Do you take Don Ward's advice...?

[Dan Masshardt]

...and do a good turn daily?

Seriously though, how often do you turn?

I'm probably the opposite of many of you. I do hardly any turning on the weekends. Sometimes an hour here or there.


Unless I have a really crazy day, I usually turn for about 2 hours every weekday afternoon.

Sometimes I'll go back out to the shop after the kids are in bed, but I try to spend that time with my wife and reading.

 

[TellicoTurning]

On days that I get out to the shop, which is about 5 days out of 7 - give or take according to the weather, or doctor appointments or shopping trips (the wife no longer drives and if she needs to get out, I drive her).. during summer I generally get out every day, winter not so much... but on those days I do get out there, I go out about noon and turn or do set-ups and such for about 5 or 6 hours.

 

[Edward Cypher]

Usually only on weekends and then not for very long. Would love to do it much longer.

 

[mark james]

Well... I read more into his suggestion!

I currently am working too many hrs, 3x 11 hrs, 2 x 13 hrs a week. So my wood turning is on weekends. BUT, I try to "do a good turn daily" as doing a random act of kindness; and that I CAN do daily!

 

[stonepecker]

My 'good turn daily' has nothing to do with a lathe.

 

[Neededwill]

I try on the weekends, my wife says I can have Sunday's in the shop. Used to turn after work before dinner but after changing jobs I don't have the time during the week. But I will say my wait list is long so whatever I turn its gone by Wednesday that week. They say I should do this as a business but I just want it as a hobby so they give me donations to buy more supplies. I can't complain, love this hobby!!!!

 

[magpens]

Do a good turn daily .... it's just a catchy signature .... we all know that, Dan :biggrin:

So don't make me feel bad if I don't !!

 

[Cmiles1985]

I try my hardest! But, I haven't been lately due to work, life, etc.

 

[thrustmonkey]

Most of the time I can't get out to my shop for 2 to 4 weeks. Depends on if it's too cold, my health issues, I take care of my 87 yr old mother, dr. appts. for the both of us..... When I do make it out there it's only for about 2-3 hours. Back problems won't let me stand any longer than that. Haven't been able to work out there more than 2 days in a row.

About 4 years ago it took me all year to make 1 cigar. Bad year.

 

[its_virgil]

yes, yes I do. Both in the shop and in my other world! Or, at least I try to do so.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

 

[southernclay]

I wish! Maybe one day, I get in the basement when I can. Usually it is late and nowadays cold after the kids and then my wife go to bed. Pens are great but they are better : ) I wish I had more regular shop time but thankful for the amount I do get.

Dan, you keep a lathe at church? ; )

 

[Dan Masshardt]

I wish! Maybe one day, I get in the basement when I can. Usually it is late and nowadays cold after the kids and then my wife go to bed. Pens are great but they are better : ) I wish I had more regular shop time but thankful for the amount I do get. Dan, you keep a lathe at church? ; )

Haha. No but I should.

My 'job' has the benefit of no timeclock to punch and the trade off of sometimes having to stuff at times when other people have off.

Usually I get any office type stuff done in the morning, run around anywhere I need to early afternoon and then go out the the shop around 2:30-3:00 until the kids get off the bus. Evenings sometimes have meetings and ministry of various sorts. I study best at night too.

 

[leaycraft]

hmm with school and hospital jobs its 4 most since Ive turned anything- GRRRR can't wait for summer vacation.

 

[kingkeyman]

I kind of burnt myself out a little over the holidays, so I think I've only actually made two or three pens since new years, but I have several tubes ready to cast and I'm starting to feel the itch again, so I'm sure I'll be at it again daily very soon.

 

[triw51]

My good turn daily isn't about turning wood but I set a goal of finding someone to compliment or encourage everyday. Not just have a great day but to find somethng they did or are good at and build them up for that. Sometimes people come to my dest very discouraged (I work in a medical facility) and try to make them smile or chuckle. That is my good turn daily a carry through from Boy Scouts.

 

[scotian12]

I have been a "follower" of Don Ward before they had the words "like" , "follow". etc.. Don has mentored my pen turning efforts through his posts for the past 13 years , first on Yahoo Penturners and later on IAP. His advice on "Do a good turn daily" carries over into my life outside woodturning. I try to turn daily other than the cold weather months up here in Nova Scotia but even then I do research, talk to other pen turners, collectors, client etc. I enjoy pen turning, the IAP community and I have a lot of fun. Darrell

 

[BJohn]

Have been crazy busy the last couple months. I guess I could have made some time but kind of burned myself out in the fall making a doz. or so pens for my daughters wedding, they were all the same (kinda got bored). But I have been out in the shop a couple times this week for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours but always late in the evenings. After the day has is settling down. To finish a bowl that had been sitting in the chuck since like November.

 

[Kenny Durrant]

I will stick to to part of the question that deals with the shop. I don't turn daily because I enjoy casting and making my own blanks for the most part. I want to make a pen so that when someone sees it they will know it's not one off the shelf. As far as taking his advice I take note of everything he says or writes. His information is not only helpful here but I had the pleasure of attending a North Texas IAP meeting where he demonstrated how he made some of his 7mm twist pens. There were a few that I couldn't wait to get home and give them a try. So Thanks to Don and all the others that offer their "Know How" to the rest of us to help with this great hobbie.