bit of a side step away from full time making, and worked as a museum curator in instrument museums in the UK and then Copenhagen.
At present I teach keyboard instrument making at the Royal School of the Arts in Gent (Belgium). It is only part time, a few days every couple of weeks, but gives me access to lathes etc, as well as colleagues (professional woodwind maker and seriously good students) who really know how to use them. So I am jumping at the chance to learn the ropes.
I have only ever had one prior attempt at woodturning. I needed legs for an instrument I was making and a friend invited me to use his lathe and showed me the basics. Trying to turn a leg from 2.5" beech on a very cold winters day was not a good introduction to it.
But I love pens (like most here, I guess, I have a reasonable collection) and the size of them is much more in keeping with what I want to do - been wanting to do it for years. So far it has been a brilliant start. i am making up my blanks for next time I am over with the lathe.
Cheers!
