Beginner - suggestions for starting

[Lyle]

I have a friends wife coming over on the weekend to try out my woodlathe.
I am asking for suggestions on a 'thingy' for her to turn up.
Something simple but useful? Rolling pin, shallow bowl......
Simple finish. I have shellac, wipe on poly , waxes etc.
Can you suggest something???

help!

[Texian]

Good luck.

[rsser]

Yes. What Richard said!

If you're guiding her through it then maybe a honey dipper, a rolling pin might work (you may have to true it up afterwards) or a spatula.

Obviously a lot will depend on her facility with the turning tools.

[Lyle]

Thanks.
I'll take her through some general stuff first and hopefully will end up with a simple job to complete.
I have a few PEN-1 kits, would that be too difficult for a first job. It would be good to take home something you'd made yourself.....
(I have sufficient safety gear for her to use). In case of the potential dig-ins etc.

[mick61]

G`day
I would suggest a bit of a play with a two or three lengths of pine say 50x200mm Using roughing gouge then skew then spindle gouge and let her get a feel for cutting the wood then maybe try a honey dipper. If you are going to do do a pen you will still have to give her a bit of practice with a skew but I do agree that she should take something home.
Mick

[tea lady]

You could prolly just turn a fancy stick.

Or maybe one of those rolly things that you give your feet a massage with.

[mkypenturner]

the feet masagers are a good idea or if she has any young kids why not a spinning top or 2

troy

[Calm]

One should never assume but

Assuming that she has not turned before - show her the skew and tell her that is what you use after you have done 50 hours with the roughing gouge.

I think the rolling pin is a good idea - with a subtle hint it could roll out some scone dough as payment - nothing like scones , jam & cream.

A simple bowl, not very big, is also a good idea - keep it simple with a good flow - something to sit on the coffee table to put the remote controls in and show off her skills.

The main thing is to hope she enjoys it - we have room for just one more sucker being addicted to this great pastime.

Cheers

[Grumpy John]

When I first joined Peninsula Woodturners I had never used a wood lathe. The first exercises they had me doing was roughing out 50mm square blanks about 250 long (crappy resawn pallet material). Then they had me doing beads and coves. This went on for my first two sessions, then they let me make something......... an egg .

Attachment 134769

I was a little bit annoyed that all I was allowed to make after ~5 hours was an egg, but the point of the exercise was tool control, and yes, they had me using a skew in that first 5 hours.
If your friend has never turned before I think a rolling pin would be a good exercise.

[issatree]

Hi All,
In my experience, Ladies make very good Turners.
So don't be surprised if this Lady shows promise right from the start.
Was teaching a Lady many moons ago.
Showed her the Roughing Gouge," which hand do you use ".
Started off on RH, got to the end of the wood.
Changed hands & went back the other way & was very very competent in doing so.
Blew me right away.
Regards,
issatree.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

[Ed Reiss]

When I was holding classes in the 90's, the syllabus was straightforward.

day 1 - sharpening
day 2- roughing a cylinder
day 3 beads and coves

The next level was to make a simple bowl

day 1 blank selection
day 2 mounting options
day 3 turn a simple salad bowl

With beginners things have got to be kept fairly simple.

[Gil Jones]

Watch this video [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWWw5HHzvFw]YouTube - Turning Wooden Flowers on a lathe[/ame] and you should be able to teach the lady to create lovely flowers.
She can learn the skew long before someone tells her they are difficult to use (which they are not).
Luck,
Gil

[Lyle]

I think I'll try her with some spindle work on some pine or such. Then if time is available, a key-ring kit and possibly a small bowl.
I only want to let her have a go so to speak, not lessons etc.

[mick61]

G`day hope it goes well.
Dont forget the safety gear.
Skew first lesson, its just another tool to master,if you use a spindle gouge incorrectly you get in just as much trouble.( no master of skew) is the best I have seen with skew.
Mick

P.S I am helping someone at the moment she has used Roughing gouge Skew and Spindle gouge. By the end of two hours she was showing some control of chisels maybe a small bowl would be an option today.

[Manuka Jock]

A spurtle is a relatively easy starting piece for spindle turning .
It's also a very useful kitchen utensil .