Woodturning in Hainesport

     It seems I always want something a little bit different.  Recently, I desired a grouping of wooden candle sticks in a mid-century modern design.  I found some for sale here and there, but nothing that satisfied my "vision."  That's when I started looking for a local woodturner who could make exactly what I wanted.  Imagine my delight at finding that woodturner, Philip Hauser, right here in Hainesport.
     Phil began woodturning thirty years ago when his wife gave him the gift of a two day woodturning course.  He is an officer of the DelVal Turners, and he hosts a monthly hands on workshop at his home.  He'll display his work at the Hagley Craft Fair on October 14th and 15th in Wilmington, Delaware.  https://www.hagley.org/

Posing by his lathe, Phil cautioned that safety gear is a must.  He wears a full face shield when the lathe is spinning.

These are just some of the tools that might be used for a project.  

Phil explained that the wood decides what you will create.  This bowl retained the bark edge while the bark on another bowl made from the same piece of wood crumbled away.

This sphere from an unknown species of wood has particularly interesting graining because it came from the crotch of a tree.  I think it looks like weather patterns swirling around Earth.

Making a bowl is a two part process.  First, you make a rough shape like these bowls on the top shelf.  Then you let it dry.  As it dries, it will go out of round.  After drying, the bowl is turned again to refine the shape.

These are my candlesticks.  I'm thrilled with them.

     The DelVal Turners meet on the second Tuesday of each month at The Friend's School, 110 East Main Street, Moorestown, New Jersey.  Meetings are held in the school's wood shop and start at 7:00 p.m.  Here's a link to the DelVal Turners' web site:  https://www.delvalturners.com/        
     The DelVal Turners' site contains a gallery of some of Phil's work:  https://www.delvalturners.com/members-galleries/philhauser/