Month: July 2018

Al Furtado Attacks An Olive Root Ball!

Extreme Woodturning
By Al Furtado

If you are new to woodturnig then you probably have discovered the many, many tutorials on youtube for woodturning. There are a handful of guys that I follow to learn the basics and new tips and tools used for woodturning.

Al Furtado Takes Woodturning
To New Horizons

Al Furtado turns olive root ballAl Furtado is one of my favorites, simply because of his down home type teaching and examples. In fact, he will take on projects that I think most woodturners would be afraid of turning.

I was just thinking that I had not heard from Al for a while and I was hoping he was OK…. he had a heart attack a while back but it certainly did not seem to slow him down …in fact, I think he has gotten a little crazier when it comes to woodturning …taking on projects  that few would.

I say “crazier” in jest. He actually has a brilliant imagination. He can look at a lop sided, deformed piece of log and imagine the most beautiful piece of art. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t ….. but Al Furtado seems to always go on the attack.

If you watch a few of his videos and you are a woodturner, you can’t help but love the guy. I have learned so much from him ….from tools to life!

Al Furtado Is One of My Favorites

Al Furtado takes on some of the most unbelievable projects. By that I mean, he will mount a piece of wood on a lathe that no sane person would attempt to turn ….and somehow he ends up with the most beautiful and unique woodturning that you have seen.

Olive Wood Root Vase by Al Furtado

Today, Al Furtado mounts an Olive Root Ball between centers, first turns a tenon and then starts to shape the massive root ball. You must watch this video to learn how you migtht take your skills to the next level. I do warn you though, be very careful, if you do not have the experience necessary ….this is not the type of project you want to consider.

Watch his video here.

Here is a comment I left on
Al Furtado’s video:

“Big Al” never disappoints when it comes to a new turning project!

Hope you are doing well my friend, awesome video. Even if I had the lathe that could handle a piece of wood like that I don’t think I have the courage to attack something like that!

I was just wondering if things were good from you since I had not seen any updates from utube. Was hoping that your health was still good. I have suffered from poor health for a long long time and I know how it can affect everything in your life. I keep you in my prayers!

Needless to say, it is a beautiful piece of work ….more of a piece of art.

You say that it is Olive wood. The piece you had left over has much potential. I was just looking at the PSI catalog and it looked like Olive wood pen blanks were a big seller. You might want to consider ripping some of those pieces for pens …either for yourself or others.

Thanks again for taking to time to record your efforts …I know from experience what that it takes much effort to record and edit a video ….when all you want to do is get out in the shop and turn a project 🙂

Al Furtado the Rebel Woodturner Turns a Piece of Maple

I have neglected my Wood Turning Basics blog somewhat, however, it doesn’t mean that I have been missing in action 🙂  Although, once again, I have gone through a very sick spell, I have always tried to do some woodturning and some learning.

When I’m really sick, I try to spend some time online watching woodturing videos, learning about tools, wood, woodturing techniques. …..and on and on…basically I try to learn anything I can about woodturning. I keep notes, bookmark pages and have an extensive youtube library of videos that I have watched.

I thought I would start a “category” on this blog of accomplished woodturners. I talk about Cap’n Eddie all the time, his videos are timeless …however the quality of the video is a little rough to look at because times have changed, HD video can show a bowl gouge actually riding on the bevel and some guys have gone through great lenghts for you to see this. So, I will create a list of accomplished turners, post their videos and point out what I have learned from their videos.

I start this category with “Al Furtado” I really enjoy watching him turn wood and explain his philosphy as he looks at a piece of wood and ultimtely mounts it on the lathe. He talks about tools, life and everything in between …he is the kind of guy you would want for a neighbor!

Here is the comment I left on his latest video….which by the way is above this paragraph….check it out because you can learn something!

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Thank you for clarifying the use of “affordable” tools, I have always enjoyed your approach to wood turning because you don’t have the best of the best, because you have a shop full of shavings ….and because you turn a piece of wood like no one I have ever seen.

I have tried to approach turning as you do and let the wood talk. However, I have been paying close attention to how you look at a piece of wood and then mount it in an attempt to make it into something you see….. my problem is, I cannot yet see complex forms from an obtuse piece of wood …but I keep trying 🙂

I wondered if you have mounted your lathe to the floor? I just have a cheap HF lathe, it has served me well …but I got sick a long time ago and find myself in the twlight years with next to nothing so I make due with what I have ….I’m really upset at myself for not grabbing a HF woodturning set that someone returned, I could have grabbed it for 20 bucks!

I started a blog on wood turning basics, kind of a diary/journey into woodturning ….I think I am going to create a “Al Furtodo” category and repost your videos with some comments from what I have learned. I don’t have the category set up yet but it will be http://www.woodturningbasics.com/category/woodturners/alfurtado/ ….it will take me a while to set things up but I would be honored if you stopped by to check it out, also I have a facebook group that I repost your videos sometimes …..so many are followers of you https://www.facebook.com/groups/woodturningbasics/

Finally, I am so glad that you are up and about ….seems like your heart attack was an awakening, you certainly have not slowed down at all….in fact, I think you have stepped it up a notch or two 🙂

Thank you my friend, wish you were my next door neighbor 🙂

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