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Interview with Joash, a young woodturner, continued.

What do you find you enjoy most about the whole process of creating a piece?

I enjoy it when I am putting the finish on the piece, because it gives me a feeling of satisfaction, that I have made yet another piece.

Why would you suggest woodturning as a craft for someone looking for a new hobby?

Woodturning is not a good hobby as an adult, if you going to use it to learn a living. If you are still at home, it is a huge money maker. Generally my pieces sell, for $40-$350. I usually get 70% of the sale price. When you have 5 galleries with 10 pieces in each, you can be looking at getting quite a bit. If you are my age (14), It is an excellent hobby. Many young people think woodturning is uncool, now you tell me what is uncool about making all that money.

Have you got any advice for people that are considering it?

Do a basic turning course at a local woodworking store. They usually do courses. Do the course when you are early in the learning stages. This will help you so you are not memorizing your mistakes.

What else do you like to do aside from working with wood?

I enjoy doing outdoor activities. I am an active person. I enjoy fishing and other hobbies, but also enjoy computers.

Sugar gum bowl, ebonised inside

What kind of workspace do you have?

I have a 10 by 12 feet shed. It is small, but you don't need a lot of machinery when you are turning.

If you could change your workspace what would you do?

I would upgrade to a bigger shed, so I can put in more work benches and shelves, but you don't need to go much bigger than a 20 by 30 feet shed when you are woodturning

How much time a week do you spend on your woodturning?

I turn 2-4 hours a day, which equals 14-28 hours a week.---A lot of sawdust

What are some of the tools that you would use to create a typical wooden bowl?

I would start by roughing the outside with a bowl gouge, and then would use a shear scraper to clean the outside up. When I am doing the inside, I would use a bowl gouge, to do the heavy work, and then would use a round nose scraper to clean up the inside afterwards. With this sort of bowl you don't need many tools, but other more complicated projects call for a more greater range of chisels. I can use up to 20 chisels on one project.

What basic materials, and/ or tools, would someone need to buy to get started in woodturning as a hobby?

When you are just starting out, you should get these tools. First you would need a lathe, and then a good set of chisels, and then you would need a good chuck. A vicmarc chuck is a good buy. You would need a bench grinder, and also a drill. Other machines you can live without when you are just starting are, a beltsander, a benchdrill, and many other machines.

What are two tools that you could not live without?

A lathe and a chuck.

Cypress vase

What types of wood are most suited to turning?

I have only tuned around 1% of the worlds timbers. I have turned around 60 different timbers, I would say Sheoak and Jarrah, and Marri are good timbers. If you live in Australia these are readily available, but if you live in another country, other timbers are more available. Ask a local woodworker you know.

Are there any safety issues to deal with in your craft? If so what measures do you take to deal with these?

All woodworking is dangerous, but it can be made to be not dangerous. I have had many mistakes, and injuries, but have never had a really bad accident. Before you start, make sure you get a full Face mask, and also a dust extractor. Many years of dust is not good.

Can you outline the general process behind making a turned bowl like this (pictured)?

I started by roughing the outside with a bowl gouge, and then used a shear scraper to clean the outside up. When I was doing the inside, I used a bowl gouge, to do the heavy work, and then used a round nose scraper to clean up the inside afterwards. With this sort of bowl you don't need many tools, but other more complicated projects call for a more greater range of chisels. I can use up to 20 chisels on one project. This bowl was very large. It was 210 by 100 thick

How long does it typically take to make something like that?

It took me around 2 and a half hours

Where do you generally buy supplies of things like blanks and other wood? Locally or by ordering them?

Marri bowl, ebonised inside

I live in Perth which has 2 million people in it. It is big enough, to have all the things that I need in the one city. I might occasionally order an object online.

What are the different kinds of outlets you use to sell your work?

I use major art galleries, and woodturning galleries.

Do you enter any competitions, shows or exhibitions? If yes can you give some details of them?

I recently entered into the WA wood show, where I won an equal first for 2 boxes, one you can see on the right.

 

Joash's work can sometimes be found in the following gallery:
Australian Woodcraft

Joash's wood turning site

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