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This is my first ever lathe. I bought 12 Shop Smith lathe knives at an auction a few weeks ago for $5 and am having the time learning how to make stuff. Like an artist I just start and when I'm done, I see what's left. Here are some pieces I made from a Cherry tree my neighbor cut a few weeks back. The centers were still damp so it was hard to work with. Thanks for looking!

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$5? What a bargain! Keep it up… turning is addictive.
 

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Nice pieces! Especially like the captive ring. I'm still trying to get the hang of my lathe. Practice, practice, practice.
 

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Very nice! I know what you mean by seeing what's left. I just started with my lathe (similar size) - and the thing I think I'm making doesn't often turn out to be what I've made!
 

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Nice looking work, It is fun playing with a lathe. I hope you will enjoy your retirement in Dec. I know i did. It will a chalenge at first doing the same thing over 20 years. You will look back and really love civilian life i did. You do awesome work.
 

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I hope you enjoy your retirement as well, thanks for your service.Sometimes I just like to take a sharp gouge and watch the shavings fly, and all I make is shavings. Jeff
 

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Nice looking turnings! Looks like your tool control and eye are great.
Salem
 

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That is great for a beginner. Keep up the good work.
 

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Great start on a wonderful hobby. The wet wood actually turns a little easier that dry, the only problem is that
as it dries, it tends to crack. One way I have found to stop this is to bury the turned item in sawdust and
wood chips so it will dry slowly. I have several bowls drying in a garbage can of sawdust right now that are
looking good, the ones I left out to air dry split pretty bad. Hope you enjoy your new lathe.

As ever, Gus the 71 yr young laborer, trying to become a carpenters apprentice.
 

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Go to www.woodturner.org for good advice and local clubs. A search should turn up more. You should let your wood dry before turning. Turns easier. You can rough turn wood and let it dry before the final turning and finishing.
 

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Looks like your having fun!!! I turn for a living…takes all the fun out of it!!!!
 

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It takes a while to get the hang of turning. but you truly got of to a great start keep at it with the wet wood it truly is great fun.Alistair
 

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I like your auction style. I used to make 2-3 a week and I found at even the lousiest ones you could score well if you pay very close attention and bid when most everyone else is distracted.
 
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