Just to introduce myself

[Mouse]

Hi,

I have a wide experience of working with wood having previously spent 15 years as a professional turner followed by 10 years as a custom picture framer before retiring last year.
The one tool I have no experience of is a scroll saw. I read a lot of stuff on the net,including this forum, and decided to go for a SIP 01373 which seems to have some good write ups. It should arrive tomorrow with luck and weather permitting. I am hoping to eventually use it to cut shapes out of copper sheet for enamelling as I make jewelry as a hobby. Having spent the last 2 days reading this forum I can see all sorts of other possibilities and was not aware of the versatility of this tool until now.I will no doubt have lots of question after I have had a play, broken lots of blades and made a pile of saw dust

 

[geoff3]

Hi Mick.
Welcome to the scrollers community.hope you have lots of fun and
enjoy your new hobby. all that sawdust you make can be fed to worms
to make good compost. I have`nt found a use for broken blades yet.
Geoff3

 

[Mouse]

Hi Geoff,thanks for the welcome,see you are just down the road from me.

 

[Blacklabradorman]

Welcome Mick,

I do a bit of turning as well (not half as much as I would like)

How did being a professional turner work out for you? If you don't mind me asking....?

Regards
Sean

 

[Mouse]

Hi Sean and thank you for the welcome.

Ref turning.
When I was at a peak I could make a living with one good craft fair a month at Uxbridge, a very high class fair where they vetted your work before letting you have a stand in the middle of the shopping centre, and could take £1000 on a good day . I also did a lot of work for the antique restoration and repro trades mainly turning spindles plus some very specialised turning like pattern making. I also did paid demonstration work. This was all prior to the last recession, that was the killer. Work disappeared almost overnight. Most top turners then started to make a living writing books and making videos.

I was at a local craft fair recently where a superb turner sold nothing all day, so don't give up the day job.

Basically when money is tight, if they cant eat it, drink it, or smoke it, they wont buy it.

 

[Blacklabradorman]

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the info. With the small amount of practice I manage to get in I don't think I'd ever even get to the stage of selling a couple of pieces. I was just curious.

Did going professional change your love of turning? I feel it could have a negative effect on a hobby you love

Shame you had to give it up but I hope scrolling will work out for you

All the best
Sean

 

[StevieB]

Welcome - look forward to seeing you using the scrollsaw for something other than timber!

Steve

 

[Mouse]

Hi Mick,


Did going professional change your love of turning? I feel it could have a negative effect on a hobby you love

Sean

Not at all, I had some really interesting and challenging work, Like doing some work for Mike Berry off the Food and drink TV series, massive table legs in oak for a table for Phil Colins, 4 massive balls just under 12in. to be covered with lead for a university roof, spindles for a company that made repro Tudor furniture,patterns for my local iron foundry etc etc. I also found time to do my own artistic work teach turning and demonstrate my skills. I also met some of the top turners from the UK, USA and Australia.

 

[Mouse]

Welcome - look forward to seeing you using the scrollsaw for something other than timber!

Steve

Hi Steve and thanks for the welcome. I hope to have a go at working with copper when I am a bit more proficient

 

[Blacklabradorman]

Wow - how cool is all that? (Sighs)

 

[gasmansteve]

Welcome Mick
You'll find it a very friendly and helpful forum this one (and also the turning one too!) looks like we'll have to start a yorkshire chapter ;-)
Steve

 

[Mouse]

Welcome Mick
You'll find it a very friendly and helpful forum this one (and also the turning one too!) looks like we'll have to start a yorkshire chapter ;-)
Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for the welcome.
Certainly seems to be a lot of peeps on here from this area.