Mike Pool - Wood Turner at work
Welcome I am a Technical teacher with over 30 years experience currently teaching in a secondary school in the West of Scotland. I live just outside Kilmarnock and my workshop is beside my house. I offer private lessons on a one to one basis for beginners to intermediate turners.
Originally, turning was a small part of my job and it was something that I really enjoyed. About 20 years ago I bought a Myford Mystro Lathe and this has proved to be an excellent machine. I now also have an Omega Stubby S1000 lathe which I had shipped over from Australia. I can turn some very big pieces on this machine and it has a small footprint for a machine of this size.
Most of my work is sold at craft fairs, I also take commissions and on occasions will deal with shops and galleries.
My favourite timber is Yew which has amazing colouration and takes a very good finish, it works very well. I also like burrs and any spalted wood.
I use any timber available, mostly native timbers, although I do buy some exotics from suppliers such as Charlie at ‘Just Wood’, Limekiln Road, Ayr, on the west coast, Tel No. 01292 290008. Charlie has a website just-wood.co.uk and you will find him very helpful with advice, and the shop also sells woodturning tools and accessories. On the last Sunday of most months I run a workshop day in the shop, the aim of these days is to help turners who may be having difficulty with thing like The Dreaded Skew Chisel or finishing etc. Please contact the shop or myself for details.
I am also available for woodturning demonstrations for WRI or Church Guilds etc and I have a small Selbix lathe, and stand that I can bring along with me, I would also bring along a small selection of my work for sale at such events.
I hope you enjoy my site and if I can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me.