Kyle Murphy
Member
- Messages
- 129
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
Dear All,
It has been almost four years since I last posted. However, I thought it would be good to update on my activities, or lack thereof. Through the introduction of Stu Ablett I joined family woodworking about ten years ago. I am a wanna be woodturner.
With Stu’s able guidance I set up a wood shop at our mountain home near Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko). Then I ran into a series of medical setbacks. So, woodturning was not a priority. My Lathe (Nova DVR), powermatic bandsaw , and drill press all set idle and literally rusting(shop was/is damp). So, I sold all my machines to a young upcoming woodturner. However, I did not give up my dream of being an “artistic” wood turner.
this is my silver lining of the pandemic. Since I am 73 and not the healthiest ( but definitely one of the best looking) I did not want to be exposed to the virus. So, we retreated to the mountains. There was a lot of gardening, etc that needed to be done , including some very large trees (cedar) overhanging our house.
So, my wife called the local senior center. This is an NGO, non profit, where retired senior (60+) register and work. We discussed with them and they introduced us to Yabe San, a retired gardne, we spent over a week trimming trees and generally making our place look less like a rundown abandoned house into something presentable. Also, they introduced us to Miura San, an arborist (lumberman), 72, who spent most of his working life on the sides of steep Japanese mountains harvesting trees.
So,Miura San shows up with a team of three, his 90 year old father, who is almost deaf, his grandson and his friend, another arborist. Since some of the trees were on our neighbor‘s property they got the appropriate permissions. Amazing to watch them work. First, they placed salt at the base of each tree to placate the tree’s spirits and then over the next few days the offending tree were safely removed. During this process we discussed with the senior center and Miura San if it would be possible to trim the trees blocking our view of the lake? Well, they were friends with the owner of these trees which are Hinoki, a very valuable tree. They grow very straight and tall. They went to the owner and he gave permission for us to trim the trees. This is something he should have been doing anyway. He got it done for free! But, it was well worth it.
during this process they realized I love wood. Since then they have brought me Japanese Maple, Chestnut, and my next door neighbors white birch. Then one day they showed up with a log about 1.5 m long and 60 cm in diameter. Gorgeous wood. But, I did not have the capability to mill it into planks? So, I called my resident Guru, Stu. I remembered he had a portable mill. So, yesterday he spent the day at my house milling the yew log. So, now, I have two years to develop the woodworking skill to make something beautiful with that wood. Hopefully, I can attach some pictures. Below are pictures of Yabe San, Miura San up in the trees without safety gear, and Stu and I. Best wishes, Kyle ( my apologies for some of the pictures being rotated no idea why and even less on how to correct)
It has been almost four years since I last posted. However, I thought it would be good to update on my activities, or lack thereof. Through the introduction of Stu Ablett I joined family woodworking about ten years ago. I am a wanna be woodturner.
With Stu’s able guidance I set up a wood shop at our mountain home near Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko). Then I ran into a series of medical setbacks. So, woodturning was not a priority. My Lathe (Nova DVR), powermatic bandsaw , and drill press all set idle and literally rusting(shop was/is damp). So, I sold all my machines to a young upcoming woodturner. However, I did not give up my dream of being an “artistic” wood turner.
this is my silver lining of the pandemic. Since I am 73 and not the healthiest ( but definitely one of the best looking) I did not want to be exposed to the virus. So, we retreated to the mountains. There was a lot of gardening, etc that needed to be done , including some very large trees (cedar) overhanging our house.
So, my wife called the local senior center. This is an NGO, non profit, where retired senior (60+) register and work. We discussed with them and they introduced us to Yabe San, a retired gardne, we spent over a week trimming trees and generally making our place look less like a rundown abandoned house into something presentable. Also, they introduced us to Miura San, an arborist (lumberman), 72, who spent most of his working life on the sides of steep Japanese mountains harvesting trees.
So,Miura San shows up with a team of three, his 90 year old father, who is almost deaf, his grandson and his friend, another arborist. Since some of the trees were on our neighbor‘s property they got the appropriate permissions. Amazing to watch them work. First, they placed salt at the base of each tree to placate the tree’s spirits and then over the next few days the offending tree were safely removed. During this process we discussed with the senior center and Miura San if it would be possible to trim the trees blocking our view of the lake? Well, they were friends with the owner of these trees which are Hinoki, a very valuable tree. They grow very straight and tall. They went to the owner and he gave permission for us to trim the trees. This is something he should have been doing anyway. He got it done for free! But, it was well worth it.
during this process they realized I love wood. Since then they have brought me Japanese Maple, Chestnut, and my next door neighbors white birch. Then one day they showed up with a log about 1.5 m long and 60 cm in diameter. Gorgeous wood. But, I did not have the capability to mill it into planks? So, I called my resident Guru, Stu. I remembered he had a portable mill. So, yesterday he spent the day at my house milling the yew log. So, now, I have two years to develop the woodworking skill to make something beautiful with that wood. Hopefully, I can attach some pictures. Below are pictures of Yabe San, Miura San up in the trees without safety gear, and Stu and I. Best wishes, Kyle ( my apologies for some of the pictures being rotated no idea why and even less on how to correct)
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The gentleman with the hard hat in the third photo is wearing some interesting boots. I've never seen work boots with the big toe separate from the rest.
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