Author Archives: Ed Pretty

About Ed Pretty

I am a professional woodturner, specializing in gallery work, commercial work, teaching and demonstrating. I have been turning since 1958, so... a long time. I use this site to present my work to the public at large and to let people know that I am available for teaching private lessons in woodturning. Wood turning is one of my passions (the other is motorcycle touring). It is my desire to pass on everything that I have learned over the years to others so that the craft of woodturning will grow.

Bee tea. My first tea pot.

 Our guild president offered a challenge to turn a tea pot after Art Liestman did a demo on the pots made by woodturners. This is my effort. The body is birch burl, the spout and top/dipper are birch, the legs … Continue reading

Posted in Colouring wood, General, Hollow Forms | Comments Off on Bee tea. My first tea pot.

It’s time to lime (but not your lawn)

Recently I have received requests from a few other turners for tips on using lime wax. There’s not a lot of literature on the process that I am aware of except a book that I have myself; “Colouring Techniques for Woodturners” by … Continue reading

Posted in Colouring wood, Finishing | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Art as utility

Today a potter-friend posted some pictures of some pottery that he had fired in a campfire while he was on holidays. My first thought was how great the pieces looked and how they conveyed a message of ancient wonders. In … Continue reading

Posted in General | 2 Comments

Turned box for surprise gift requires a profile gauge

I won’t say what the surprise is going to be because the recipient might read this. All I’ll say is that the request came from someone wanting to have a turned box shaped like an egg to hold a very … Continue reading

Posted in Woodturning Tech Talk | Tagged , | Comments Off on Turned box for surprise gift requires a profile gauge

A Day with Doug Fisher

Recently our guild hosted Doug Fisher for a one day demo and one day workshop. For those of you who are not aware of Doug’s distinctive style, I have included a couple of pictures of his signature pieces. Typically he turns wall … Continue reading

Posted in Colouring wood, General, Woodturning Tech Talk | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Another “cover” shot!

I guess I’m fluffing my own feathers here a bit, but then why have a blog if you can’t do that. 🙂 Recently I started posting shots of my work on the WoW site (Woodturners on the Web). I have been … Continue reading

Posted in General | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Stand-Alone Tool Carousel

 At one time my lathe was against a wall so storing my tools was a simple matter of providing a rack on the wall. When I got serious about turning I moved things around to get the lathe out in … Continue reading

Posted in Lathes and Tools, Woodturning Tech Talk | Tagged | 1 Comment

New Gallery Opening

Last night I attended the opening of Fluff Rentals’ new gallery, Fluff For Keeps. As galleries go this one is a bit different. Fluff Rentals offers interior design services and up until now only rented the necessary furnishings. Their target market for … Continue reading

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Congratulations to Art Liestman

Art Liestman is a friend and co-member of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild. Art is one of those un-assuming people who, although he has many things he could brag about, never brags at all. He willingly shares what he knows with others yet is right … Continue reading

Posted in General | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Congratulations to Art Liestman

Drying wood with Silica gel

Some time back a woodturning friend had a brainwave when his wife bought some silica gel (which is, in fact, in bead form) for drying flowers. He thought if it could dry flowers, why not wood? He presented the idea to the … Continue reading

Posted in Drying wood | 7 Comments