About Rick Rich

I am from Clark County, Washington.   I am a member of the SW Washington Woodturners, the Cascade Woodturners Association and the American Association of Woodturners (AAW).   I began turning as a hobby; however, it does appear to be growing into more than a hobby as the number of classes, demonstrations, articles, and projects increase.   The satisfaction I receive from turning, teaching, and writing is also increasing, so I consider it a win-win.

It’s not easy being a spindle turner in a club full of bowl turners. Like most beginners, I struggled when learning to turn beads on a spindle with the skew chisel. But I know that doing bead-and-cove exercises is time well spent, especially since a construction-grade 2″ x 2″ (5cm X 5cm) can be cut into the multiple practice blanks, providing hours of inexpensive turning practice.

I am a spindle turner by preference, although many items I make include faceplate turning, such as bowls, small tabletops, dishes, and like items.  I am a firm believer that advanced turning is simply the basic skills mastered.   I learned mainly by reading and doing.   I have read several books, shop manuals and teaching guides written by and for manual arts instructors from the early 1900’s.   The focus of these was how to teach students woodturning as a trade and livelihood.  I then went into my shop and completed their courses.   Interestingly, each course began with spindles, starting with a humble cylinder.  Download one of these vintage books yourself, starting with A Course in Wood Turning, By Archie S Milton and Otto K. Wohlers from 1919.

I am also a strong believer in the mission of the AAW to provide education, information, and organization to those interested in turning wood.   It is a part of both clubs I belong to and because of it, I have become a much better turner.  Although the best part of it, as my friend Dale Larson often says, “I have friends all over the world”.