![My Video Shoot at Conover Workshops](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/turning-video-blog-lead.jpg)
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Getting Started in Woodturning
My latest adventure in woodworking took me to Conover Workshops, in Parkman, Ohio. This proved to be another gem of a place for those interested in woodworking. My friend, and the Publisher of Woodworker’s Journal, Rob Johnstone and I headed there to shoot a new turning DVD with the charming and sweet Ernie Conover. It was a great experience to work with Ernie in his beautiful shop and pick his brain a bit about historic woodworking tools and practices.
![beads-and-coves-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/beads-and-coves-2.jpg)
![Ernie's-Shop-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/Ernies-Shop-2.jpg)
Ernie knows a lot about turning because his family is responsible for designing and fabricating the Conover lathe. Therefore, I learned a few new turning tricks during filming to add to my tool bag. The DVD we filmed is an all encompassing run-down on how to get started turning on the lathe. We covered everything from safety, spindle turning, face-plate turning, necessary turning tools, sharpening, and of course finishing. The video crew were all pretty new to the world of turning, so they all learned a lot and got more interested as the filming progressed.
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![supporting-work-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/supporting-work-2.jpg)
The shop was full of generations of heirloom tools that could make someone with even a slight interest in historic tools drool (see photos of many of his tools at the bottom of this post). I saw everything from a saw vice to a giant tap and die for wood (photo below). I added an automatic center punch and a bit brace (photo below) to my Christmas list! Of course I saw many other interesting tools that would be nice to have, but those are the two that I’m anxious to add to my shop and use.
![tapanddie-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/tapanddie-2.jpg)
![brace-bit-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/brace-bit-2.jpg)
This part of Ohio experiences the lake effect which brings plenty of snow in mid-November. It was beautiful because it was the kind of snow that sticks to the trees and almost gives them a new shape. The rolling hills and forests mixed with farmland were absolutely gorgeous every morning on our short commute to the shop.
![guinea-fowl-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/guinea-fowl-2.jpg)
Ernie’s wife, Susan, added fun and interest to the visit too. She creates gorgeous weavings. Her Swedish inspired linen designs intertwine quality and beauty to perfection! Susan’s studio and Ernie’s woodshop are set-up pretty perfectly for their respective mediums. They know how to host a lovely meal or two as well.
![beauty-shot-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/beauty-shot-2.jpg)
![ernie-shop-panarama](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/ernie-shop-panarama.jpg)
![three-musketeers-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/three-musketeers-2.jpg)
More of Ernie’s tool collection:
![plane-collection-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/plane-collection-2.jpg)
![tiny-clamps-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/tiny-clamps-2.jpg)
![dreamy-marking-gauge-2](https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/dreamy-marking-gauge-2.jpg)
I hope to get to Conover Workshops again before too long. It was a nice to get away for some woodworking, learning, and talking about one of the things I love—woodturning.
Keep checking back to learn about my next adventure in woodworking!
Order your copy of
Getting Started in Woodturning
Kimberly McNeelan has been a woodworker for about 14 years. She’s been coast to coast and beyond studying different woodworking techniques, learning from various masters, and working on a wide array of projects. Read more of Kimberly’s latest adventures.
Follow Kimberly on Instagram at ksm_woodworker