Hello from the USA - Happy I found this forum!
I was doing a Google search for quick change handles....and a link to this forum came up. Glad to join, and look forward to the exchange of ideas. I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina @ approx. 2500 ft. elevation. I have been wood butchering...er...turning for approx. 1-1/2 years. I have a Robust American Beauty and feel very lucky to own it. (A generous Mrs.....:D ) I am particularly lucky to have found this hobby where I live for 2 other reasons: 1. I joined the local club - the Carolina Mountain Woodturners - which is the largest wood turning club in the USA, and has as members people like David Ellsworth, Graeme Priddle, and the current AAW president - Greg Schramek. Incredible support for learning....
AND 2: The area I live in is called the Southern Appalachian Highlands. It is an upland rain forest. Last year I had 107 inches of rain on my property. We have more species of plant life than anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere...which includes a LOT of trees. Maple -several species, Oak - white and red, Hickory, Cherry, Apple, Peach, Locust ( an Acacia species) Poplar - ( I just bought a Rainbow Poplar of which the smallest diameter on the trunk is 40 inches...) Sycamore, River Birch, Sassafras, and dozens more I cannot remember I am sure....
But I am curious about the woods and methods that you are using, and find myself constantly trying to read and turn. Sometimes I actually pause to eat, have an adult beverage...and disappear to my "lathe cave" again. Currently I am working on finishing an entire shop dust collection system....quite a chore in that I located the 5 hp cyclone outside - and have to return the filtered air into he shop - as it is the basement level pf my house....ther wise I would be sucking 2500 cu.feet per minute of "conditioned air" out of the house, and feed the power company more money.:U
Looking forward to fun conversations!
T
