Stuck in a funk.......

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SteveWatson

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
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28
Location
Arkansas
I dont know what it is, but here lately I seem to be stuck in a bad funk...everything I try to make seem to blow up in my face (literally in a couple cases). Anyone else suffering through the same thing? Maybe I need to go back to the basics, but up until recently I've had great luck with all my designs...ugh...its just so frustrating!
 
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Try breaking your routine by turning something different. If you only turn pens then try doing a bottle stopper or something else. Or you may try turning a basic design pen just to get back on track. I know I have also taken a break from turning for a week or two.
 
SteveWatson said:
I dont know what it is, but here lately I seem to be stuck in a bad funk...everything I try to make seem to blow up in my face (literally in a couple cases). Anyone else suffering through the same thing? Maybe I need to go back to the basics, but up until recently I've had great luck with all my designs...ugh...its just so frustrating!
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Been there, and I imagine I will be again. For me, the best thing is to do something else in the shop. Clean it up, build a new jig, reorganize. Even just stay away for a day or two and go for walks.

I think not only do we get physically tired, we get emotionally tired as well. Life intrudes, so to speak. When stress at home or work are taken into the shop, then things blow up, we cut ourselves, we measure 6" instead of 5", etc.

Deep breath, a little time doing something else, or nothing at all. Then you'll walk back into the shop, get that 'smell' again, that feeling again........and life is good!:smile:
 
Never had that problem. Everything I start turns out wonderfully. Ooops! Was that a $25.00 blank that just flew off the lathe and crashed into the wall? Never mind. :biggrin::tongue::biggrin::tongue:
 
I just go and waste time trying to kill deer - you waste so much time in a treestand that when you come home, you won't have time to be on the lathe.

Working for me - haven't ruined a pen in few weeks now...but that's only because I haven't tried!
 
When that happens to me I take some time off then clean the shop. Sometimes the funk starts because something isn't working right and it needs to be found and fixed before you can move on. Exploding blanks can be a sign of your lathe not running true.
 
When I get in a funk I try somthing different like a new finishing technique or tuning something other than pens.
 
SteveWatson said:
everything I try to make seem to blow up in my face (literally in a couple cases).
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Yep, just done the same myself with my PITH blank.....the air turned blue with all the bad language flying about at that point.Then I stormed in the house to knock a fresh pot of coffee clean off the worktop:mad::mad::mad:
NOT my day
 
Im doing just that....appreciate the advice. Taking a few days with no turning and just enjoying the nice fall weather. As I get older I notice patterns in my behavior and seem to go through three or four weeks of "funk" shake it off then have a nice couple "funk-less" months. But I do enjoy coming here and seeing what you guys have been up to!
 
SteveWatson said:
Im doing just that....appreciate the advice. Taking a few days with no turning and just enjoying the nice fall weather. As I get older I notice patterns in my behavior and seem to go through three or four weeks of "funk" shake it off then have a nice couple "funk-less" months. But I do enjoy coming here and seeing what you guys have been up to!
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I've been going through the same thing. After spending 3 full weeks in shop during August and September, I felt the need to do something different for a bit. Also some changing duties at the day job has added some stress to the mix. So I've spent a couple weeks of doing different things to get refocused. Going for evening walks, plinking around on the computer, going for a fall bicycle ride and taking some great fall photos, and even sitting in the recliner and catching up on a couple books have all been blended in the past couple weeks.

After all that, the feeling of desire to get back to the shop is returning and is probably where this weekend will be spent. You'll get over yours soon enough and find yourself creating more sawdust before you know it!
 
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