This is Alistair,
He has been coming to me to learn a new Skill one evening a week as part of his DoE Silver award.
Then he asked if he could do his work experience week with me. Well I think there is a difference between learning and working, so I set him the task of turning a dozen stair spindles during the week. Okay so they are only the turned part, not full length I did not think he could handle the vibration. They took him 4 days, not fast but it was not about speed, it was about doing the job and learning to repeat turn. The 'Storyboard' he used is shown below the spindles.
At first he was not sure how he was doing but on Thursday morning I told him he was better with a Skew than many amateur turners, they don't even like to pick it up, let along use it and turn a set of spindles, but it really is his tool of choice.
These are an 'Off the Tool' finish, no sanding was done, close examination of the photo may show vibration induced chatter marks, torn grain and damaged pommels so please don't mark him down for that.
I also have a second young lad who comes on a different evening, this is my way of giving back to the world of turning and hopefully bringing in new blood or at least future turners if they come back to it when they are somewhat older.
For anyone interested in doing the same for young people who want to learn, Public Liability Insurance is a must but for the Work Experience Week, I also had to take out Employers Liability which was a very reasonable £30.80, which in all honesty was covered by his parents.
C&C as you will and thanks for looking.