| Ellis | Tonight, it is my great pleasure to introduce none other than Jimmy Clewes, woodturner, designer, instructor, demonstrator and all-around great guy. Jimmy, welcome to the WoodCentral chatroom. How are you tonight? |
| JohnV | welcome Jimmy |
| Lan_B | hi Jimmy |
| Jim_Evans | Mr. Clewes |
| Jeff_W | Howdy Jimmy |
| Ellis | We're so glad you could make it. |
| Michael_Gibson | Evening mate |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Evening all! Glad you could make it! |
| Ellis | It looks like you're in off the road for a bit, then off to San Jose. |
| Ellis | Taking the summer off from teaching? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | That's right. North Carolina first this weekend and then to San Jose |
| Ellis | How was the gig in Michigan? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I'm teaching and demonstrating and travelling during the summer and gets me out of the of the summer |
| Ellis | I guess Las Vegas gets a tad warm during July and August. :) |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Gig in Michigan was great. What great group of lads. Thoroughly enjoyed it |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, Ellis, a bit warm. But remember it is a "dry" heat :) |
| Lan_B | Still Hot! |
| Ellis | You can't fool me. I've been in LV in summer. Will you be in anyone's booth at San Jose? |
| dick_hines | Wait until you to NC |
| JohnV | 120 will dry will still cure meat |
| Ellis | There's a tech tip, JV |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Ellis, I will be in Doug Thompson's booth. Drop by and say hello. |
| Ellis | I'll definitely be stopping by. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Great. Look forward to it Mate! |
| Ellis | So, I'll bet these folks have a bunch of questions for you. If not, I do. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Go for it! |
| Ellis | Well, we might as well talk about design. |
| Ellis | Design is my great passion and I know it is yours, too. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Okay. |
| Ellis | What motivates your designs? |
| Ellis | How do you come up with your shapes and your decorative stylings? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Design is mainly thinking outside the box. My design training has been an immense help |
| Ellis | So, you check yourself to see that you're coming up with original ideas? |
| Ellis | And/or, do you start with a piece of wood, or with a concept, or with a sketch or what? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Good question, Ellis. Many of the times simple sketches and the wood also can have an influence |
| Ellis | Agreed |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Design is a process. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Design is also a very logical process. |
| Ellis | I tend to work in applied arts, problem solving and so on. Fine art and sculpture are a different kind of design problem. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Absolutely Ellis and can be very subjective and personal. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | For example, two interpretations of the human form -- one - Michaelangelo's David and two - Henry Moore's sulptures are totally different |
| Jimmy_Clewes | But both are brilliant in their own way. |
| Ellis | I'll say. |
| Stuart | Jimmy, in your DVDs you show making small changes that enhance the piece. When you start, do you have something firm decided on and then make changes on the fly? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Hi Stuart. Over many years of turning I have developed the ability to see proportion in three dimensions. I step back, have a look and can tell if it looks right or not. You build up a library shapes in your head ... good and bad. |
| don_in_central_illinois | Jimmy, what got you interested in turning? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Hi Don. Ever since school when I scraped a thin, shallow bowl for me Mam, I always enjoyed it. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I resumed turning in my 3-dimensional design course at the age of 22 and never stopped |
| Ellis | What forms do you enjoy making the most? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I really enjoy platters and simple curved bowls. |
| GeorgeT | Doesn't originality come from personal diversions from "normal" forms? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Interesting question, George. Originality can be derived from and influenced by many experiences and emotions. |
| Lan_B | Jimmy, do you prefer to decorate a platter or look for the best wood possible? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Hi Lan. It really depends on the wood. If it highly figured, simple form. More plain wood could be embellished or make a feature of the grain. |
| JamieD | Hi Jimmy, I just had to say hello out there on the left coast! |
