"I have a hobby that got out of control!" Tom Fortenbery exclaims. "When I started I had no idea what I was doing. My first bowl took 3 months to turn -- but I was hooked and I've spent my retirement years playing catch up!" Wood turning goes beyond hobby status with Fortenbery. Today, he spends most of his time learning about different types of wood, taking and teaching classes and learning new technique. Before turning a new bowl or vase, Fortenbery looks for unique colorations, patterns and hardness of wood. Most woodworking tools are different from those used in wood turning. The lathe -- the mainstay of wood turning -- requires the blade to be held to the wood as it turns quickly; most tools require the wood to be shaped by putting the wood to a sharp blade in order to cut or shape the piece. "I really enjoy teaching others," he says. "To see how things come together for those who've never done it before. The looks on their faces is totally worth it." "With a little practice," Fortenbery says, "you can do it yourself."
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