Dale Nish, one of the world’s most influential woodturners, teachers and writers, died yesterday in Provo, Utah.
Nish taught woodworking at Brigham Young University for 28 years, until his retirement in 1995. He’s the author of several landmark books on turning including “Creative Woodturning” and “Artistic Woodturning,” and of many magazine articles and columns. In 1979, he was a founding member of the Utah Woodworking Symposium, which he directed for 19 years.
His signature work involved turning bowls from flawed wood, particularly wormy ash.
Below, to help celebrate his contribution to the craft, download step-by-step instruction from Nish on turning decorative birdhouse ornaments, an article he wrote for our December 2004 issue.
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
The entire wood turning world as we know it today owes its existence to Dale, one can’t pick up a bowl gouge without a smile coming to your face in remembrance of him.
Thank you Dale for your wit, artistry and humor…we miss you already. Don’t forget to sharpen your tool-rest and place it close to the blank.
-Tom
I was fortunate to be able to attend one of Dale’s demos 2 years ago when he was in St. Paul at the AAW Symposium. Very enjoyable. He will be missed.