Timber iQ October / November 2020 | Page 32

PERSONALITY PROFILE it is not as dusty, and one can predict the warping of the bowl while drying. This is then used as one of the artistic elements in creating my pieces. What products do you have available for purchase? I specialise in all the tools needed for woodturning. Based on experience I have sourced some tools that are hard to find but important for the woodturner. These can be found on my website (https://www.creativeturning.co.za/index.html). I sell my artistic woodturnings mainly in galleries, but items can also be viewed in my shop. important factor to regulate the speed while turning and to ensure that a safe turning speed is not exceeded. Where do you normally source your wood from? Jacaranda is freely available in Pretoria, especially during the rainy season. I know a few tree-fellers who will contact me when they have cut down a unique tree. Scarce root burls like ‘Hairy Fingerleaf’ and ‘Skunkbush’, I mostly get from farmers. Because I am always looking for wood with defects, I normally do not buy wood from timber merchants. What tools do you use for creating your art? Several woodturning chisels are required when turning an item. The tools depend on the piece you are creating. For bowls and hollow forms, which I do mostly, bowl gouges and hollowing gouges are required. Good quality high speed steel tools, which are regularly sharpened, are necessary to obtain clean and safe cuts. You have also become an expert on these tools, which brands of tools are available and which ones would you suggest using and why? High quality turning tools will last a lifetime and I always recommend buying one of the brands manufactured in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The brands available in South Africa are, Hamlet, Crown, Simon Hope and Robert Sorby. They are all made of high quality high-speed-steel. Sharpened and used correctly, they are not only safe to use but will give an excellent cutting finish. Blunt tools need force to cut, which makes them inherently unsafe. How do you go about turning a piece of wood into a bowl? Turning bowls is my passion. You orientate the wood in the lathe to have a straight top (which is for example suitable for salad bowls) or the wood can be orientated to follow the natural profile of the trunk of the tree. This is called a live or natural edge. I use the latter method as it creates better effects. You would first turn the outside profile of the bowl and then turn it around in the lathe to do the inside. Apart from mostly turning natural edge bowls, I prefer to turn the wood while it is still wet. It turns easier, You also present classes and woodturning courses? It is extremely important to attend classes when you start with woodturning. Although woodturning is relatively safe, it is important to learn to use the tools and equipment correctly. The more you improve your skills, the more you will enjoy woodturning and your eyes will open to all the possibilities. During the classes you will also get advice as to what equipment is required to ensure that you do not unnecessarily buy expensive equipment. It is possible to get some ideas on YouTube, but it is not a replacement for hands-on training and can also teach you wrong and dangerous habits. I offer three classes: Beginner, Bowl turning and an Advanced Course on hollow forms. With a limit of three students per class, it is possible to give sufficient attention to all the students. More details can be found on my website: https:// www.creativeturning.co.za/index.html What should aspiring woodturners be aware of, what are the challenges involved for someone who has just started, and how does one become a woodturner? The biggest obstacle I find in my classes is impatience. Although it may only be a hobby, take time to develop your skills. Speak to experienced turners in your woodturning club, follow their advice. First get advice before you buy any equipment and do not try and create the ultimate masterpiece the first time you start a lathe. Is there an association for people to join, that has information about the craft? The best place to start is with the website of ‘The Association of Woodturner of South Africa’. (http://awsa.org.za/). The website also has a list of the woodturning clubs in South Africa. Are there any educational institutions or technical colleges where young people can learn a trade in woodturning? Unfortunately, there is not a college or institute in South Africa where one can do a trade in turning wood, so my advice is to join a club near you. Woodturners are always keen to share their knowledge and experience. Many of the experienced members in the clubs also offer demonstrations and training sessions. C VAN DER MERWE Carel van der Merwe [email protected] https://www.creativeturning.co.za/index.html 30 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 // www.timberiq.co.za