Author Archives: Phil Howard

Notices – March 2015

Items additional to the printed Notices from the Club meeting on 10 March are in BOLD type.

This month we are delighted to welcome Record Power who are going to demonstrate ‘bandsaw setup and maintenance’. Dave Biven, who supplied our new Jet lathes and bandsaw at very competitive prices, is also here with a range of ‘stuff’ for you to buy. Should be an interesting evening.

The competition item is listed on the Programme as ‘A carpet bowls jack and two bowls’. However it has been pointed out that carpet bowls doesn’t actually use a jack! What we mean is simply one small ball, approximately 2 inches diameter and two matching larger balls, each approximately 3 inches diameter.

The Wood of the Month is Monkey Puzzle.

The professional demo planned for this Saturday, 14 March, by Nikos Siragas has had to be cancelled as his wife is unwell and he will not be making the planned trip to the UK. Anyone who has already paid for a ticket will get a full refund from the Treasurer.

We will be holding a Chainsaw Workshop on the afternoon of Saturday 21 March from 1pm to 4pm. We’ve got Andrew back from the excellent demonstration we had last November on chainsaw maintenance and use, so bring along your chainsaw and PPE and get some practical guidance on using it safely and efficiently and keeping it in good working condition. Members only, no charge but donations will be very welcome and will go to pay Andrew’s expenses.

Our friends at Border Woodturners are hosting a demonstration by Richard Kennedy on Sunday 22 March, 10am to 4pm as usual. Have a look at Richard’s superb work on his web site www.bolegallery.com. Members of Galloway Woodturners will be charged the same as Border members, £6, lunch is available for only £2. If you decide to go please give Brian Conchie a ring on 01387 265608 first, just so that he can ensure you get some lunch !! 

April

The topic next month is ‘Chucks, jaws and their uses’. The competition item is something turned AND carved; the Wood of the Month is Walnut.

We are holding an Auction of woodturning and wood working tools and equipment on Saturday 18 April, with viewing in the morning and the sale in the afternoon. This will be a regular open bid auction, not the silent type that we ran last year. The Club will take a 20% commission on the hammer price of items sold; but will not charge anything to buyers. Anything you want to sell must be here at the Workshop by April 11 so that we can prepare the catalogue. If you need a hand shifting large items we may be able to help; speak to Rolf. Anyone can enter items in the sale so please mention the sale to family and friends who may have items to get rid of.

Turning Tuesdays

As Turning Tuesdays are busy these days by all means bring your own chuck and tools along to avoid disappointment. Our lathe spindles are two each of ¾” x 16, 1” x 8, and M33 x 3.5; plus we have a number of inserts and exerts to suit.

At the Committee Meeting last Tuesday, we decided to buy another Patriot chuck (with a free Stebcentre) and one of the new Record SC4 chucks. Hopefully Dave Biven has brought the chucks with him tonight so they will be available next Turning Tuesday. This means that all five of the Club lathes will have a chuck available; we do not own the other lathe, it is just on loan to us and the owner could ask for it back.

We have also bought a pyrography unit for Club use.

We also wondered if there was any interest in having the Workshop open at other times. We did try opening on Monday evenings last year but that wasn’t popular. Available days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, possibly Saturday morning. Have a think about this then Phil J will ask around during coffee break. If you have a strong view either way, please have a word with Phil; don’t wait to be asked.

And finally . . .

For the information of anyone who wasn’t here last month, we have introduced a ‘New Turners’ section separate from the Main section of the Competition. The two sections will be run as follows:-

 

  • the competition item will be the same for both sections
  • the two sections will be displayed on separate tables
  • each member may enter 1 item per month
  • the member decides which section to enter
  • members will assess each section separately
  • results will be published separately
  • at the end of the year there will be a separate prize for New Turners
  • the winner may be encouraged to enter the Main section in subsequent years!

So you don’t have an excuse for not having a go at making the Competition item – just do it !

