Can't catch a break

After a busy few weeks attending to the rest of my life, I got back in the shop last night for a bit.

I started finish turning a Bradford Pear blank that was dry, until I realized it was so thin to start that the chattering wouldn't stop. I put it aside for another day. I mounted a dried Locust blank, and one small catch dismounted the piece and left the tenon in the chuck! Then I thought about trying a bottle stopper, until I realized that I still haven't bought a drill chuck so I did my best with a hand drill. Then I realized the chuck jaws I have can't hold the 3/8" dowel while I turn the handle! Ugh.

Even cleanup sucked, when I found that my vacuum was full. To tired to deal with it, I went inside. At least the air compressor didn't blow a circuit like it does most nights.

In other news, a member of the local club suggested that I write a beginner's perspective column for the newsletter. While I don't consider myself much of a writer, it sounds like it might be fun. I think I'll give it a go, and we'll see how the reception is. With any luck, it won't be a waste of print!