Wood Turning with Keegan Watson
On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with North Wilkesboro-based woodworker Keegan Watson, founder of Handcrafted by Keegan. Keegan reflects on being exposed to “the construction side of woodworking” since he was just a kid, having grown up in a house “that was always being renovated.” It was in 2018 when he fell in love with woodturning after making his first cup using a friend’s lathe. “Within a week, I found an old machine on Craigslist, went and bought it, and I was off to the races.” Keegan goes on to show Carl a set of nesting bowls he created and explains the process that goes into making these bowls known as “coring”. He also talks about how he is able to keep his craft sustainable by sticking to local hardwoods, some of his favorites being cherry burl, maple, walnut, poplar, and ash. In creating long-lasting, heirloom pieces, Keegan refers to his works “functional art”. He says that his goal is the “preservation of the tree and giving it another chance in this world, because once it goes up in smoke, it’s gone.” In the latter half of the conversation, Keegan talks about fellow woodworkers he looks up to, what it is like to have collectors of his work, mentoring young aspiring woodworkers, and why he believes that he will continue to pursue his current path with passion into his old age.