Mr Stiles & Master Bates

Been down with my mate Bill Monroe to the Stiles & Bates show at Dover in Kent. The woodshed was full of old gits pawing exotic timber blanks - Vanessa says she's going to deal with me if I ever get like this !
I like using English hardwoods and I like to know where they've come from - the "backstory". I know where the wood for every item I've ever turned has come from and may even have cut it down myself.



John Berkeley was demonstrating thread cutting on his trusty Vicmarc lathe. I recently watched his DVD "Screwples" which is all about chasing threads and it was very nice to meet him in the flesh - a very nice guy. Visit his website.

Here he's using a mop on the lathe to buff up the finish on a melamine-finished box to a glassy shine which of course is something you just don't do on items turned from green wood on the pole lathe - maybe a quick burnish with a handfull of shavings.

We popped in to see my Dad & Velma at Faversham on the way back - he's had a great bit of news - he's going to have his colostomy reversed in about two weeks time . . .

Lee Valley Spring Wildlife Weekend

I'll be demonstrating at the Waterworks Nature Reserve, Lammas Road, Leyton, London E10 7NU.  Its  a FREE event and Simon King & Chris Packham will be there.

Lee Valley Spring Wildlife Weekend

Freecycle

We've just picked up a shed from Epping Green that we got through Freecycle.  It's worthwhile signing up with them as occasionally you find just what you want and you can advertise things you no longer want or need and can't be bothered to try and sell.  So no money changes hands and unwanted items don't just end up in landfill.

We're going to use the shed to keep all the bee gear in - honey extractor, spare frames and supers and the bee suits.  Then I'll get my other shed back and can hopefully set up the treadle lathe and give it a go.

Wizardry in Wood

The Worshipful Company of Turners is presenting this definitive exhibition of woodturning at the Carpenters' Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2JJ from the 4th to the 6th of June. Entrance is free, by prebooked ticket.

Book a ticket and come along to see what the Wizards can do!





As pole lathe turners now have a small representation within the organisation (Katie Abbott, Robin Wood & me) we are providing a demonstration on the pole lathe and Katie has asked me to do one of the days - probably Thursday the 5th June.

http://www.wizardryinwood.com

Image upload

"(4/22) Blogger is currently experiencing problems with image upload. We are working on the problem now."

So I'll have to be patient until they fix it.

I blame it all on the credit squeeze and the worlds crumbling financial structure !

Cult film

While I've been fiddling about Barb Wire - the Pamela Anderson film is on the telly.  I'd put it in the same category as Withnail & I - must go now as the end is coming up and it's VERY exciting.

Trainee dibber

This picture was sent to me today by the folks at High Woods Country Park, Colchester. That's the city skyline in the background.

I think this is the first lesson in the fine art of dibbing - or is that muddy puddle quite interesting?

They have established quite a big Community Garden and we gave them some sweet chestnut dibbers we made the weekend before last to use in it.