| Michael_Gibson | Jimmy, tell us about your Doug Thompson gouge and why you prefer it to others. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Hi Michael. Tell Cyndi I'm asking after her. Doug ground the tool to my design. I prefer it because of the flute profile. It is in between a vee and a "U" |
| Ellis | Whose dyes and stains do you use to color your projects? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Regarding the stains. I prefer the brand name "Chestnut". The Chestnut stains are a spirit based stain. They are available in the UK. |
| Jim_Evans | I don't care for the Chestnut dyes |
| Stuart | Are the Chestnut dyes fairly UV resistant? |
| JamieD | Jimmy, I know that you have been using some English "spirit" dyes for a long time, do you know specifics about their lightfast characteristics? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Jamie. I have had pieces colored with the Chestnut stain and they are as bright as the day I made them. They are not kept in direct sunlight. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I also have more control "bleeding" them together with alcohol |
| Ellis | That's the key. |
| Ellis | Spirit stains don't raise the grain of the wood as much as water based dyes. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | That's correct, Ellis |
| Jim_Evans | Mine look like they are washed out colors. It took some skill to get them shipped here though. ;-) |
| dick_hines | Isn't Chestnut supposed to be selling in the States? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Dick. Unfortunately, Chestnut hasn't made it to the US yet. |
| dick_hines | I heard at the NC symposum that they would be sold in the States soon. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | That would be great news, Dick! |
| Lan_B | I beleive Craft Supplies sold Chestnut brand last time I bought dye |
| Mike_Hunter | Chestnut product can be ordered through the UK ... Peter Hemsley at The Tool Post in the UK |
| Jeff_W | http://www.chestnutproducts.co.uk/index.php |
| Stuart | If Chestnut isn't available what is next best option? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Good question Stuart. I have found some airbrush dyes that have been pretty successful. It the Comart range of colors from Dick Blick |
| JamieD | What are the "colors" made of in these dyes? Even ambient light has significant color degrading elements that must be avoided if possible, especially any fluorescent lighting. |
| Rob_Wallace | Hi Jimmy (and Mary!!) - good to have you on here - I'm going to try to bring the dyed maple burl piece with me to San Jose. BTW - Chestnut is working on trying to develop an exportable, dry version of their dyes that could be reconstituted locally - I heard from them about 6 months ago that this was in development. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, Rob. Good to hear from you, Mate! As you know, your piece turned out AWESOME! Good news about the dry version of the dyes. |
| Ellis | Do you use an airbrush pretty regularly, Jimmy? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I just started to get into using the airbrush. |
| Rob_Wallace | When I was in Jimmy's class in Las Vegas (March 13-16), I air-brushed the chestnut dyes and they worked REALLY well. I also have air-brushed the Artisan dyes from Craft supplies and although the colors are not as vivid as the Chestnut dyes, the Artisans worked fine. |
| JamieD | Rob- the CS dyes are advertised as lightfast, and that in not true. I believe they are aniline, and most are very unstable in light exposure, so be forewarned. The most stable colors are pigment based, such as acrylics and drawing inks, and can be used with alcohol or H2O. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Thanks for that information, Jamie. |
| Ellis | I guess it makes sense to think in terms of permanence if you're selling art. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Absolutely, Ellis |
| JamieD | There is so much misinformation about color permance of the materials in use that it will be difficult to overcome old myths! |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Coloring and media is a HUGE subject. |
| Ellis | Do you have favorite woods that you like to turn? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I prefer native timbers, Ellis -- walnut, ash, maple, sycamore. I have a particularly good contact for grafted walnut -- American root stock and English grafted on top. The wood is gorgeous. |
| don_in_central_illinois | Jimmy, isn't that what is called claro walnut? |
| Michael_Gibson | Is woodturning moving in the same direction in Britain as here? |
| Ellis | Counterclockwise, Michael? :) |
| Michael_Gibson | That's anti-clockwise Ellis. :) |
