Learning To Turn

By Ken Deaner

Less than two hours from New York City, in Hurley, New York is a novice turner’s oasis.  Bob Opthal lives in a two hundred year old farmhouse on an upstate farm.  Bob has a special sense of the importance of maintaining our nations treasures. He cares for his historic home with a sense of urgency.  He shows the same sense of urgency in keeping alive turning as a craft in upstate New York. Bob has set up a barn/work shed as a multi-lathe workshop for locals who want to learn-to-turn.

Bob was kind enough to give me a tour of his wonderful home.  It has hand-cut beams and foot thick walls.  It was the country setting for the farmhouse scene in the movie “Tootsie.”  After touring his house he asked if I would like to see his shop.

There are five wood-lathe stations in the shop.  There is also a band saw station and sharpening room.  There are full sets of turning tools and jigs that could conquer any turning project.  Bob’s students, this Monday, included Joyce Rakefeller, Bernie O’Malley, Lee Crummins and Myrna Sameth.  Bernie was working on a series of stepped salad bowls, Joyce was making a burl form, and Lee was working on a large spindle turning  project.

Bob moves from one station to the next making suggestions for better and safer work.  I spent three hours watching his students work and made some suggestions of my own.   Bob was kind enough to show me many of the jigs and chucking devices he and his friends had constructed.  You do not have to buy expensive deep hollowing tools if you can make them yourself. 

Stan Rosenberg stopped by the shop to drop off several pieces that had been on exhibit at the Orange County fair.  Each of the turners who had contributed pieces was welcome to pick them up at Bob’s.  Stan is a retired shop teacher. He and Bob disappeared into the sharpening room which had a metal lathe.  Stan helped Bob make a new fixture for chucking.It seems that any tool that the turners need can be manufactured at Bob’s.   Any tool that can be commercially purchased can be made by the many talented people who stop by Bob’s to assist newer turners develop turning skills.Bob’s contribution to turning is truly unique.  He does not expect any payment for the instructions he offers.  He enjoys the satisfaction of teaching others the craft he loves.  He is extremely generous with his time and has enlisted others to help on days when he is too busy to directly supervise the operation.  Many of his students have helped to improve the shop over the years in appreciation for all Bob does for the turning community.Visiting Bob’s farm is special.  The students at this Monday session were all retires.  Bob is truly a wonderful community resource.  He exemplifies the principle that guides almost every turner that I have met over the years.  He is  willing to share his knowledge to make sure that turning continues to flourish in America in the 21st century.

The LIWA has many members who are willing to help novice turners improve their skills.  We should continue to foster the buddy system that we have initiated in the past to make sure that turning continues to thrive on Long Island.