Toolmaking skill allows woodturner Mark Damron to design projects that otherwise might be impossible to create. Mr. Damron is full of surprises. Meet him on the street and you might never guess what really drives him. A big man who speaks plainly, Mr. Damron is a toolmaker and machinist by trade, but working on the lathe is his passion. His toolmaking skills are broad & deep, and that makes Mark somewhat unusual because he relies on these skills for most turning projects he attempts. This allows him to solve problems by building custom tools that meet his needs. Yet there is more to Mark than technical prowess. Mark is also possessed with a driving creative insight, which he is often too modest to acknowledge.
If you spend any time at all with Mark, you quickly conclude that he has his own unique vision. His desire to break from tradition runs irrepressibly deep within him. Mark’s work is a reflection of all of this — and from my perspective, this sure makes him fun to watch. His large-scale, stack ring laminated vessels are but one example. In turning these pieces, Mark depends on several custom tools designed to hold the tight tolerances that are needed to extrude tall, grain-matched vessels from massive turning blanks of highly figured wood. Thin walls, large pieces, and fragile rings combine for some scary turning. But Mark is sure-footed. And in the end, the results are spectacular. (7 Minute Video)
Comments
Mark has been very supportive of me as a “learning turner”. I met him at Woodcraft and have been very impressed with the pieces he has shared with me. This site was introduced to me by a mutual friend of ours, Art Roffe, and I am quickly becoming a real fan of it.
I’m fairly new to wood turning, this is a great site for learning the processes of wood turning. Thanks and keep up the good work. Thanks Bob
I’ve been working wood for 45 years now, and its still a learning process. I just got back into turning, and watching your video’s has been a great inspiration. Look forward to seeing new techniques that I can put to use. Thanks.
Mark is my brother, and I am so very proud of him. We are all a family of being creative. I thank my parents for that. I helped my Dad build the house we grew up in. My other brother also has his own business. I am driven to create. I want to eventually open up my own wellness center, and I want to have an area of “Green” woodturning projects made by Mark. His work really needs to be in a gallery.
Mark, your pieces are stunning! And your analytical skills are amazing. It’s a real treat to those of us who get to watch you and learn.
Thanks,
Steve Stewart
Beautiful work Mark. You’re work should be in a gallery. Question? How can I laminate wood together and cut it, so I can make a barber pole? Thanks Garvin
Keith’s Note: I’ll pass your question on the Mark for him to pipe in.
Thanks Garvin, I appreciate it.
A barber pole would definitly be a new challange for me to figure out, especially With the spiral configuration. If you could contact me through my website, I will try to figure it out for you.
Again, thanks Mark
Mark,
I love your thoughts on creativity, and bringing your mind, heart, and hands into your work.
I’ll be taking alot of what you’ve taught here into various areas of my life and business.
Thanks,
Matt Hegedus
I am doing an historic restoration and need to duplicate 4 reeded 1/2 round columns that are 2X1 X 69″ in red oak along with the “tops and “bottoms,” which i will send pictures of when the time comes. Can you help?
Keith’s Note: The best advise I can give is watch the video. This is a great way to learn this particular method.
Great quote in here, “…there’s a lot of people out there that are amazing woodturners, but if you’re always looking at those people and what they create, you’ll never create what comes from your heart and your mind.”
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