Interview with Roger Bennett
One of our Chapter members pulled off a double this year, first the Guild prize at the RDS Crafts competition and then overall winner at the National Seminar in Belfast. He was good enough to come along to our Terenure meeting in October and describe his winning bowl, a gesture much appreciated by the audience. After that I had to go and meet him and discover more. The following is what I learned.

Editor: Roger Bennett is listed somewhere as a professional turner, how long have you been making a living from it and how did you get started?
Roger: After working as a secondary school teacher I took a career break in 1992 to learn more about turning having being exposed to it by that great teacher Tom Newman, in St.Tiernan's. Like others it was just a hobby at first but then I became interested in selling at craft fairs, mainly the Blackrock market. Here I quickly learned what people want to buy. Now well and truly bitten by the bug I enrolled in the 9 month Kilkenny Design and Development course where I was the first turner to do so. My mentor there was a furniture designer called Clive Nunn who also helped to give me confidence to try earning a living from the craft.
Ed: So are you working full time at turning now?
Roger: I have the best of two worlds really. In the mornings I cycle into town to teach English to foreign students and all afternoon I turn. That way I keep my teaching skills from getting too rusty and there's less chance of starving in case my specialised bowls go out of fashion.
Ed: Sounds great to me. Tell me more about your specialty and how you find customers.
Roger: Seeing Paul Clare, the UK craftsman, using colours on his turnings prompted me into trying it out too. I tend to stick to the smaller bowl, generally using quite green wood, usually sycamore which is cheap to obtain, stains easily, less prone to cracking and finishes well. I rough turn leaving it fairly thick and then dry in the microwave or air dry, finally turning to the desired thinness when ready. Most of my sales come from commissions and over the years I have established contacts which also help. Exhibiting at the regular RDS trade showcase assists greatly in keeping in touch with buyers.
Ed: Looking around your modest workshop I am impressed by what you can do with so little of the usual trappings beloved by most turners. Any comment?
Roger: No. That's how I am. I have two lathes; one for bowls only, a DST Educator Viceroy, which has the Axminster chuck that was my prize at the seminar. I have a Record 2 also and a jeweller's drill which I couldn't do without when it comes to embellishing with silver wire. Incidentally silver wire can be bought by the foot from NN Enterprises ,4/5 Eustace St, Dublin, in sizes 1/2mm to 3mm.
Ed: How do you get that wonderful finish on your bowls?
Roger: I use a water-based stain, always by Lieberon. I don't bother with sealer but instead apply four coats of Danish oil after the usual sanding, but refrain from sanding between coats.
Ed: Thanks for talking to your admirers and sharing your knowledge. We look forward to your demo at Terenure when you find the time.