As listed on the back of your Programme, the Club is attending three events this year at which we will be demonstrating and selling YOUR work. Therefore we will need LOTS of items especially for the Kirkcudbright Tollbooth in August which we have for over two weeks.

There are a couple of articles in the December 2014 issue of Revolutions, the AWGB magazine, that you should read and think carefully about. Copies are available in the Workshop.

Club member Robert Irving, who has been a wonderful supporter of this Club, is in hospital and not very well. Our thoughts are with Christine, Keith and family.

New section in Club Competition

The Club originally decided to organise a monthly Competition to encourage members to actually make things and to have a go at items that they may not think of making otherwise.In 2014 only 20 members entered at least one item into the Competition; this is considerably less than half the membership. It may be that some members are put off from entering by their perception of the standard of other entries.

In order to encourage participation, for 2015 the Club will introduce a section called ‘New Turners’ separate from the Main section of the Competition.

How it will work

the competition item will be the same for both sections

  • the two sections will be displayed on separate tables
  • each member may enter 1 item per month
  • member decides which section to enter
  • members will assess each section separately
  • results will be published separately
  • at the end of the year there will be a separate prize for New Turners
  • the winner may be encouraged to enter the Main section in subsequent years !

 

Galloway Woodturners Committee December 2014

Notices – December 2014

At the AGM we asked you to help out with the running of the Club and take a bit of the load off the Committee.

We STILL need :-

One or two people to take charge of Refreshments on Club nights and Turning Tuesdays, bringing the milk, buying coffee/tea/biscuits as required, keeping the kitchen, mugs etc. clean and tidy.

One or two people to take charge of our audio/visual kit, setting up the cameras and screens, microphone and speakers, and acting as camera persons.

Potential volunteers, please speak to any Committee member. If these roles remain empty we face the real possibility of no video and/or refreshments at a future meeting – it’s up to you.

December

The topic this month is ‘Scoops and spoons’ with Phil J and the final competition item for 2014 is a set of at least 4 (four) drinks coasters. The Wood of the Month is Laburnum.

January

Note that there is NO CLUB MEETING IN JANUARY. Turning Tuesdays will continue, apart from 30 December.

And finally . . .

After the talk on chainsaws last month, we wondered if members would be interested in a hands-on Chainsaw Workshop session with the same tutor. Bring your own saws along, check them over, sharpen the chain, cut some wood. Tell any Committee member tonight if you want the Club to arrange this.

Programme cards for 2015 are available tonight. Several members commented during the year ‘Oh, I don’t read the Programme’. If you were one of those then don’t take a copy, otherwise please do. Two dates in May need to be corrected, should be Saturday 23 and Sunday 24. The version on our web site is correct.

Subscriptions are now overdue, if you’ve not paid yours please pay Phil J tonight. It is the same as last year, just £25. We don’t want to have to ask you to pay the Visitor’s fee of £3.

The Committee is meeting tomorrow evening – if you want to raise any matter, speak to any Committee member tonight.

Centre Saver

Assuming Roland brings the big burr that he is working on, and we can complete the preparations, we may be able to have a go with the Kel McNaughton centre saver system next Tuesday, the 25 November. So if you want to see it in action – come to Turning Tuesday !

Notices November 2014

At the AGM we asked you to help out with the running of the Club and take a bit of the load off the Committee. Some roles have been filled :-

Elwin Campbell will act as Minutes Secretary to take Committee Meeting Minutes when Roger is absent. Peter Fitzgerald and Andrew Rattnam will run the Club Shop. John (Jake) Twiname will join the Committee.

Many thanks to them. Other roles are still needed :-

A Membership person to help Phil J maintain the membership records.

One or two people to take charge of Refreshments on Club nights and Turning Tuesdays, bringing the milk, buying coffee/tea/biscuits as required, keeping the kitchen, mugs etc. clean and tidy.

One or two people to take charge of our audio/visual kit, setting up the cameras and screens, microphone and speakers, and acting as camera persons.

Potential volunteers, please speak to any Committee member.