| don_in_central_illinois | No Ellis, that is south of the equator. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Hi Michael, to be honest, over the 27 years I have been involved in woodturning, there is very little that I haven't seen. Generally, the Brits aren't quite as adventurous. |
| Lan_B | Jimmy do you use any of the embossing tools on platters? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I know the process, Lan, and have raised the grain using a small punch and a damp cloth to form a "braille' type of pattern ... which is basically the same process, but I haven't used the embossing tools. |
| Rob_Wallace | These are also known as dapping punches... |
| Michael_Gibson | Where are you going to be in NC this coming weekend? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I will be at Piedmont Woodturners. Demo on Saturday and hands-on Sunday, then back home Sunday night |
| Lan_B | Southern Piedmont at Jerry's house |
| Michael_Gibson | What out for the ghosts if you are stopping at Jerrys B&B |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Thanks for the heads up Michael. |
| Stuart | Jimmy, how far in advance do your LV classes normally fill? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I have groups coming back and book a year in advance for a certain date or time of year. However, it could be as little as a week. I never cancel a class even if it only has one student has booked. |
| Ellis | Do you sell a lot of work these days, Jimmy? Or are you devoting most of your time to teaching and demonstrating? Or both? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | 98% of my time is teaching and demonstrating. It would be a difficult market to compete in selling at the moment. I really enjoy teaching and meeting all the guys. |
| Rob_Wallace | If you guys haven't had a Jimmy' Clewes class yet - JUST DO IT! It's a BLAST! I took the design class, and got a lot out of it - plus it's just a great experience overall.... ....even the lunches are fantastic! |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Thoroughly enjoyed you Rob! Had some great conversations! See you in San Jose |
| Rob_Wallace | Looking forward to it Mate! I'm also spending some time working at Doug's booth - remember - I owe you a beer! |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, Mate! |
| Stuart | How much time do you usually spend beating out old, bad habits at the start of a class? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Good question, Stuart!!! Hopefully, the way I teach, most guys get a result pretty quickly. |
| Mike_Hunter | Jimmy .... will you be with Francis from Belgium in San Jose? He is a super individual |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Francis is a real gentleman, Mike. He is flying over from Belgium and I am taking the WivaMac lathe. We are driving up on Thursday. |
| Ellis | Who's selling the WivaMac these days? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Clay Johnson at Choice Woods is selling the WivaMac range. |
| Ellis | That's what I thought. How are they going? |
| Mike_Hunter | The Wiva Mac is a sweet machine, but all of the new machines are good |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I agree, Mike. All the machines are good. |
| Ellis | It looked good to me at the price point, Mike. |
| Lan_B | Does that lathe do something the others will not? or just for the comfort level? |
| Molly | Hi all. Good to see you Jimmy |
| Jimmy_Clewes | You too, Molly. |
| Mike_Hunter | Hi Molly |
| Michael_Gibson | You can see him? |
| Molly | I have mad ninja skills Michael. |
| Ellis | Comes with motherhood, eh Molly? |
| Molly | yup! |
| Molly | Got good news this afternoon. I can get back to turning! Woo hoo! |
| Rob_Wallace | Not only can she see him, but out of the back of her head.... just like mom.... |
| Ellis | Excellent! |
| don_in_central_illinois | Good news, Molly. I suppose this means the surgery, etc. was a success. |
| Michael_Gibson | l heard you have been sniffing those fumes from your burning Molly. :) |
| Molly | Yeah, I'll be doing a "public service announcement" when I demo now. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | The WivaMac is comparable to machines in its price range, and, in particular, I notice how quiet it is. Other than that it is down to preference. I have one in my schoolroom a DB 600. I also have two Powermatics, a Oneway and a Jet. |
| Mike_Hunter | In a machine, I look for nice HP and ease of getting the tailstock out of the way |
| Rob_Wallace | That was going to be my comment - the WivaMac I used at Jimmy's was REALLY quiet and very smooth... only tried it a little, but it was impressive... |
| Molly | Just did a search for the WivaMac. Sorry to repeat, but what is the price range? |
| Ellis | Clay Johnson has them on his web site. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Sorry Molly, I don't have that information. Contact Clay Johson as he would give you a better idea. |
| Molly | will do |
