Frustrating Elm…

I’ve had a running battle with some VERY dry (8%) Elm over the last few days. Saturday had me in the Midlands for an AWGB meeting, so a day away, but Friday and Sunday I was having a battle to complete two large commissioned presentation pieces in Elm. Nasty stuff when too dry.

Monday should see them finished (they have to be!) and delivered. I’ll be glad.

And then it’s on to some even older, drier, wood for another commissioned piece. After that the beauty that is clean, wet, Sycamore and Ash for three more commissioned pieces…Oh I can’t wait. Wet shavings…tools that stay sharp longer than I can hold my breath for…long shavings…damp tools…sap on the goggles…no dust from simply cutting…what a joy wet wood is.

 

How much wood did HMS Victory yeald?

It’s been a week of new commissions. Some interesting ones too.

One, well two actually, for a disabled access sailing club, came with a box full of large chunks of wood from HMS Victory. I have no problem with this, and I know there was wood from the Victory…but how much? I’ve heard claims of two containers loaded with it bought by one individual, another container by another individual, then there are the official “Victory gift” suppliers, and then the mountains of “Victory wood” available from many sources on the internet…

How big was this ship? The size of Poland?

 

A few things…

I’ve said before how odd the jobs a full-time turner gets can be. And they can be. In the last week or so…

• A replacement roller for a hundred year old implement
• A(nother) Irish drum stick
• A pair of acorns from 9″*9″*12″ green oak
• A replacement handle for an old pair of garden shears
• A set of coconut shy balls

Another week like that and it’ll be the south of France for me!

 

And what did today bring? Eighteen cotton reels in three sizes! My head may explode with the dizzyness.

 

Theme changed…links back

So it took a theme change to bring the links back…they’re on the right-hand side again…so happy clicking.

Not had much to say recently, as you will no doubt have noticed, and a few of you have and commented by email or phone.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the Blog actually. Continue. Stop. I really don’t know.

Part of the problem is the pay off for bothering. The point is there was never intended to be a pay off; it was just something I liked to do, and thought I’d make one specific to woodturning. But the actuality is that there is a pay off…and not one I particularly want.

When your time is as limited as mine is, the last thing you need is to have to justify what you’ve posted with best intentions to people who cannot be bothered themselves to actually read and try to understand what it is you are saying. It becomes draining. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…if you don’t like it, don’t come back. By all means email me with your own thoughts…that’s part of what blogging is, but please do not expect that prolonged communications are your right. At some point you just have to accept that two people may never agree.

And when the attacks become personal I simply can’t be bothered any more.

So you may see more here…or it may simply wither in the ether…

 

Missing Links…

Apparently it’s a theme upgrade that hasn’t included the links widgets…some users are reporting links returning…mine should too…

 

Missing Links widget?

I seem to have lost my links widgets from the side panel…curious…can you see them? Do wordpress know where they are? Were they ever there? Am I actually going mad?

 

So long and then another short post…

Well I’ve been busy, tired, and not got round to posting. Sorry.

I had the meeting with my MP, Mr Bob Blizzard, and it went very well indeed. I suppose it helps that he has sawdust in the veins from his Father, but he could see the point within seconds, and is going to take some action. First step is to see if there are any real barriers to a change in practice, if there are, another approach will be taken…but he spoke about a national guideline for councils, which is fantastic!

It’s not often (ever) I’m impressed with a polititian, but I was this time.

He even asked if he could touch the surface of a bowl one of my students was working on. Steve, from SA, has just finished the exterior and Mr Blizzard was very impressed with his finish. When I told him it was a piece of the wood which could have ended up as chippings he smiled. Steve should be back in South Africa by now, but he has a great story of validation for his new, and first, bowl to tell.

 

Meeting another blogger…

Short post…long day…but had to mention that today I met Rima Staines, one half of Rima & Tui, artists both. Rima & Tui decided to give WWW a try and have camped up there for the weekend. More later, but for now, take a look at the links to Rima Staines and Orla Wren in the links to the right…tomorrow I’ll get a chance to go over and chat to them. So more of WWW later…

 

Update on last post…

Meeting now agreed and time and date set.

Interestingly another “body” has been in touch and seems interested in the question as a whole.

I’ll keep you updated, but I can feel a wider action plan developing.

Turned the remainder of the green Ash today, and it really is lovely wood. It”ll be good to have the semi-complete turnings to illustrate the possible use of any saved wood. I also rough-turned some gorgeous green oak today. Wonderful wood and a wonderful smell. Shame about the black tools, toolrest, and hands!

It’s Weird & Wonderful Wood at weekend, so I’ve a lot to do between now and then, and nowhere near enough time to do them all. Hey ho.

 

A step in the right direction…

Bob Blizzard, my local MP, responded to an email on the issue of the wasted wood resources…

“I am keen to take this matter up with WDC as I agree with you about use of resources. If you would prefer to meet and talk before I do so please let me know.

Best wishes

Bob Blizzard MP “

Of course I want to meet! I’ll let you know the outcome.

Perhaps a nation-wide campaign is in order? Woodturners and Greenwood workers unite!