Meet Dave
Dave or David Pratt to give me my Sunday name. I started turning as an engineering apprentice in the 1970’s operating Ward capstan lathes and turning a range of ferrous, and non ferrous metals as well as resin compressed fabrics, leather and wood to make bearing blocks and oilers for agricultural machinery, then the world changed and a move to the office eventually resulted in running a professional training company for some 30 years, training people all over the world.
I had aways had a love of working with wood, that love had been inherited from Jack, my father who was a trained wheelwright and joiner, I still have one piece of his work that I need to repurpose for his grand children.
In 2015 I rediscovered turning and acquired a small Sealy lathe, I was “infected” by the bug, developing my skills quickly I out grew the lathe’s capacity, from there to a NOVA DVR and big turning commenced with bowls up to 20’ diameter, during 2020 in the middle of Covid I acquired my Killinger lathe, now that is an incredible beast and lovely to use.
I am a member of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain and and approved AWGB instructor. Also Chairperson of our local wood club, Wherry Woodturners which has been set up as a charity to further the skills of woodturning in Norfolk, you can find out more of the Club’s activities by clicking this link.
In my journey I have been fortunate to draw inspiration and knowledge from some great turners (so you could say this is all their fault), those people include, but not limited too; Shaun Clifford, Mick Hanbury, Kevern Dewick, John Jordan, Darren Breeze, Stewart Furini, Chris Parker and the Queen of the Gonks, Emma Cook to name but a few.
