I’ve watched this about 20 times, and it keeps getting funnier. Thanks Ric

I just got myself a new 1″ Packard Round Nose Scraper. I got to use a chisel just like this at MAD and fell in love.

I’m such a lathe nerd.

Yesterday’s lathe demo at MAD was incredible, what a place. It was so interesting to meet all the museum staff and visitors. Sorry to all of the people who can’t speak English that I had full conversations with before realizing that you didn’t understand a word I said. In the first two pictures below, you can see Columbus (from “Circle” fame) in the window.

Thanks to everybody who made it out, I had a blast and hope you did too. I also got to use my favorite Simpsons line on the viewers, “I want to see goggles people!”

After seeing Inception, I had to make my own totem. Two turned wooden tops (one oak, one ???), finished with tung oil and wax.

I tweaked the wooden mallet design a bit. Still using naturally fallen oak from the Poconos (P-oak-conos if you will, wakka wakka, sigh) finished with walnut oil, but now I’m using some scrap poplar to pin the handle to the mallet head. And because I’m an incredible egomaniac, I branded my logo on the handles.

The one on the left reminds me of the hammer from Donkey Kong, I’ve named it “The Mario”.

I am very excited to announce that I will be doing a live lathe demonstration at the MAD Museum, Aug. 19th.

I’ll be in the Open Studios looking down on Columbus Circle (perhaps the greatest view from a lathe in the city). I’ll be making lamps from logs, small pieces of furniture, and some other fun stuff. Come on by if you’re in town.

I recently got to use a lathe that quite possibly has the best view ever. The MAD Museum has working studio space up on the 6th floor, overlooking Columbus Circle. It is incredible, the image above does not do it justice. It was very easy to be distracted by the Columbus statue, Central Park, the fountains, the traffic, the people. Amazing.

I can’t wait to use it again.

After a little inspiration from Alma Allen, I turned my first stool (I guess it could work as a low end table as well). One of the bigger pieces I’ve ever turned.

Made from an oak tree that fell in the Poconos. I finished it with stain and tung oil.

14″ tall 10″ diam

I’ve been trying to perfect wine bottle cutting, so I could use the glass tube for a lamp shade. Finally got some good results. I turned pieces of a wooden pallet (maple I think) found on 89th St, for the base and cap. The lamp socket comes from a junked floor lamp (also found on 89th St). White wine gives more light, but I’ll probably go red next time for more mood.

Been working on those oak blanks. Done with the turning and first coat of finish is on, in a couple of days they’ll be wired up.