Woodturner Profile – Ron Kent

ron kent bowlWhile cruising the web looking at woodturning sites I came across Ron Kent‘s website. Ron is a woodturning artist from Hawaii, and a member of the Honolulu Woodturners chapter of the AAW. Those of you who have been turning for some time are probably familiar with Ron’s work. This was my first exposure to his craft and I have to say it is more than amazing. He is renowned for his translucent, thin walled bowls.

Ron first delved into woodturning when his wife gave him a toy lathe for Christmas in 1975. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he went to the beach and picked up a piece of driftwood. He fashioned a tool by sharpening a screwdriver and began to turn. This experience caused him to explore the potential of woodturning. That toy lathe soon fell apart, but that only led to the purchase of a larger, and over time, progressively larger, lathes.

Ron started with bottle forms and expanded to extensions of the bottle. He also experimented with the egg shape. Ron continued on his woodturning journey by venturing into what would be his signature art – thin walled bowls.

Norfolk Island Pine grows throughout the Islands of the South Pacific and became Ron’s material of choice for turning. The knot patterns and highly figured wood when turned thin and oiled glows under gallery lighting. This was different than anyone else was doing at the time. His process takes considerable time with multiple trips to the lathe to take the wall thickness down gradually. Then repeated oiling and sanding results in the original moisture in the wood being replaced by the oil which provides the translucence.

Ron says that his work is about the light and form, not about the bowl itself.

“My mission is to create and select the silhouette that best interacts with the natural characteristics of each log, highlighting the intrinsic beauties that nature had provided, seeking a harmonious blend.”

Ron’s woodturnings have been sold in high-end galleries and are on display in many leading museums such as The Louvre in Paris, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Permanent Collection at The White House.

If you are looking for inspiration, or just want to see some amazing woodturning, visit Ron’s site at http://www.ronkent.com. If all you do is look through his gallery I can guarantee it will be time well spent.

woodturner profile

Library Resources

The club’s library resources have been added to our learning center menu. We have a fairly extensive collection of DVDs and books as well as a nearly complete collection of American Woodturner magazines (the official publication of the AAW) back to the first issue in December of 1996. In addition, we have many issues of Woodturning magazine out of the UK back to the 10th issue from September, 1992. If you would like to check out any of these items just talk to the club’s librarian, Keith Palmer, at the next general membership meeting. You can also contact Keith through our librarian contact page.

woodturning library

March Membership Meeting

This month we will be holding the first of our three mini-symposiums of 2011. Here is your opportunity to pick up several new techniques and ideas from members of the South Puget Sound Woodturners. Here is the lineup:

  • Roy Lane – Large hollowing
  • Eugene Kramer – Segmented turning
  • Jeff Schultz – Small hollowing

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  • Brad Husby – Chasing feathers
  • Carol Zandel – See the unexpected
  • Jack Wayne – Hollow form collar

 

 

 

  • Eric Lofstrom – Spinning tops
  • Dave Schweitzer – Sharpening with diamond
  • Andy Firpo – Shop safety
Membership Meeting

Build Your Own Rose-Engine

Jon Magill Rose Engine Lathe
If you have been to a SPSW meeting, you most likely have seen work produced by Bob Sievers using his rose-engine lathe. Bob produces intricate, detailed designs on his turnings.

If you would like to try your hand at ornamental turning (OT) with a rose-engine lathe but don’t want to shell out $2,000 – $3,000 there is an option for you.

The Ornamental Turners International (OTI) is a virtual chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. Their website has great information about OT including articles and photo gallery, as well as a discussion forum and members only area. They happily share their passion for OT and this is where your rose-engine option comes in.

Jon Magill, a member of OTI, created a full set of plans for building a rose-engine lathe out of MDF. For about $300 and a half-sheet of ¾“ MDF you can build your own rose-engine.

You can find the Introduction and Overview, detailed drawings and construction instructions on the OTI website. You can also find videos of an MDF rose-engine lathe in operation.

UPDATE – Jon Magill has a site called Rogue Turner. His documents can be found there as well.

You can find his original article from the Spring 2007 issue of American Woodturner, the Introduction and Overview, detailed drawings and construction instructions on his website.

Here is a video of a rose engine in operation:

Lathes

New Videos in the Learning Center

Our website Learning Center has been inaugurated with two videos from SPSW member Dave Schweitzer covering how to use the D-Way beading tools. Just look under the “Learning Center” in the menu.

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AAW Board Message

This message was sent by AAW Board Member Kurt Hertzog

Australian Disasters

Kurt Hertzog
I am sure you are aware of the natural disasters occurring in Australia. Many of our fellow AAW members have been adversely affected  by the situation.  One of the benefits of AAW membership is the ERF – Emergency Relief Fund. It was started to assist members who suffer in events such as these. The fund is limited and can’t replace the huge losses that many have suffered. It  is intended to help with the loss of  tools, equipment, and materials. If you would like to make a donation to this fund to help those who have been (and continue to be) affected  by the flooding, please use the following link.

Year-End Grand Prize Winner

By now I’m sure you’ve heard that Cliff Mann of AZ won the Powermatic 3520B lathe donated by Walter Meier Powermatic/JET (http://www.waltermeier.com/us/en/splash.html). Cliff’s local chapter, the Southern Arizona Woodturners Association, also won their prize of five JET mini-lathes. Not only were they great prizes but  delivery was free. You can see more of the details at this link.

Monthly Drawings/Grand Prize Drawing

We are continuing with our monthly drawings. Nothing is required in order to participate other than being a member of the AAW. We have great prizes each month and will have a grand prize drawing again at the end of 2011. Walter Meier Powermatic/JET has again donated the  grand prize (3520B plus the local chapter’s choice of a JET fullsize or 5 minis).

Our January and February Winners

Thank Our Sponsors

Please make sure that you thank all of our business members for their support of the AAW. These companies (and individuals) help make the organization great and offer many special benefits to our members. Let them know you appreciate them when you do business with them. We also thank those donors of  the monthly and year-end grand prize drawings. You can find a complete listing of those on the website at this link.< Insurance Donations

Many chapters ask how they can assist with the expenses of the AAW. One of the benefits of being an AAW chapter is the insurance which may be required for certain  meeting places and event opportunities.  If your chapter (or an individual) wishes to assist with this expense, you may  make a donation to help. “How much?” is an often asked question.  We’ll graciously accept any donation but many chapters use $1 per member as a guideline.

Almost 14,000

The year 2010 closed with a total AAW membership of 13,941. While we were striving for 14,000, we can call it close enough. To continue to increase  our membership, we ask that the chapters and individual members make a concerted effort to make their fellow woodturners aware of the AAW and the benefits of membership. The programs that are offered are only possible with a strong and growing membership.

AAW Links and Publicity

Getting the word out about the AAW is something that we all can help with. Please include a link on the chapter website to the AAW home. Include one on your personal website as well. When you are asked to provide a bio for demonstrations, publications, or other public events, please include the fact that you are a member of the American Association of Woodturners. We can all help get the word out. If you need publicity materials to hand out at meetings, club events, or demonstrations, contact the Saint Paul office.

Going Green

The option to “go green” on the Resource Directory has been a big success. More than 6,000 members opted to forgo the printed copy. The online version will be available to all members and will always be the most current information available. Thank you to all who decided to make this choice.

AAW 25th Anniversary International Symposium

The time is getting closer. Our 25th Anniversary Symposium preparations, underway for quite some time, have kicked into high gear. You can find all of the latest at http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2011/.Registration, volunteer opportunities, special events, and more are to be found there. The site  is continually  updated with the latest information so check back often.

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