The Memorial service for Dave Wright was held last Sunday. The Club was well represented; we counted 13 members present; well done.
The new chairs that most of you are sitting on have been bought with some of our Lottery grant.
During the marking of the competition items last month we understand that there was some discussion whether some items ‘qualified’ as a tazza. When setting the competition items we deliberately avoid detailed specifications to give as many people as possible the opportunity to enter; for example there was NO requirement that the tazza HAD to be made from more than one piece of wood. If you have any concerns about a competition item, please raise them with a Committee member, otherwise mark each entry as a piece of turning.
March
Those of you that didn’t come to the Andrew Hall demo day missed an excellent session. Andrew donated the pieces that he made to the Club and we will put them in the new display cabinet. We have bought a copy of Andrew’s notes and DVD on making a hat for the Club library so you can all have a go. There is wet holly and oak outside for you to buy, so wood should not be a problem.
Our new main lathe and bandsaw was delivered THIS MORNING and the lathe set up ready for tonight. We have also ordered a SuperNova chuck and extra jaws for use with our existing lathes, a Revolution chuck and jaws for the new lathe, and a Crown hollowing tool. We are looking into buying more dust extraction equipment, a couple of cordless drills, another video camera, a radio microphone, and three tables. Any other suggestions welcome.
We have arranged to rent a bit more space in the building to accommodate the new bandsaw, creating a sort of wood preparation area. We need to install a 20 amp supply for the bandsaw, and more sockets in the main area. Qualified electricians, please speak to Phil J.
Did you remember to bring a piece of wood to go into the draw ? Then you will get another piece of wood back from which to make your April competition entry. If you forgot to bring a piece you can always buy one from Club stock. I brought a couple of extra pieces.
The topic for the Club meeting this month is a demo by Bill Johnstone from Craftsman’s Supplies. Ian Dawson, Bill’s business partner, is in Australia – the lengths some people will go to avoid you lot !!!
The competition item is a natural edge bowl.
April
Next month the topic is a ‘Show and Tell’ evening at which YOU need to bring a favourite turning, home made chuck, jig or gadget and tell us about it. If you don’t bring anything it will be a short meeting !!
The competition item is whatever you manage to make from the chunk of wood you ‘won’ in the draw. The Club would like to keep all these entries for sale at future events. When judging these, members need to take the raw material into account.
May
Advance notice for probably our major event of the year over the Spring Fling weekend at the end of May. We have an advert for this in the Spring Fling brochure (20,000 copies) and in the May edition of The Bulletin which is delivered to every address in the Stewartry (12,730 copies).
Saturday 24 May. Full day demo by famous artistic turner Margaret Garrard.
Sunday 25 May, Monday 26 May. Watch, try and buy. This is for the public to come and see what woodturning is about, for us recruit new members, and make some money. We are planning . . . . . .
Demonstrations by Club members.
Have-a-go sessions, buy your piece of wood for £1 or £2 and make a dibber or bud vase, guided by an experienced turner. Everything provided.
Make a wooden ball point pen for £5, again with a bit of help.
Exhibition and Sale of Members work.
Display and information about the club.
A raffle on each of Sunday and Monday.
Tea/coffee and traybake available all day for £1.50.
We will need help from YOU for all of these. If you can only come for half of one of the days, that’s fine as we have split each day into morning and afternoon sessions. Phil H has a list of the opportunities so please come and talk to me.
We will need a few nice pieces to create a small exhibition of work; and lots of pieces to sell. These you can either donate all the proceeds to the Club, or we can sell on your behalf with the Club taking just a 20% commission. Everyone should be able to make at least one piece – exactly what is up to you. That way we should get a good range of items.
And finally . . .
The multi-sided diamond honing block has gone missing from the workshop. Several people have looked for it without success. Please would everyone have a look in their toolbox, bag, workshop etc. to see if it has been picked up by accident and return it ASAP.
Would everyone who emailed Roger about sanding arbours please do so again as the emails have gone missing.
hi, just had a look at bowl i took from work shop that had been have turned, please watch out it had wood worm in it , so i had to treet the wood, you dont want them in your woorkshop .thanks jake
The new lathe certainly got a good workout last night Bill Johnstone was cutting about 10mm @ times, certainly a meaty machine and so quiet, some members asked was it running,can’t wait to have a go. I want one!?. Checked my two bowls
Aok.
Hi, Checked the piece of wood I got, full of worms – have binned it
Yes, two out of four of ours are in the fire already. Just spent the last two hours deep-cleaning the workshop!
Judith