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October 2005 Program:
Fred Denke


"Which is Better: The Gouge or the Skew?"

For our October Demonstrator Fred Denke will talk about his process in learning to turn wood. This will include the lessons he used in developing turning skills. The demo will include turning a recipe holder using the Skew and a weed-pot using the side grind half-inch bowl gouge.

Fred Denke retired on January 1, 1999 from work as an engineer in the aircraft industry. He grew up on a farm in central Texas near Waco. As a farmers son working with wood was part of farm chores. This work let him use woodworking tools at an early age. In his adult years he continued to do woodworking using hand tools and a nine-inch table saw. This woodworking led to the curiosity of woodturning, so after retirement and buying a medium size lathe he was a woodturner.

Fred has led two AAW Collaborative Projects. The Coffee Grinder presented at the 2005 Symposium in Kansas City, KA and the Dirigible presented at the 2000 AAW Symposium in Charlotte, NC.

Fred Denke

He has attended several "Texas-Turn-or-Two" and SWAT symposiums. He has spent a week at Arrowmont with David Ellsworth as the instructor. He also has attended all day hands on with Lyle Jamison, Stew Batty, Michael Hosaluk and Jacques Vesary.

Revised January 27, 2006