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Richard Dirshel • Dubuque, IA • Turned Wood
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As a third generation woodworker, I still find working with wood a mystery. I never know what I will end up with until the final coat of varnish had been applied. Therefore, the unknown motivates me to go on- to start another turning- to watch what happens. One thing is certain, your feet will be standing in sawdust, LOTS of it! Thus my workshops name, the Sawdust Shop.
My desire is to produce a perfect product, which probably is unrealistic. The artist is rarely, completely satisfied; always striving to do better, to make changes, and to try new techniques.
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Professionally, I have a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin, Stout, and spent 37 years as an industrial engineer. Retirement in 1996 provided me the opportunity to create.
A quick trip to my basement finds a small work shop lined in typical wood working tools selected for producing fine wood products. One corner holds an old fashioned turning lathe with all the tools necessary for fabricating wood bowls and pots.
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Another corner finds turning blocks from the US, Malay Peninsula, Central America, Mexico, India, and some from, "I don't know where."
My designs come from basic proportion rules and what the base material allows. I started out drawing the design, but soon found product parameters caused me to deviate. However, once I produce an object I want to attempt duplicating, I draw that.
I experimented with many finishing materials and am now using a gel varnish and a bowl varnish. They are easy to apply, using a wipe on method, leaving no brush strokes. |
Another portion of the shop deals with sharpening equipment to fine tune the actual tools that do the work. This part of the work I find NOT as interesting, but necessary.
This hobby has provided me with much entertainment and a productive hobby for my retired years. |
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