The VB36 arrives in the workshop

May 7, 2011

A picture is worth a thousand words - yep, I was a rather happy!

For quite some time now, I had been thinking about this moment – now the time had finally arrived!  To be honest, I couldn’t get the grin off my face!  Special thanks to Hjördís for understanding and all the support and photographs!

But let me backtrack.  The help I received form Technology Supplies – the new distributors for Hegner VB36 lathes – was great.  Kirsty, the sales person I dealt with, was always very helpful and I had to juggle the delivery with one of my visits back to Portugal from Sudan, so not easy.  It all went perfectly – I arrived on the Friday, had the weekend to enjoy some pottering in the garden and a glass or two of excellent Portuguese wine and on Monday, the driver of the delivery truck called and said he would be in Covas on Tuesday – he was and I decided to deliver it to the local builder’s yard, as his truck would not have managed the small lane where we live.  Carlos kindly organised that one of their trucks – with a crane – lifted the lathe over the wall – we have a terraced garden so nothing is easy to move!

380 kgs to lift over the wall – easier this way

Then we had to get the lathe form the roadside to the workshop – and yes, it would be great if the workshop was nearer the road, but that is another story.  We had to unpack the lathe and put it on a pallet trolley.  The next point I have to make is how incredibly well it had been packed.  Like the VB36 itself, the packaging and attention to detail was impeccable.  I could never have managed without the help of Patrick and Antonio, but with the three of us it was very simple to move and install.

Inside the crate – Antonio and Patrick were almost as pleased as me I think

After that is was easy – and within a few minutes were were ready to put it into the workshop.

One last step

The installation went very well – and by the end of the day, we were all done.  The next day it was time to see what all the fuss was about.  I had a piece of apple wood that I wanted to rough turn – so on the lathe and indeed – it was an utter joy to use.

Firm as a rock and effortless power

It is far too early for me to give much of a comment about the lathe – but I am impressed with the attention to detail – even though everything I have heard lead me to believe that I would be impressed.  I had lot of work to do to get the lathe into the workshop – and I had to reorganise the space as a result, so turning time has been very limited to date.  The short bed tailstock was out of stock when I ordered the lathe and TSL have been very good about delivering the tailstock at their expense and I have just learned that it will be sent off any day now.  The lathe arrived on time, beautifully packed and the booklet with installation guidelines was helpful and complete.

A couple of roughed bowls - ash (50 cms approx) and apple (30 cms approx)

Before VB36 - the Record lathe has done me proud and I will still use it - need a better stand though

Then we had to move everything around!

A big change around

And after a lot of hard work from Patrick and Antonio which involved much lifting and moving and the building of a shelf for seasoned wood – the finished product:

The lathe end - not quite as it is now - but getting there!

A shorter workbench - and a shelf above the window

Not impressed

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Finally – a VB36!

March 17, 2011

Well, after a huge amount of prevarication and requests for information, I have ordered a new lathe – and it is going to be a Hegner VB36, with the short tail-stock.

Picture from the web page - to be replaced with my lathe in my workshop!!

This was not at all the straightforward decision that I thought it might be, as a great deal has been happening behind the scenes at Hegner in the last little while.  Although the VB36 is actually not originally a Hegner product, but developed by the owner of Hegner and marketed by them – it is now sold by Technology Supplies Ltd, who have taken over the company.  Their interest in taking over Hegner was certainly not to market the VB36 – but rather to benefit from the very profitable products that Hegner produces for the educational market place.  Thus, the question large in my mind was would Technology Supplies Ltd be likely to be a sensible choice as the vendor of the lathe I was thinking of purchasing?  My comment to date is that their sales department has performed satisfactorily, but their technical advice was a little slow – and hesitant.  Spares and assitance down the road could be a problem.

For a while it was touch and go whether I would choose a Hegner or a Oneway 2416.

Not my second choice - rather my first equal choice - but slightly bigger footprint than the VB36

In the end it was not because one was especially better than the other – but rather that one took up less space.  If I was somehow able to miraculously enlarge my workshop so that space was not an issue, then the decision would not have been at all straightforward and I might well have been patriotic and bought Canadian!  Anyway, for now Alea iacta est!  I have continued to use the Oneway Stronghold Chucks though and have already ordered more for the new VB36.

I have used Stronghold chucks from the outset and I am very pleased with them

Probably the most useful advice I received was from Peter Hemsley – Proprietor of  Toolpost - and how wonderful it is to have an owner of a company that takes the time to write a very helpful mail, which answers questions and gives an honest opinion.  A Huge thank you to Peter.

