Dan recalled passing by a small shop somewhere with his wife. Inside that shop, they admired some handmade wooden pens. Dan said to his wife, “I could make those.” A while after that, Dan walked into a woodworking store and saw pen making supplies. Dan purchase enough to get started and received a quick lesson on how to turn a pen. Shortly after he started making pens on that original lathe his uncle had given him many years ago. The funny thing about that lathe was that his dad had mounted it on a light weight, repurposed stand that wobbled a bit when he used the lathe. Dan endeavored to turn pens on that wobbly first lathe with some success.
Dan’s fourth lathe is the Powermatic lathe he has in his shop today. Here is Dan with a large maple blank in his previous shop. He calls this, “My Happy Place.”
Dan’s involvement with the SPSW grew over the years. Between 2010 and 2012, Dan served as club president. These days Dan looks forward to mentoring new woodturners and supporting charity causes by turning and donating wooden bowls.
Dan will be demonstrating Inside Out Turning a Christmas Ornament, timely subject giving you plenty of time to turn yours.
