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Podcast #7: Bowl Turning - From Log to Bowl in Under an Hour

Brian Simmons, the Woodsmith Store’s most famous assistant manager, has a national reputation as a woodturing educator. A member of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW), Brian came to the Woodsmith Store in a roundabout way. Originally from Georgia, Brian and his family moved to Iowa after his wife took a job here in Des Moines.

Brian worked for Paxton’s Hardwoods before they closed the store. He’d heard about the seminars at the old Woodsmith Store and stopped in one day to offer his services to teach woodturning if the store ever decided to have a turning seminar. Store manager, Dave Larson, offered Brian a job on the spot and the rest is history.

In this week’s Woodsmith seminar: Bowl Turning — From Log to Bowl in Under an Hour, Brian takes a short section of poplar log and turns out a beautiful bowl, all while offering some really great insight in how to turn green wood.

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Posted on Friday, December 22nd, 2006 at 2:51 pm. Filed under Podcast.
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11 Responses to “Podcast #7: Bowl Turning - From Log to Bowl in Under an Hour”

Buddy Hankins said,

I’m a beginner trying to learn to turn bowls. This was my first podcast to watch (enjoyed it tremendously!) I’ll watch others as they’re available. Thanks, Buddy

(posted on January 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am)

Joel Hess said,

Buddy,
Thanks for your positive comments. Turning bowls is one of those mysterious operations that once you learn how it’s done, really isn’t that mysterious! We’re going to experiment with camera angles during the next turning seminar, so that more of the operation is actually visible on the podcast.

-Joel

(posted on January 15th, 2007 at 10:57 am)

Buddy Hankins said,

Joel, did you get my questions about Brian’s chuck he used on podcast#7? Thanks, Buddy

(posted on January 19th, 2007 at 9:19 am)

Joel Hess said,

Buddy,
Sorry, I’m out of town until the 29th, but I will try to find out. I believe he does mention during the seminar what chuck he is using. I’ll check with him and let you know asap. -Joel

(posted on January 19th, 2007 at 11:17 am)

Buddy Hankins said,

I’d like to attend a wood turning seminar, show, etc.. I’m 30 minutes from LR and 2 hours from Mtn. View (both in AR.) Do you have any suggestions or info? Thanks, Buddy

(posted on March 9th, 2007 at 9:36 am)

Joel Hess said,

Buddy,

So where are you located exactly? I see where both Tulsa and OK City have Woodcraft stores and both offer turning classes. I also have addresses for two woodworking clubs in Arkansas. I’d suggest giving them a call to find out what they have to offer. Luckily, one of the clubs is in Little Rock.

Woodworkers Association of Arkansas
4 Petress Court
Little Rock,AR 72211

Woodworkers Association of Arkansas
16 Chicot Drive
Maumelle,AR 72113

Also, if you don’t mind driving a ways, there is a great woodworking school in Waco, TX. It’s called Center for Essential Education School of Woodworking. I know that they have a great turning class. (It was going on while I was there for a hand tools fundamentals course!)

Good luck in your search. -Joel

(posted on March 9th, 2007 at 9:56 am)

Clark O'Neill said,

Brian, very good video with clear explanations on the blackboard. You are going in the right direction on improving the camera angle…shooting over your shoulder would give us your view of what’s happening. I have been woodworking for many years but just now picked up a lathe and it is truly mysterious. Much to learn and your video was very helpful. Think about a podcast on sharpening turning tools…another mystery for me.

(posted on March 12th, 2007 at 7:11 pm)

Reg said,

I have been looking at the pod cast on bowl turning, I have seen it 3 times, its great.
Can you do one on spindle turning?
UK beginner
Reg

(posted on April 12th, 2007 at 7:17 am)

Aaron Schmits said,

Thanks for making this accessible to the public. I’m going down to my shop in the backyard right now to take a stab at this with some cherry we harvested. Best Wishes from Cincinnati, Ohio.

(posted on December 27th, 2007 at 7:00 pm)

John Lamacraft. said,

A good presentation after the initial sawing of the blank. It is safer to cut the blank using a “vee” fixture, not freehandedly. No safety glasses used until the turning starts, and frequently removing waste without stopping the lathe. Too many “um’s” & “er’s” in the verbage, think about what is to be said, and say it. An audience respects that very much, it also helps a presenter to establish his/her creibility.
Regards, John.

(posted on January 17th, 2008 at 10:05 am)

Bill Giffin said,

One of the best videos or podcasts I have seen. Clear and comprehensive, answered questions I had and made me a little more confident for my next project. Keep up the good work and I look forward to the next podcast. Thanks Again, Bill

(posted on February 1st, 2008 at 4:25 pm)

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