1 June, 2012 10:46AM AEST

Retired farmer branches out into woodwork

A group in Dubbo are taking local timbers from woodland to workshop - and having fun and raising money along the way.

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Retirement has given former farmer Harold Woodley a fresh opportunity to create beautiful and practical things.

He was given a wood lathe for his 60th birthday, and has spent the last 20 years working with timber, as part of the Dubbo Woodturning and Woodcraft Club.

"We can make bowls, or pens, anything with wood, not only lathe work but also carpentry. I have made my family enough woodwork now to keep them going for their rest of their lives," Harold laughs.

"The club does have the opportunity two or three times a year to sell their goods, we go to the shopping centres for a week and sell our goods, and that's practically the only way the club can really make any money."

Mr Woodley says it's very gratifying to see someone willing to part with cash for something you've made.

"You can't cost your time out in hours or anything like that, you just have to accept what the people are prepared to give you, but it's very rewarding.

"If you're a competent wood turner you could make a small bowl in an hour. Then there are lamps and things which need a little bit more expertise, they take longer, and of course the finishing is a very important aspect of it too."

The club covers all forms of woodwork, from carving to furniture making. Then there are lathes, like the one Harold was given that started his hobby.

"It rotates the wood, and you use wood chisels - we have lots of sorts of chisels - to make that spinning wood into all sorts of things. It's called spindle work."

Mr Woodley says having a practical bent is always helpful in woodwork, but if you do strike a problem you can't fix yourself there are plenty of other people in the club who can sort you out.

"We have professional tradesmen in the club, and they're very helpful to we people who don't have any professional training. That's a very good aspect of the club, that we have a number of tradesmen who can teach us the right and wrong way to do things."

Harold says the club is also a social outlet.

"We meet up at the shed in Cobra Street every Wednesday morning, and anybody who wants to go can potter around and have a cup of coffee. We're all retired men, and we enjoy each other's company and playing with wood."