Custom Wood Turnings | Portland Maine Woodworking

I Can't believe that it's been almost 3 months since I last posted here

Dick Shryock — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:56:38 +0000

But it’s true, so here I am back on my blog with some new pieces just listed in my store. Mostly bowls but also an Ebony Pen and Pencil set and another pen. I have been very busy at work, going away for several days of training in Cary, North Carolina for work. Am about to finish up a class at the Woodturning School in Damarascotta. I have also been busy in my studio, turning out bowls. So I’m back and promise that I won’t wait as long before posting again.

In the Shop today

Dick Shryock — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:32:17 +0000

Well I’m getting a little tired of fighting with “Herbie” Elm, and turned to my old favorit Chery. Just did a bowl 8” X 2” it was a dream to turn. Much more fun than that nasty to work Elm. I’ll post a photo of the bowl and put it in my store by the end of the week.

Got a busy week out of the shop this coming week. End of the month stuff at work and I have to take Belle, our 8yo Black Labrador Retriever up to Norway Maine for an orthopaedic evaluation of her right front shoulder. She has been favoring it off and on for about six months. After several trips to our regular Vet, she suggested that we take her to an ortho specialist an hour away. She has to be there at 0700 on Wedneday morning so we are going to leave at 0545 to make sure that we are there on time.

Depending on what they find she may have surgery on Wednesday, which will mean another trip to Norway either Thursday or Friday

Wednesday evening I have a meeting of the Southern Maine Woodturners at the Rockler store in South Portland. We have been on hiatus for the summer so it’ll be good to see some old friends after a long beautiful summer.

So that’s it for today. Keep an eye out for the new bowl.

Solving a shop problem

Dick Shryock — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:16:46 +0000

Sandy continually tells me that there is a lot of dust in the house that eminates from my shop. She is right.

So I have been looking for inexpensive ways to cut down on the dust. I saw these mini ShopVacs on sale at Sprawl*Mart for $19.90 so I bought one along with a DWV Fitting and modified the fitting by turning Plugs for each end, much as the way that Dave did his. I then mounted the altered fitting on the lower door to the band saw compartment. My bandsaw is a 1949 Delta Milwaukee that I bought several years ago at a yardsale. Once that was done I mounted the Hanging Mini ShopVac on the front of the saw. I then attached a duplex outlet to the saw and wired it between the switch and the motor thus giving me a way to automatically turn on the Vac whenever the machine was turned. The vac can easily be lifted out of the hanging hardware and carried where ever there is dust that needs to be removed.

It's August

Dick Shryock — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:16:32 +0000

and I’m still turning “Herbie Elm”. Today I delivered three “Herbie” Letter openers to a customer, and delivered some Pens, Letter Openers and Sewing needle holders to Yarmouth Community Services for sale in their little store. I recieved a bunch of pen parts today so I guess that I’ll be producing some pens this weekend. I also plan on turning a bowl or two. So if there is anything that you would like custom made just let me know.

This is the last entry for July 2010

Dick Shryock — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:43:13 +0000

This month has just shot right by. I’ve spent a lot of time in the shop and also at the Yarmouth Clam Festival, working in the “Herbie” Booth. It was a blast. Almost 100% of the items for sale in the “Herbie” both that had been made by turners was sold, contributing a good deal of money to the Yarmouth Tree trust.

Last week I went back to the Wood Turning School in Damariscotta, ME for their first annual Turnaround. A great time was had by all, with demonstrations, contests, good food, good company and a raffel of great woodturning products.

Today I went to my favorite Rockler Store to participate in the Patriot Pen Project where the goal was to produce 100 pens to be sent to men and women serving in the military overseas. I’m happy to say that I yurned 5 pens for the project. Rockler provided all of the materials to make the pens as well as the lathes to turn them. We had novices as well as seasoned turners turning out pens.

The high point of July for me was my appearence on “207” WCSH6’s Entertainment magazine. All in all a pretty great month.

Vacation from Maine Medical Center This Week

Dick Shryock — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:14:13 +0000

Well I’m on vacation from my day job this week so lots of time for woodworking. I have several orders to fulfill this week but have time for more so let me know if there is something that you would like to order. Just look through my store and pick out something nice for me to custom turn for you.

Yarmouth Clam Festival

Dick Shryock — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:13:26 +0000

Well the Yarmouth Clam Festival (http://www.clamfestival.com/home.php ) gets under way in earnest tonite with the parade at 6pm. You can see and purchase my work at the “Herbie” booth right next to the chamber of Commerce Booth on the Village Green near the Rt1 overpass. I will be there staffing the booth Saturday from 4pm - 8pm. Stop by and say hi.

The Herbie Piece on WCSH6

Dick Shryock — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:49:22 +0000

WCSH channel 6 showed the following piece on their entertainment magazine called “207” last night July 13th 2010. Check it out:

Mark your Calendar

Dick Shryock — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:25:17 +0000

For those of you that are interested I will be featured as part of a piece on the “207” Entertainment Magazine on Tuesday July 13th at 7PM on WCSH-TV channel 6. the piece is about what has become of the wood from the 217 yo Elm tree affectionately know as “Herbie” that was felled on January 19th of this tear in Yarmouth. 207 did a piece back then telling about the tree, and this is a follow-up of that story. I have not seen the piece and don’t know how much of the footage they shot in my workshop will make it into the final piece so I guess we will find out together.

WCSH usually streams their 207 programs some time after they air the piece so you can catch it in case you miss it or live outside of the viewing area. http://www.wcsh6.com/life/programming/local/207/default.aspx

Thanks for looking in on this should you be interested.

Tapeing for 207 on WCSH6

Dick Shryock — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:25:27 +0000

Well yesterday I was taped for for a segment on WCSH-TV’s News Magazine 207. They are doing a follow-up story on “Herbie” Project if you aren’t familiar point your browser to: http://www.yarmouthcommunityservices.org/Herbie.html. This time they are reporting on what has happened with the wood from “Herbie”. They are going to have Joe Sullivan, the owner of Sullivan Lumber in New Gloucester Maine to talk about the removal and milling of the tree, and they are also interviewing artists about their Herbie work. I have no idea how much of my interview will wind up on the cutting room floor, but I am honored to be able to participate in the project