It was excellent to see Galloway well represented at the Border Woodturners Open Day and Inter Club Competition at Brampton recently. A wide range of work exhibited and For Sale, some good , some not so good.

November

The topic this month is ‘Timber conversion for woodturners’ at which we have a talk and demo on chainsaws; and Bryan Jardine hopefully has brought along a range of chainsaws and accessories.

The competition item is a lidded box – extra marks if it has a threaded lid !!! The Wood of the Month is Birch.

The North of England Woodworking Show, usually known as the Harrogate Show is on 21 – 23 November. Reg Thirlwall posted that he had some free tickets available . . . . . . . .

December

The topic next months is ‘Scoops and spoons’ with Phil J and the final competition item for 2014 is a set of at least 4 (four) drinks coasters. The Wood of the Month is Laburnum .

And finally . . . 

As I’ve had no comments whatsoever on next year’s draft Programme, I’m assuming that you all think it’s FABULOUS !!!! However we still need 3 or 4 ideas for Competition items – suggestions to any Committee member please. Programme cards should be available next month – we are waiting for Chris from Robert Sorby to let us know when he is available.

Subscriptions are now due, if you’ve not paid yours please pay Phil J tonight. It is the same as last year, just £25.

We have been contacted by new woodturning supplier ‘Olivers Woodturning’ who is offering members a 5% discount. There is a link to their web site from our Club site ‘Links and Resources’ page , then if you want to take advantage of the discount,  the necessary discount code is on the Notice board at The Workshop

‘Opportunities’ taken and available

At the AGM last night (Tuesday 14 Oct) the Committee asked for help in a number of roles.

A Minutes Secretary to take Committee Meeting Minutes when Roger is absent. 

A Membership person to help Phil J maintain the membership records. 

A regular Committee member to represent members views and interests. 

One or two people to run the Club Shop, opening/closing, selling items to members, keeping an eye on stock levels then telling Roger what to order. 

One or two people to take charge of Refreshments on Club nights and Turning Tuesdays, bringing the milk, buying coffee/tea/biscuits as required, keeping the kitchen, mugs etc. clean and tidy. 

One or two people to take charge of our audio/visual kit, setting up the cameras and screens, microphone and speakers, and acting as camera persons.

During the evening Elwin Campbell offered to act as Minutes Secretary and Peter Fitzgerald and Andrew Rattnam offered to look after the Shop. Thank you to them.

The other roles remain unfilled.

 

October Notices

We understand that the Master Class with Nick Arnull went very well and was enjoyed by students and tutor alike. We then had an excellent evening demo with Nick who made a decorated box, which he presented to Roger as a thanks for his hospitality. Our thanks are due to Roger and Liz – members may not realise that when we have guest demonstrators, a Committee member often provides B&B so that the Club does not have to pay hotel bills.

October

The demo this evening is Phil H attempting to show you some thread cutting. This was suggested last year by a member which is why it’s in the Programme.

The competition item is ‘An Xmas decoration’ and the Wood of the Month is Cherry.

Sunday 26 October is Border Woodturners Open Day and the Inter Club Competition at the Community Centre, Brampton, 10am to 4pm as covered in the current Woodturning magazine. Lots to see and do.

November

The topic next month is ‘Timber conversion for woodturners’ at which we plan to have a talk and demo on chainsaws; and Bryan Jardine will bring along a range of chainsaws and accessories.

The competition item is a lidded box – extra marks if it has a threaded lid !!! The Wood of the Month is Birch.

The North of England Woodworking Show, i.e. the Harrogate Show is on 21 – 23 November. Reg Thirlwall posted that he had some free tickets available . . . . . . . .

And finally . . .

As there has been no interest in the ‘Better Bowls’ or ‘how to turn a bowl’ workshop ideas, or in a demo of the Kel McNaughton Bowl Saving system; we’ll forget about them.

There is a draft Programme for next year in the Library section of this site. Have a look and give us some feedback to any Committee member.