Hi! I'm Huw Davies

A bit about me

My love of making things with my hands started as a very young boy helping my father fix and build things for our family home. This love continued through my school years with me studying ‘O’ Levels in Woodwork, Metalwork and Technical Drawing and an ‘A’ Level in Design Technology.

My education in this field continued with 2 years, of a 3 year course, at college studying a B. Ed in Design Technology which I didn’t complete as I realised that being a teacher was not going to be my chosen career.

I did however end up teaching Silversmithing, at my old school, as a night class course for people who wanted to make jewellery and other projects in non-ferrous metals. I spent a very happy 2 years doing this, 2 nights a week, but had to give up the position due to moving away from the area.

Just over 40 years later having had 2 full knee replacement operations I found I had a lot of time on my hands during the recovery periods from these operations and took up Matchstick Modelling which could be done while sitting down while keeping my legs elevated, on doctors’ orders.

Having made a few models from kits bought on the internet I decided to make my own model designs and made scale models for family and friends of the musical instruments they played which included Guitars, a Harp, a Violin, a Banjo and a Baby Grand Piano. The piano was definitely a labour of love as it took over 200 hours to complete the scale model.

I wanted to take this further so bought a bandsaw, from a very old friend of mine Kevin and while spending the weekend at his home, spent most of that time in his workshop and made my first pen on his lathe.

I was hooked once again and very shortly afterwards bought my first lathe. Now on lathe Number 3, I still have lathe Number 2, and Workshop Number 2 I am able to do what I love once more.

I have been asked what is my favourite wood to use for turning. It is a very difficult question to answer as each wood has its own characteristics through grain patterns and turning qualities but if I had to choose one it would be the Rosewood family of woods as the colours and grain patterns never stop putting a smile on my face when turning and when the item is finished.