About the Contest

The Spring 2005 AAW Forum woodturning contest was just held. Congratulations to Mike Schwing the first contest winner. This was the first turning contest held on the AAW forums. The theme of the contest was wood platters...inline with the theme of the Spring 2005 AW Journal platter article. There were 13 entries in the contest. The platter contest details and the rules are listed here The entries and overall results are listed here

If you want to enter the next contest, watch for the contest announcement in the AAW forums

About Mike in his own words

My name is Mike Schwing. I live in Baltimore, Maryland, and have been here all of my 39 years. (my wife says I'll never leave) I've been employed by the Social Security Administration for about 15 years, and my other hobbies include triathlon, skeet shooting, and water skiing.

I got my start in woodworking as a boy refinishing mahogany and teak brightwork on my Dad's boats, where I learned the fine art of wetsanding. Later on my father and I rebuilt a couple of award winning smaller boats, including a Mako and a Ski Nautique. My Dad taught me, among other things, not only how to pay attention to detail, but why it is important, too.

I spent a few years making furniture and other things that required a square before buying a lathe to turn a single round pedestal table leg. That was the last piece of furniture I built. The past 3 years have found me concentrating on wood turning and more recently on carving, too. I have recently begun working with color and the platter pictured was my first attempt at applying color to a turning.

Maple Burl Platter by Mike Schwing
dimensions xyz abc
Finish - sprayed w/ translucent red airbrush colors, gilt varnish, and many coats of lacquer. Rubbed to a very high gloss. click here for bigger picture

("About Mike" continued)
Most of my work these days combines turning and carving, and people say they always find an enjoyable sense of whimsy and humor in my recent work. I really like the idea that people might smile or even chuckle when they see my creations.

Woodturning has been an extremely enjoyable endeavor for me and my hope is that one day when I'm long gone one of the gents on the Antiques Roadshow will fawn over one of my pieces as a valuable item.

Most of my recent work can be seen at www.schwingwoodworks.com