Project 10: Supplies

I have to admit that the only information I had about choosing wood going into this project was that some exotic hardwoods can cause some people to have violent allergic skin reactions. Armed with that scanty knowledge I went to Woodcraft to find a few turning blanks. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that the vast majority of the woods available in the store are exotic hardwoods. I was certain that I wanted something familiar and domestic for my first project, but at times I was almost tempted by the lure of the lovely colorful woods with tropical names. Bocote. Cocobolo. Wenge. In the end I asked a clerk where the domestics were kept, and he directed me down a ramp to the furthest corner of the store. I dutifully picked up a 2″x2″x30″ stick of maple and another of red oak. I’ve heard of both of them and seen them growing, surely they won’t cause me to break out in exotic hives.

In hindsight I should have bought some sandpaper, but aside from that and the wood there really isn’t much else I need to acquire. The lathe and the gouges (pictured above) are available at TechShop. The only other ingredient is my imagination.

Tomorrow: my first candlestick!