I am a bespoke woodturner and woodworker living in Melbourne Australia. Following full-time careers over the past 60 years in policing, Royal Australian Air Force, local government and as a financial planner I now have time to devote to my woodturning and woodworking. It is not a full-time lifestyle supporting endeavour but I do approach it with a professional attitude. I prefer to call it a profitable hobby.
I prefer to use Australian hardwoods but certainly do not exclude using other woods that are attractive or have some other endearing quality.
Most of the wood I use is recycled or fallen trees. For example, my most preferred woods are Australian Redgum and Red Ironbark followed by Grey Box and Grey Ironbark. The Redgum is sourced mostly from street naturestrips where homeowners have replace their side and back fences and discarded the posts which are redgum. The red ironbark and other timbers are sourced from friends and others who have access to rural properties where trees have fallen and lain for several years. Rarely have I needed to actually purchase wood but when I do need to purchase I source timber yards that practice sustainable harvesting.
Australian hardwoods are also very challenging. Not only are they very hard and can play havoc with tools (especially edged tools) they can have hidden defects such as internal splits, grub tunnels etc that have the potential to destroy a piece that is spinning at high speed on a lathe. Recycled timbers have their own challenges. Often having nails, bolts (often hidden) as well as mortises or pieces cut out to fit other components of a piece of furniture they require repair or modification using plugs or patches. I do not try to hide or disguise these ‘repairs’ but make a feature of them to show they are recycled. Repairs also provide a conversation piece and add to the provenence of the piece.
In this blog I want to showcase some of my best pieces. Some I still have but others I have given to family, friends or to people who have provided me with some sort of assistance. I have also donated pieces to by Rotary Club to use in fund raising activities.
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I am currently making chess sets (pieces, board and storage box) for people who value, quality, hand-made and heirloom value. I make only when commissioned so if interested, please contact me – kenm@themahers.id.au