| Mike_Hunter | I think they are mid to high, but all good machines are expensive |
| Ellis | 4K to 5K range |
| Molly | thanks Ellis |
| Rob_Wallace | Just checked Clay's site and he has the Wivamac DB801 1 HP for $ 3,822 |
| Jim_Evans | Jimmy, it's been awhile, but did you get your citizenship? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, Jim! I can apply this July for my citizenshhip!! |
| Jim_Evans | Great |
| Lan_B | good luck Jimmy! |
| don_in_central_illinois | Congratulations, Jimmy. You'll be 'one of us' so maybe you might want to rethink that. Look at the crew you are becoming a part of. |
| Mike_Hunter | Jimmy ... how is your Son doing |
| Jimmy_Clewes | My son Rob is a regular cowboy now!! He has his own hHeifer to show, a horse, a saddle, a shotgun and a hat! YeeHaw! |
| Mike_Hunter | You must be proud |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I couldn't be prouder, Mike. He is a great lad. |
| Michael_Gibson | Does he turn? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, Michael..until he discovered girls at 15. But he has a natural ability for pyrography. We've been talking about doing something together. |
| Michael_Gibson | It's going to take awhile to get those girls out the way, but a colab would be great |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yeah! And the girls over here just love the English accent. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I don't want any "trophies in a pram" :) |
| Michael_Gibson | Say no more |
| dick_hines | Nice having you on the chat tonight, Jimmy. See you at the Va symposium in Sept. I will bring you some trout flies. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, mate. Look forward to it, and tight lines! |
| Rob_Wallace | How is your gold prospecting going? Did you get any decent color out of the material you were panning when I was there? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | I did actually, Rob! About $170 worth. Haven't done any prospecting lately, been busy working and have me Mam and Dad here for two weeks. |
| Rob_Wallace | Cool!! |
| JoeFleming | Jimmy, Are you doing any gold leaf? Any tips to share? Any resources to recommend? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | An excellent book to consider, Joe, would be An Introduction to Water Gilding by Marty Horowitz and Lou Tilmont. |
| Ellis | Do you have any new signature tools or new DVDs on the horizon, Jimmy? |
| Rob_Wallace | Tell them about the new tool handle fitting... |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Doug Thompson and I have a "quick release" unit available in three forms. The unit itself, the kit or a finished handle. Check out my website for more detail. We will have them in San Jose. |
| Molly | Yes, I saw that at Doug's booth in Ohio. Looks like something I'm going to have to pick up. |
| Ellis | Is that quick release mechanism some kind of cam lock? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Absolutely, Ellis. |
| Stuart | http://www.jimmyclewes.com/tools.shtml |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Doug Thompson makes a good product. |
| Ellis | Yikes. Yet another tool I need to get. Actually, I have quite a few unhandled tools in different diameters. |
| Michael_Gibson | l bought one of your quick release units and like it a lot |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Thanks for that Michael. I appreciate the comment |
| Michael_Gibson | Just don't tell Cynthia.......... |
| Molly | Your secret is safe with me Michael... |
| Ellis | It's not safe with our chat archives. :) |
| Jimmy_Clewes | regarding a DVD, I am considering something in Australia next year. |
| Stuart | Jimmy, are you going to be at SWAT this year? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Not this year, Mate. Couldn't fit it in. |
| Molly | SWAT has to be my favorite symposium! |
| Rob_Wallace | Did you ever get a chance to pick-up and play with one of those air-body saws? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Not yet, mate. But thanks for reminding me! |
| don_in_central_illinois | Rob, is that like air guitar? |
| Rob_Wallace | Sort of Don!! Trent Bosch uses them routinely, and I really like mine.... great for fast shaping... |
| Stuart | Just one away from greatness, Ellis. ;) |
| Ellis | I know better, Stuart. |
| Molly | gotta run, dinner's on the table. Earlier out here in the West. |
| Michael_Gibson | Night Molly |
| don_in_central_illinois | Molly, whats for supper? |
| Rob_Wallace | Have a good dinner Molly - see you next week! |
| Ellis | Go for it, Molly. Thanks for stopping by |
| Molly | steak with sauted onions and mushrooms |
| Ellis | Come to our WC lunch on Friday |
| Rob_Wallace | Drool... |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Bye Molly, Take care love |
