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

Mature category

Ken Power (joint 1st)

Mick Schofield (joint 1st)

Tom Florey (3rd)

Arthur Young

David Simpson

Rolf Buwert

Novice category

Finlay Mitchell

I am unable to open the workshop for members tomorrow but Phil Howard has agreed to do so between 1.00 and 3.0 pm.

Thanks Phil.

November’s competition brief was ‘any item with two or more woods’. The points situation is now:

Mature category:

Ken Power (49), Mick Schofield (28), Phil Jones (23), Arthur Young (20), Colin Marshall (18), Rolf Buwert (13), Stephen Eccles & Tom Florey (5), Bryan Jardine (4), David Simpson (2).

Novice category:

Finlay Mitchell (54), Bill Dryden (5), Andrew Ratnam (4).

The scoring system awards 6 points for 1st position, 5 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd. All other entries, including those with no votes, receive 1 point.

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. 

October’s competition item was on the theme of Autumn or Halloween. The points situation to date shows that runners up positions are still up for grabs:

Mature category:

Ken Power (43), Phil Jones (23), Mick Schofield (22), Arthur Young (19), Colin Marshall (18), Rolf Buwert (12), Stephen Eccles (5), Bryan Jardine (4), David Simpson & Tom Florey (1).

Novice category:

Finlay Mitchell (48), Bill Dryden (5), Andrew Ratnam (4).

The scoring system awards 6 points for 1st position, 5 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd. All other entries, including those with no votes, receive 1 point.

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