How to make $7,600 per hour with your lathe! *

The picture is Cindy Drozda (web site) after making one of her signature lidded boxes in about 90 min. Let me try to explain the process in less than 100 words: Chuck dry, end-grain holly and part 1" base (tail) from 2" lid (head). Slightly hollow lid. Add center jewel and two beads inside. Finish with coarse(!) 400 grit and neutral Kiwi. Chuck base. Turn 1/4" mesquite with only tail stock pressure. Edge-glue mesquite into base groove. Part center mesquite plug out for foot. Make "L" in mesquite ring to fit lid. Install lid, tape it, and turn finial. Pull out Kiwi-finished finial lid. Hollow and shape base. Jam-chuck base on waste block. Glue mesquite plug onto base tenon and turn foot. Engrave signature with Dremmel. Finish with Kiwi. Sell at auction for $11,400. Simple, huh?

(* Ed.: I think there may be something about her reputation as a woodturner that attracts this much attention to Cindy's work.  The piece auctioned at the 2006 AAW Symposium in Louisville may have taken her more than 90 minutes.  The piece in the picture is not the piece in the auction.)