One thing that did puzzle me and I was not sure about, was the VB36 bayonet chuck system and I quote the helpful reply from Peter on this subject – I hope it might make some of you think:

“If you really want a bayonet mount for the spindle accessories, then the Versa-Mount is available and, provided the VB is specified to have an M33 spindle or spindle adaptor, then it is compatible.  However I am far from convinced of the advantages of the bayonet as there are still screws to tighten – but three of them – and the final connection to the spindle is still an M33 thread.  I would have to ask: “what do you gain?”.  Just my opinion, but your question deserves an answer.”

I have also found very useful information about the VB36 on the web and there is a VB36 Users Group too – if you are interested.  Incidentally, I notice that on the new Hegner VB36 page posted by Technology Supplies Ltd, there is a Woodturners Forum for questions – brand new and never used!!  I will be interested to see if it is useful.

For now, I am just hoping that the lathe arrives while I am back in Covas – I am now waiting for my money to get form one account to the other – meanwhile, a bank somewhere is making interest on the money it is holding for the past week.  That, though, is another story.

 

 

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Masks and More

February 21, 2011

Faces - and exhibition of masks by Alaeldin Elgizouli

There is very little more frustrating than thinking about things creative and not being able to actually try them out!  Working in Sudan is more than a full time job – and although I do get breaks at home in Covas, I usually find that I am badly in need of doing very little for a week or so – by then it is already time to head back to Sudan!  I promise myself endlessly that I will get into my workshop – but rarely do I manage.

One of the pleasures of being in Khartoum is to look at what other people are doing creatively and there is quite a vibrant arts scene (although I am yet to find another wood turner!).  If anyone wants to check out exactly what is going on, you should look up the Sudan Artists Gallery, where there is a list of artists working in different media, with links to many sites.

I was recently at my favourite restaurant and they have regular shows – this one was wonderful – “Faces” by Alaeldin Elgizouli and I thought that I would post a few photographs of his work.

He works in mixed media and although he is a painter, he is also a mask maker and puppet maker.  He worked as a lecturer at the University of Khartoum -  in the faculty of applied arts and also at the Khartoum College of Applied Art.  If you are interested in contacting him, you can send Alaeldin Elgizouli an email.

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Back to Covas in July

July 2, 2010

I have been very bad at writing here – probably not totally surprising as I have been incredibly busy in Sudan since I came back ten months ago.  But nevertheless, I am determined to get into my workshop for some days when I am back in July.  I have a great deal of wood stored away – some of it I should have liked to have turned wet, but was not there when it was kindly brought round to the house.  So now it will be dustier and more of a challenge to turn.

I have a piece of old vine – an old vinho verde vine that used to grow over the veranda and sadly died over the winter.  It makes beautiful bottle stoppers and I have already made a few stoppers form smaller pieces – but the larger piece I have at present is probably about a hundred years old – according to my friend Steve (he should know as he works in the port wine industry).  I am hoping I can make a few small bowls and maybe also carve a piece as well.

I also have a piece of pink ivory – such a beautiful wood, and I have been looking at this piece for a few months now and trying to decide how I should turn it.  It comes from a large trunk I have that was cut down for a road widening scheme in South Africa years ago.

So, watch this space and hopefully you will see some new pieces soon!

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What has Sudan got to do with woodturning?

September 27, 2009

Actually, quite a significant amount!  For years now I have worked in the humanitarian field as anyone who has read these pages will know.  Now, I have the chance to meld the work that I have been doing with my true passion – the environment.  Probably never a more important time to be doing this either.  Shortly I will posting notes about some of the really interesting efforts that various agencies are making to address the terrible effects of environmental degradation in Sudan.  Sorry, no pictures at the moment!

I shall be back to my workshop on a fairly regular basis – I hope, so there will also be some turning posts too!

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June already

June 18, 2009

 

 

Apple turned green with a rosewood foot - about 1.5 mm thick. (16 cms wide by 5 cms high)

Apple turned green with a rosewood foot - about 1.5 mm thick. (16 cms wide by 5 cms high)

I am not sure where the last three weeks have gone.  This is the time of year with long days and good weather and yet I am so behind with collecting timber that I have to bring back to the workshop.  I can console myself with the fact that I have been planting – everything from a couple of trees to a hedge and tending an ever-growing vegetable garden.  I have been in the workshop, but have been making things that somehow don’t count as they seem to go as fast as I make them and it is the odd turned items that present a challenge that I really enjoy.

 

 

 

Festas in north Portugal

Festas in north Portugal

The season of “Festas” is very much here now and that takes time too of course.  And then there is the pleasure of having visitors to stay, which also takes time!

