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Carrick

Carrick

Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Messages
132
Location
Chesapeake, Virginia
Folks,

I am preparing my family and me for a move from Chesapeake, Virginia to Guam. I'm pretty excited about it! The thing is...I have no idea what the turning scene looks like out there. I have used the Search option and did not find anything of interest. Maybe I didn't use the right keywords. Either way...

I looking to see if anyone on IAP is out in Guam and what their recommendations are on what to bring, what to make sure I have before I leave, etc. I can't ship my HAZMAT (Glue, Stains, etc.) so what do you recommend?

All advice is gratefully appreciated.
 
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What would be the predominate wood for turning that is native to that country? Perhaps you can sell some to us main landers.
 
Actually, It's not a country, so much...It's actually a U.S. Territory. It was re-taken from the Japanese during WWII in 1944. But, the native wood is Ifil. Apparently, it's the State tree and also endangered. I'll have to test the waters on that one when I get there.
 
It has been years since I was in Guam but I have had numerous friends go there. I lived in Japan until Dec. 2010 and as friends would go and come to Guam, they would often tell me of the shopping and how it was there. Of course it is like a small military area. Meaning there is or was one or two major shopping areas, a Walmart and I don't know what else. But the point is you should be able to get CA and different kinds of finishes. More than likely there will be a place or two that you could buy plastic resin of one kind or another if you want to cast your own.

Pen kits and parts, lathe parts - you will probably have to order them. Some companies will ship to Guam from the US without a problem and some will not. You have to pick and choose your vendors. One good thing about Guam, you will be closer to places and people that sell some of the finest woods and wood blanks in the world - Australia and SE Asia. You should stock up on some of the woods while there. If you find some military folks who travel around the region and in particular if they are avid woodworkers, they are good at bringing back some fine wood burls.

Make a few friends in the military, give them a few pens and watch the wood come in!
 
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I spent some time at Andersen AFB, Guam -- B52s to Viet Nam -- Beautiful Beaches - did not do any type of wood working at that time in my life.. too many hours flying..

Paul
 
It's been 50 years since I was on Guam... I was stationed at the CommSta for a few months, then after a stint in the Naval Hospital, wound down at the Naval Station for almost a year... I wasn't into the wood working and turning in those days, so don't remember much... also the island has developed considerably since I was there, so anything I remember would be irrelevant now anyway... I was there when Typhoon Karen struck in 1962... Karen damaged Agana and Tamuning pretty bad, and wiped out Inarajan. We had major damage at the naval station, including several Royal Korean gun boats in the harbor that were in for repairs and had no engines so couldn't be taken out to safety...

So I guess the gist of my post is, I don't know anything that will be helpful for you... but I remember it was a pretty nice place... I liked the weather there, and remember a couple of the beaches on the other side of the island from the main settlements as being pretty nice.
 
Flat-rate boxes

Guam has zip-codes beginning with 969xx. If it has a zip code, you can send and receive flat-rate boxes.

What supplier would not ship a USPS flat-rate box at regular postage rates?

I regularly send flat-rates boxes to a US territory and they have all arrived OK - although they seem to take a long time - 1.5 to 3 weeks.
 
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