I am very proud of Eric Ann Edward and Rob who successfully completed the Beginner’s Course today.
Well done, you all produced some beautiful light and fluffy shavings and therefore some lovely bowls and dibbers.
You used all the tools in the tool roll and converted a rough bit of wood into a thing of beauty.
Rolf
Emma Cook, better known as The Tiny Turner, will visit our workshop on Saturday 23rd March for an all day demonstration, 10am to 4pm. Tickets are now availalable, priced £25, which includes lunch.
Emma is an extremely good turner, what she lacks in height she more than makes up for in personality.
This demonstration will be very popular and tickets will sell quickly so avoid dissapoinment by getting your tickets as soon as possible from the club directly or order via email Gallowaywoodturners@yahoo.com
Dear Members,
A number of years ago, when our good friend David Simpson was on our committee, he responded to a request to the committee to introduce a Wednesday afternoon turning workshop session for members.
The was to allow members to make use of the club facilities during the winter months if they were reluctant to drive to evening club meetings, whether they did not like to drive in the dark, had a long way to travel, or generally wanted to do some serious turning without the hubbub and tea/coffee breaks associated with evening club meetings.
These afternoon sessions have been appreciated by those who have attended and have proved popular, but numbers have always been small.
There have been occasions when only one other member has turned up. David travels from his home in Borgue to open up and assist the lovely people who come to these sessions, and it is sad that only one comes. Three or four would be much more enjoyable and viable for David.
Please, these are great little sessions and if we want them to continue I urge you to come along in the daylight, when the roads are easier to drive and you can settle in front of the fire in the evening.
Rolf
There will be a two day Beginner’s Course at Galloway Woodturners workshop in Castle Douglas on Saturday 3rd and Saturday 10th February 2024 .
Up to 5 students can be accomodated on this beginners course, but usually I aim for just 3 at a time.
The course will cover all the essential points of woodturning and all materials will be covered. We have a choice of 6 or seven lathes of different sizes to suit most turners. At the end of the course you will be able to safely handle all tools, produce nice wood shavings and have converted a lump of wood into something smooth and shapely, it might even resemble a dibber, spurtle, bowl or mallet.
Course Fees are £120 for members, and £160 for non members (which includes the £40 membership fees, as the course is for members only) All you need is to bring your own packed lunch.
Your tutor will be Rolf Buwert, AWGB Authorised Tutor and Chairman of Galloway Woodturners.
Please contact rolfbuwert@outlook.com for a place.
Happy Christmas to all members, and their families. I wish you all a very happy and healthy festive season, and for those who are struggling I wish you peace. Hopefully Santa has been good to you and has sourced his gifts from Biven, Axminster and Ashley Iles (other suppliers are available).
Have fun and looking forard to seeing you all when I have digested all the turkey and Christmas pudding, which could take a few days.
Rolf
In the final run up to Christmas 2023 I wish you all a very merry Christmas and good health in 2024.
Our last meeting for 2023 is this Tuesday, 12th December, and I am very much looking forward to seing you all at the workshop. Feel free to wear Christmas hats jumpers etc.
I will be your demonstator and will attempt to make Festive Faith-based firewood or decorations. The competition will be a reversible bowl with pointy bits inspired by Phil J’s demonstration last month.
If you are looking for a last minute Christmas present for yourself we still have two lathes and plenty of tools for sale, see Jimmy our shopkeeper.
Rolf
At this evening’s demo Phil reminded us of the off centre jig which Rick Dobney made specially for us.
There is a video of it on our Facebook page, click below to see it.
https://www.facebook.com/100064931790797/videos/pcb.725456822962038/449689124585660
Just to remind you of what it looks like I attache the images. It is heavy so only use it on the biggest lathes, and use it at the LOWEST SPEED ONLY, 100 rpm or slower to begin with, and probably not more than 150rpm.
It is a good piece of kit for doing creative or artistic items, but also for other ‘tricky’ pieces.
Rolf
Remember there are only two more (Club Night) meetings left this year.
This Tuesday, 14th November we will have the pleasure of Phil Jones again, as he demonstrates how he does a ‘reversible bowl with pointy bits’.
The club’s monthly competition item will be ‘any item with two or more woods’, which is fairly open so should be within anyone’s capability. Be as quirky or conventional as you like, but play to your strengths – and remember to use two different woods.
Les Reeves has brought in a pile of woodturning tools which he no longer needs, and they will be available for sale at the back of the workshop before the meeting or at coffee break time.
Also a reminder that if you have not already paid your annual subscription (£40) then please do so, either in cash to Jimmy at our shop or by BACS to the club account.
Looking forward to seeing a good turnout for Phil who is also entertaining and informative.
Galloway Woodturners have a tree at the Dumfries & District Flower Club Christmas Tree Festival held within St. John’s Church Dumfries. The festival runs Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th December.
Our ‘Tree of Trees’ will be one of 80 trees on display, and we are looking for you to make a tree (or two) maximum height 4 inches, that can be hung from the branches of a real Christmas tree. The tree can be a contemporary design, like Sarah’s, or traditional like mine. Please either mark your name (and type of wood if there is space) on the bottom, and bring them along to one of the sessions 28th or 29th November and I will decorate the tree on 6th December. In the evenings the event will be lit only by trees so there is scope to make trees that are themselves illuminated.
Here is a chance to extend our turning into something special, using wood of course, but also resin or composite materials, plain wood, painted or dyes, blinged up with sparkly things or whatever pops into your head. Be creative and let’s see what we can come up with.
Rolf
This is the time of year where there are more Craft fairs, and the discerning buyers are looking for handmade and local Christmas gifts.
Some of us will produce and sell items as a way of financing our hobbies, making a living, or just to have our work quality validated by people prepared to hand over money in exchange for our labours and skill.
There is a Craft Fayre in the Church Hall at Castle Douglas Parish Church on Queen Street on Saturday 18th November from 10:00 to 3:00. This is our local market and hopefully some of our members have either a stand or have contributed items to someone elses stall.
I would encourage everyone to consider selling their work at craft fairs and markets, it is good for you, for the club and for the local community. Although the Chinese are experts at making items at very low prices there are several negative consequences of shipping things 5,000 miles around the globe and not supporting local craft workers.
Please support local craft workers at these local markets, especially the one in Castle Douglas (I won’t be at it as I have a stall at St.George’s Church Christmas Craft Fayre in Dumfries that day).
Rolf