Thanks Russ Fairfield

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Dario

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Apr 14, 2005
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Austin, TX, USA.
A few years back, the turning bug bit me.

Before my 1st lathe was ordered or any tools for that matter, I did an extensive search online for tips regarding turning. Learned a lot about eqpt, tools, accs, finishing, etc. I visited multiple turning club sites and found various turning forums.

I wasn't into pens then but found Russ' finishing secrets and read it (several times). Later on when I decided to make pens...Russ' wooden pen tutorial popped up again and to this date I have both bookmarked and actually printed for reference. I do go back to review the finishing article every now and then.

You won't know how ellated I was when I learned that he is a member of IAP and responded to a question I made (a few posts back ;)). Made me feel proud actually to be a member of a forum that Russ is in also.

I don't know about others but for me, I haven't thanked Russ enough for his generousity sharing his knowledge and time to help both newbies and seasoned turners alike.

Russ...THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!!!
 
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That's who I learned pen turning from.

The two people that influenced me the most are

Bill Grumbine (I was turning less than a week when I took a lesson from him)
and our Russ Fairfield.

Russ has more than once critiqued my pieces and has helped me greatly move forward with my skill. More than once he asked me "Why the heck did you do it that way" Then he would offer a better way.

I'm also a proud owner of two of his pieces
russfairfieldtoronsardo.jpg

BTW the goblet is around 1/32" <s>thick</s> thin and the hollow form is not much thicker
 
I'll join this bandwagon. My son and I took a penturning class at WC with his Cub Scout Den and we were hooked. Same story as Dario's...found Russ's site before I even had a lathe. Russ...thank you for all the time and effort you put into your tutorial pages. I don't think you have any real idea how many turners (old and new) you've helped!
 
I'll second, third, fourth what ever, all of the above. Russ's sight has been tremendously helpfull to me. His finishing video should be required viewing for all new pen turners.
 
I was reading Russ' website before I turned my first pen. I learned a lot by reading and re-reading his tutorials.
For some reason, my work doesn't look as good as his, but I keep tryin' anyway [;)]
Thanks Russ.
 
Remember that old TV ad "My broker is EF Hutton, and EF Hutton says...."?

I look at Russ' posts in that way!

Those of you who don't remember that old ad ask Ed or Gerry to explain it. [}:)]
 
Almost 3 years ago, i'm browsing the internet, making a search with google about wood hobby, just for fun. I add never turned, or even see a lathe in my life. Then, a nice site , all green with a tutorial about a "russline" pen. Started to read, reread, browse the site, back to the tutorial........

3 weeks later, my lathe came in with all the stuff needed. Went back to Russ's site, read, try, read again, try, read more carefully, try and...............

My wife still proudly carry my first "Russline" pen in her purse.

Now, i'm in the major leage, doing barons, emperors, churchills and big stuff, like a pro but every once in a while, i pick a nice blank, a slimline kit and make a "Russline" pen, just to remember all the joy i add when i finished my first one. And you know what, i always have the same feeling of pride and acheivement. Yes, i learned a lot more since then specially in this forum but the basic and the passion came from you.

Thanks Russ, you are responsible for that because you made it look so simple that i did beleive i could do it and i did it.

And as a matter of fact, i'm eading for my shop, i'm going to make a pen and send it to you. It probably won't be at your level but what will be in it is a part of you.

Thanks Russ

Alfred
 
I've bopped around his pages a bit and been impressed and learned a lot. A while back I watched one of his finishing videos and had my first successful CA finish. (I need to watch again because I haven't had what I would call a good CA finish since.)

Tonight I went back over and viewed a few more pages and had an idea.


How about we have a Russ-Line Contest in appreciation for all he does? Is there any interest? Russ - would you be the judge if folks are interested?

We could have a single blank category, alternative "band" category, segmented category, and artistic expression category.
 
It must have been 15 years ago when I started squirreling wood away which I thought would make nice pens. Sometime between then and now, but before this site was born, I stumbled on his web site, ordered his VHS tape (!!) and proceeded to turn perfectly good wood into chips, leaving enough of them on the lathe to make a pen.

If it had not been for Russ and his web site and tape, I probably would not have gotten the bug when I did. With timing being everything, as they say, I would not have found Y! Penturners, and stumbled upon Scott Greaves, and had the bright idea to build a site like this.

So, just to be clear, without Russ, this site would not be here. I'm sure of that.

Want to read the post on Y! that started it all?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/penturners/message/39173
 
Originally posted by ericw95
<br />

How about we have a Russ-Line Contest in appreciation for all he does? Is there any interest? Russ - would you be the judge if folks are interested?

We could have a single blank category, alternative "band" category, segmented category, and artistic expression category.
Click to expand...

I really like this idea. I recal Russ behing deceived about the pen in the hat. He always sent his pen but never received any. We could send him our entries in the contest so he could judge them from close. This could build him a nice "Russline" collection[:D]. If this goes on, i'll put in a 20-25 blank assortment from my stack, plus a few pen kits as one of the prize.

Alfred
 
You folks are giving me way too much credit. There are a whole bunch of other people out there who have made this a collective contribution to the advancement of pen turning.

I like the idea of the single theme contest, but not my being the judge, jury, and executioner. Besides being too close to the topic and way too opinionated to make a fair judgement, we will be on the road in the motorhome most of the time this summer. Internet access on the road is still not what it is claimed to be, at least not where we are going, and that would make processing entries a difficult task. The other problem would be with mailed entries - I would hate to have the neighbor kids handling all of the package mail.

A few suggestions ---

Why not make this an Official IAP contest with an entry fee, $5 or whatever, to be donated to the IAP funds? That would make it a worthwhile effort, and also pay tribute to the IAP for all of this happening. After all, I would still be an unknown penturner in the wilds of North Idaho were it not for this IAP site.

So, let's have the contest and I will offer to help where and when I can, but I will not be the judge. Someone else will have to do that. I will donate a video that includes making this pen as one of the general prizes.

I will also offer to make a "Russ's Choice" from all of the entries. This one would be my pick because I liked it the best, and it would have nothing to do with whatever the contest judges decided to award. The prize would be the latest version of the "Russ Line" pen like the one in this photo, but with a more figured wood. It is a closed end/closed cap/recessed clip, or CE/CC/RC for those who prefer to speak in code.

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2006121104456_DSC01126E.jpg
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