Featured Woodworker Steve Nathan - His Woodturning and Other Woodworking Projects

Steve Nathan has graduated quickly to new levels in the world of woodturning.
A complete novice, not long ago, he now teaches classes in turning pens.
The one thing that has remained steady is his ongoing interest in woodworking.

Steve is a Maintenance Engineer for one of the casinos in Las Vegas and is classified as a stove expert. But, he will tell you his best background for woodworking came during his career as a "Supa" in New York. He is a third generation Building Superintendent, and he says that is a perfect training ground for a woodworker. You have to be able to do it all, and when a resident would ask him "Can you do this or that?" he would say "We have the technology." That's the philosophy that he brings to learning new skills in woodworking. The picture to the left is taken inside his shop which has a strong resemblance to a Supa's place of business.

We first met Steve at a meeting of the Las Vegas Woodturners Association and one of the first things we noticed about him was his sense of humor. He laughingly replied when asked what was the best preparation for becoming a woodworker, "Find a wife who makes a lot of money!" He's done that alright. His wife Gayle is a successful attorney who aspires to the bench as a judge.
Gayle and Steve have two daughters who were the inspiration for many of Steve's woodworking projects. He's built his share of doll cradles and rocking chairs, but has completed two large projects......a swing set and combination fort.
Steve's addiction to woodworking has put him in touch with the cost of this love and it gives rise to his next advice for beginning woodworkers. "Don't come to Las Vegas to be a woodworker. Live where the wood is!"

Steve actually started turning pens about 7 years ago. Part of his attraction to turning pens is the variety of highly figured wood that lends itself to making pens. Just to the right are three samples of beautifully detailed pens that Steve crafts. The top most pen is turned from Buckeye Burl which is one of Steve's favorites.
He deliberately styles his pens to fit comfortably in the hand without cramping the fingers when used extensively. And he likes their finish to be smooth as glass, using Mylands Friction Polish as his finish of choice.
On page 3 of this article you will find pictures and more about the classes in turning pens that Steve teaches at Woodworkers Emporium here in Las Vegas. He's come a long way in both his turning and teaching abilities since he began 7 years ago.
Steve has a Delta Ironbed Lathe, but wants to trade up to a Jet or Vicmarc Bowl Turner. And a high speed rotary carver would be nice for adding detail he believes. A typical woodworker, he now needs bigger and better woodworking equipment to accomodate all the new projects he has begun producing. On the next page, you'll see more of Steve's work.

GO TO PAGE 2 - STEVE NATHAN'S WORK