 |
CREATIVE WOODTURNING
While working as a cabinet maker in California in 1984, Cindy
discovered the lathe when a friend asked her to make a pair of
captain’s chairs. The chairs called for turned spindles and legs,
so, from the classifieds, she acquired a used lathe of unknown
brand, and a set of turning tools (listed in the ad as “latheing
tools”). Dale Nish’s book “Creative Woodturning” was her instructor.
Nish’s book, and articles in the Fine
Woodworking magazine, showed Cindy that the lathe held possibilities
far greater than making chair spindles.
HOBBY TO FULL TIME OCCUPATION
Turning then became one of her hobbies, competing for her “spare
time” with hang gliding and running. After moving to Colorado and
meeting other woodturners, a workshop at Craft Supplies USA and a
membership in the local turning club helped turn the hobby into a
full time occupation by 1996.
ATTRACTED TO TURNING BOXES
Right from the beginning, Cindy was attracted to turning boxes,
for this she credits turner
Kip Christiansen’s article on turning boxes with inlayed lids in
a copy of Fine Woodworking magazine,
this article also providing inspiration
for some of her early pieces. |
|
THE HEIGHT OF FASHION - CINDY'S PURPLE LATHE
She
is now becoming known for her lidded
vessels with elegant finials and boxes made from Banksia Pods. In
addition to the lidded pieces and hollow forms, Cindy also markets a
line of interactive gift items. It is the gift items, such as oil
candles, vases, bottle stoppers, and pens,
that allowed her to gain skills and make a living at the same time.
Cindy does most of her work on a purple
Vicmarc VL200 with a custom
stand made to accommodate a 5’2” woodturner. The Vicmarc is set up
for production with racks for tools, centers, chucks, drills, and
sandpaper. For a second machine, she has recently taken delivery on
one of a John Jordan's
Stubby 750's, Cindy feels this new
lathe should make those bigger pieces of
Manzanita root easier to handle!
A CROWDED WOODTURNING SHOP
Hollowing is done with a Jamieson captured-bar rig with a laser
measuring system and using Dennis Stewart, John Jordan, and Hamlet
cutting tools. Her woodturning shop is a very crowded 1500 sq ft
industrial space that she shares with “Basket Illusion” turner
David Nittmann. In this shop is a full compliment of cabinet making
equipment (table saw, jointer, planer, etc), two John Nichols lathes
that can turn 26”dia x 12’long and 8’dia x 30”long, a Sherline pen
lathe, Vicmarc VL200, Stubby 750 (soon to be 2 Stubbys), and
assorted wood (mostly burls) piled up everywhere. This is truly the
home of committed (or perhaps addicted) woodturners!
For a more complete view of Cindy's
current work, visit
www.cindydrozda.com.
|