 

Not the only hoopoe in the garden

Not the only hoopoe in the garden

It has been on of the most extraordinary springs that I can ever remember for birdsong.  The whole area is exceptionally interesting to anyone with an interest in wildlife, but this year the birdsong has been spectacular.  As well as the Hoopoe above, we have had the real thing in the garden and there is always a wealth of bird-watching to be had even from the garden.  Weeding the vegetables the other night, I  had a White Wagtail beside me, a Black Redstart hopping around nearby, House Sparrows and a couple of Serins all in sight in the garden.  Although the Cuckoos are quiet now, the resident Sparrow Hawk is very much in evidence and we see the odd Goshawk flying by too.  The other night we passed a Wildcat on the road and shortly after that we saw a Genet.  I am pretty sure that the Genets visit the garden too, as I find regular evidence!  The poor dog thinks so too – the early morning olfactory evidence drives him crazy!

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Gallery Covas and Logs to Art – Google Maps

June 1, 2009

If you are wanting to visit us or to come and see Gallery Covas, then this will ensure you find us easily!

Finding Gallery Covas and Logs to Art – Google Maps.

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A plethora of olive

May 25, 2009

Well, maybe I should have never told anyone how beautiful olive wood is – to turn and to look at!  Low and behold I was asked to “prune” some trees in Covas – it seems like butchery when first seen (I will post some photographs of what this pruning looks like).  The result was a whole load of olive to turn green and that has been keeping me very busy this past week – some of it I will leave to dry and some I am turning.  Interestingly the wood is very pale compared to the dry wood.  The centre of the heartwood is already dark, but not nearly as dark as it will be in a few weeks.

 

Turning a piece of green olive

Turning a piece of green olive

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Olive in Mid May

May 15, 2009

I have spent a few days turning some small pieces of old olive wood and what a treat – it turns so well and these pieces are wonderfully marked.  As well as the wood being very pretty, the pieces are cracked and wormy, which for me makes them even more interesting.  Here are a couple and there will be many more to come over the next few days.

Some beautiful olive - turned into bowls (all ≈ 9 cms wide x 8 cms high)

Beautifully marked olive - turned into small bowls, complete with their imperfections (≈ 9 cms wide x 8 cms high)

The same olive bowls - from above

The same olive bowls - from above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friends Eunice and Mark at Yavanna have just told me that they have some olive for me too, so I hope to be able to go and collect that in the coming days.  Then Victorinho told me in the bar at lunch time on Sunday that he has some cork oak that has been wind blown – I went to see it and I am just waiting for the grass to dry – it is on a very steep slope and slippery grass and chain saws do not mix!  Victorinho tells me there is an interesting law in Portugal that prohibits the felling of cork oak trees – windblown branches are fine.  If you watch the link above you will see why.

 

Photograph showing the older cork bark harvested from the trunk of the tree

Photograph showing the older cork bark harvested from the trunk of the tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read about a new film coming soon which I want everyone to know about – yes, another warning of how we are mistreating the planet, but one that suggests how we can remedy the situation too – it is called The End of the Line and from the trailer it looks very well worth watching.

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May in Covas

May 6, 2009

What a wonderful month.  I honestly don’t think I can remember a spring like this anywhere.  It started in February when we had days when the temperature went up into the twenties and now we have had almost unbroken spring-like weather since then.  Yes, too little rain and that his always a worry with the global warming trend, but we have done okay and the garden looks very good.

Wonderful colour in this apple wood - but I fear it may split very badly

Wonderful colour in this apple wood - but I fear it may split very badly

It has been difficult to spend time indoors and although the doors have been wide open in the workshop, I have still spent too much time gardening and not enough time turning.  I have had some very lovely apple wood from my friend Gerry, but sadly I fear that I will not be able to use it as well as I would have liked.  I have finished turned some pieces and they have moved very inters tingly, but have also split despite all the care I have taken.  I have also rough turned some pieces and I have more hope for these, but not very high hopes – we shall see.

As with all my wood it came form a tree that had to be cut – it was touching telephone lines.  Even the pink ivory I brought back with me from Mozambique was not cut for timber - in this case, I knew someone who told me about a big tree that was cut when they widened the road near Nelspruit.  It makes getting wood more of a challenge, but it is possible to avoid harvesting rare woods.  I managed to get some reclaimed rosewood like this – they had been used as timbers in a barn and although it is now well seasoned, it still turns beautifully.  My local sawmill also keeps pieces for me that they are unable to saw and the carpenter who made all out wonderful doors and windows even keeps the burls that would have been rubbish for him!

A variety of bottle stoppers - write to me for availability and for bulk orders please.

A variety of bottle stoppers - write to me for availability and for bulk orders please.

So, the month of April flew by in a blur of birdsong, gardening, asparagus and starting to organise the workshop, while producing my ever popular bottle stoppers.  Now I have them made in pink ivory, rosewood, orange, local olive, wild olive form South Africa, local vine wood, beech, local oak – well – lots of different woods.  These are always popular with guests to the area – easy to take back and easy to order.  If you see some that you like, let me know – it may still be here or I can probably find one that is similar.

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