| Ellis | Jimmy will you be turning on a WivaMac in Doug's booth? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, Ellis. I will have the Wivamac I'm there to promote classes, sell tools and give advice. Like a clinic "thing". |
| Ellis | I'd like to get some pointers about using that gouge profile that you like. |
| Michael_Gibson | Me too |
| Jimmy_Clewes | No problem, mate. |
| Ellis | That gouge sounds kind of like the old Glaser profile? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, the "old" Glaser. |
| Ellis | I always found that shape to be tricky to sharpen to a nice continuous curve. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | There is a delicate continous flow of the cutting edge to the grinding wheel. I'll show you in San Jose. |
| Ellis | Can't wait. Thanks. |
| JoeFleming | Jimmy, If you are discussing your spindle gouge profile, is this the one where the nose bevel is about 55 to 60 degrees and the wings swept way back? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, Joe. I roll beads with it and get into relatively tight details without the need to revert to a detail gouge |
| JoeFleming | I still have the gouge I shaped in your class in SD years ago. I keep it as a sharpening guide. I still like that profile. |
| Mike_Hunter | Jimmy ... Time to walk the dog, nite all see you in San Jose |
| Rob_Wallace | Good night Mike! See you at the Symposium! |
| don_in_central_illinois | I'm with Mike, time to take the dog out and then to bed. It's been interesting. Thanks for participating Jimmy. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, Don. Take care and be safe. |
| Ellis | Are you doing any rotations at the symposium, Jimmy? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | No, not this year. I have been fortunate to have done three in the past few years. I understand there are other guys who need a break. |
| Ellis | Well you are a well-respected demonstrator. You earned it. |
| Rob_Wallace | I can attest that his sessions were always full. I was his demo asistant for at least three rotations over the past few years... |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Thanks, Ellis. I am very fortunate to earn my living doing something that I truly enjoy. |
| Ellis | About your school.... how do your design courses differ from the regular courses? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | The Design Course concentrates on learning the process of design and defining a concept and executing that concept. The woodturning is secondary although the basics are required from a tooling point of view as the point of the class is to teach design -- not how to turn. This would detract from the class. The other class teaches tooling technique and shape and form. |
| Ellis | Thanks. That's what I thought. I'd like both. |
| JoeFleming | Jimmy, Do you still spritz alcohol on pieces and ignite it to raise the grain? |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Yes, Joe, I have been known to do that. But given that our country is extremly litigious, I wouldn't advise it. |
| JoeFleming | I used to do it. Had a large platter on the lathe. Showed (off) to my brother in law. Over zealous on the alcohol. Dripped on the bed. ignited a few chips. No big deal. Patted them out with my hand. Knocked a few into the pile on the floor. OH SH*T! Grab the fire extinguisher. Expired. DOUBLE SH*T!! Grabbed the second extinguisher from the kitchen. Saved the house. Dumped the alcohol. Bought four new extinguishers. |
| Stuart | Jimmy thanks for participating and I'm sure I'll see you for a class in LV one day. It's been an enjoyable evening. Night all. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | My pleasure, Stuart, Take care mate. |
| Ellis | Bye Stuart. Thanks for all your help. |
| Rob_Wallace | Good night Stuart |
| Neil | Thanks Jimmy, Ellis and all. This was my 1st chat and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Will try to make more of them soon. Good Night All. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers, Neil. Take care and be safe. My first too! |
| Ellis | Glad you made it, Neil |
| Rob_Wallace | Bye Neil |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Well guys, my roast leg of lamb with rosemary smells done and the zucchini is ready for the barbeque. |
| Ellis | I'll be right over. |
| Jimmy_Clewes | :) |
| Ellis | Thank you so much for joining us here tonight, Jimmy. I will archive the chat for posterity. |
| Michael_Gibson | Jimmy, Want to thank you for your advice in Gainsville, nice chatting with you. |
| Doc_Green | Thanks for the chat, Jimmy! Good job. |
| Ellis | And I'll look forward to seeing you in SJ |
| Rob_Wallace | Jimmy - please say hi to Mary for me and give your dog a belly scratch for "Uncle Rob". Thanks for agreeing to do this!! See you next week! |
| Jimmy_Clewes | Cheers All. I have had real good fun once again! Take and be safe. See in you in my travels or maybe in a class ! Good night and God Bless. |
CHATROOM
