ScribbleSticks
Member
Hello to all from Idaho,
Well, I've been lurking around for several months just reading what everyone has to say and occasionally buying some stuff.
Since using one in my junior high and high school wood shop, I had always wanted to own a lathe. Getting married and raising kids never seemed to leave enough money for what I deemed a 'luxury'. I just couldn't justify a lathe because I wanted to make square wood into round wood!
I was one of the lucky ones. About three years ago, was able to retire early (I was 52). After retiring, we sold our home in southern California for a nice profit and moved to Idaho to be near some very dear friends. We bought a home and still ended up debt free with a little money left to spend. After about 6 months, the initial euphoria wore off and I decided to take a part time job at our local Home Depot. To make a long story short, I injured my back, had back surgery and decided I needed a hobby that didn't involve lifting heavy stuff.
After the surgery, we were on our way home from the hospital, when I spotted the Woodcraft store (Boise Woodcraft store #326). Up until then, I didn't know what Woodcraft was. I have worked with wood ever since I was a kid and thought that maybe there was something 'light weight' that I would enjoy. I asked my wife if we could stop and look around. I actually walked around the store with my walker, in my hospital slipper socks. The people there were great; very helpful and friendly. Most of the guys were 'old farts' like me and most of them had also had back surgeries themselves! The folks a Woodcraft showed me the Jet 1014 mini lathe and some pen kits. It was lust at first sight. My loving (and somewhat gullible) wife, said, "Why not, it's only $250". Even though I was taking some pretty strong pain meds, I still had enough presences of mind to keep my mouth shut about all the other 'stuff' I knew I would need to start turning pens and all the other neat things that were flooding my mind. The salesman at Woodcraft knew, too. He just looked at me, grinned and winked. I bought the lathe, a set of mini turning tools, some pen blanks and a few kits and bushings. Out the door, it was about $350. My loving wife said, "That wasn't TOO bad"
. They even came over to my house and set the lathe up for me on a work bench because they knew I couldn’t (or at least ‘shouldn’t’) lift anything over 15 pounds.
I've been turning about two years now and I sell my pens at our local Farmers' Market and several craft shows in the southern Idaho area. I also took a part-time job at the local Woodcraft Store and I'm really having a great time. Pen turning and wood turning in general has really been good therapy for me. Selling my pens and other turned objects has been great because my loving wife doesn't even blink an eye when I say I need a such-n-such gouge to do such-n-such because she sees the money from my sales going into the account before it goes back out!!
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Glad to finally be out of the virtual closet, as it were!!
Best Wishes to all,
Tom
Well, I've been lurking around for several months just reading what everyone has to say and occasionally buying some stuff.
Since using one in my junior high and high school wood shop, I had always wanted to own a lathe. Getting married and raising kids never seemed to leave enough money for what I deemed a 'luxury'. I just couldn't justify a lathe because I wanted to make square wood into round wood!
I was one of the lucky ones. About three years ago, was able to retire early (I was 52). After retiring, we sold our home in southern California for a nice profit and moved to Idaho to be near some very dear friends. We bought a home and still ended up debt free with a little money left to spend. After about 6 months, the initial euphoria wore off and I decided to take a part time job at our local Home Depot. To make a long story short, I injured my back, had back surgery and decided I needed a hobby that didn't involve lifting heavy stuff.
After the surgery, we were on our way home from the hospital, when I spotted the Woodcraft store (Boise Woodcraft store #326). Up until then, I didn't know what Woodcraft was. I have worked with wood ever since I was a kid and thought that maybe there was something 'light weight' that I would enjoy. I asked my wife if we could stop and look around. I actually walked around the store with my walker, in my hospital slipper socks. The people there were great; very helpful and friendly. Most of the guys were 'old farts' like me and most of them had also had back surgeries themselves! The folks a Woodcraft showed me the Jet 1014 mini lathe and some pen kits. It was lust at first sight. My loving (and somewhat gullible) wife, said, "Why not, it's only $250". Even though I was taking some pretty strong pain meds, I still had enough presences of mind to keep my mouth shut about all the other 'stuff' I knew I would need to start turning pens and all the other neat things that were flooding my mind. The salesman at Woodcraft knew, too. He just looked at me, grinned and winked. I bought the lathe, a set of mini turning tools, some pen blanks and a few kits and bushings. Out the door, it was about $350. My loving wife said, "That wasn't TOO bad"
. They even came over to my house and set the lathe up for me on a work bench because they knew I couldn’t (or at least ‘shouldn’t’) lift anything over 15 pounds.I've been turning about two years now and I sell my pens at our local Farmers' Market and several craft shows in the southern Idaho area. I also took a part-time job at the local Woodcraft Store and I'm really having a great time. Pen turning and wood turning in general has really been good therapy for me. Selling my pens and other turned objects has been great because my loving wife doesn't even blink an eye when I say I need a such-n-such gouge to do such-n-such because she sees the money from my sales going into the account before it goes back out!!
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Glad to finally be out of the virtual closet, as it were!!
Best Wishes to all,
Tom
