I have just received the following e mail. If anyone wants to take this commission on please let me know and I will send pictures etc.

“Can You assist please?

We need spindles made for our (eight) kitchen chairs that have been chewed by puppies!

Not very glamourous or exciting but very necessary – can you suggest someone that could produce them please?

I can send examples and fit them myself if someone can produce them…..”

Club Programme.

It now looks as if won’t be going in to hospital until July in which case the Club Programme will need to be changed back to what it was originally. This means that the June demo will be a Platter and the August competition is a platter. The August Meeting will be a Question Time and the September Competition will be “Anything”, the winning pieces going forward to represent the club at the Borders Open Competition.

Competition Secretary.

Due to a change of work pattern Jamie Copeland is having to step down as Competition Secretary. We are therefore looking for a volunteer to take this on. If we do not have a volunteer the competition may have to be suspended.  If you wish to know what is involved please e mail Jamie or myself.

Robert Sorby Orders

Next month we have Chris Pouncy from Robert Sorby coming to Demonstrate. If anybody requires an order for any Turners Retreat  goodies – usually at a discount and no postage then please let me know be a return e mail. I have to have orders in by Tuesday.

 Roger

Notices – April  2016

Tonight our demonstration is me being eccentric!

The wood of the month is Hickory presented by Bob Lees

The competition items are “Wee Critters”.

Next Month (10^th May) We welcome back Chris Pouncey from Sorby demonstrating some of the latest Sorby tools and gadgets.  Chris will also be selling a range of Sorby tools, usually at a discounted rate. If any member wishes to order a particular tool there are catalogues available tonight and if you would like to place an order with either Jim Brown (Shop) of myself we will ensure that Chris brings them with him (no postage).

The competition next month will be an item with off centre turning.

The wood of the month is Lignum Vitae (Bryan Jardine has volunteered).

Changes to the programme– Due to my imminent sojourn in hospital I will be unable to do any turning for a few weeks after my operation so we have had to tweak the programme over the next few months

We have had to swap the club nights for June and August which has also affected the competition items for August and September. The changes are highlighted in the GW Programme 2016 on the web, if you want to print yourself a new copy:

Tue 14 June: Question Time (comp = a table lamp)

Tue 9 Aug: Platters (comp = anything)

Tue 13 Sept: Easy Bowls Part 2 (comp = a platter)

We are also having to change our programme for professional turners. Simon Hope cannot now come in October but we have managed to persuade him to come in September. He will be with us on Saturday 17^th September for a full day demo followed on the Sunday by a full day Master Class, the cost of this class will be approximately £55. If you would like to take part in this master class ( limited to 5 people and I have had interest from 3 people already) please see me asap – First come first served.

The demonstration by David Lowes which was to be in September is now booked for February 25^th 2017

Our next Professional Demonstration will be by Mick Hanbury from Lincolnshire on Sunday 22^nd May.  Mick is a skilful and artistic woodturner who has been turning for over 20 years. He is listed on the Register of Professional Turners as well as being a member of Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. Over the years Mick has developed a unique style of decorative finishes to his pieces and is well known for his beautiful finial boxes, elegant spiral stem goblets, and delicately patterned platters. Tickets are on sale from the shop – get yours Tonight

Afternoon Turning Session – Due to the fall-off in uptake the Wednesday sessions have been curtailed until October

Spring Fling – This will be on 28^th – 30^th May and we will be taking part by having a sale of members items at Kirkandrews Kirk. Hopefully we will be demonstrating as well (weather permitting) Members are invited to attend over the weekend and provide support.

The Kirk will receive 20% of wood turners’ sales and the club 5%.

A catalogue of items and prices needs to be prepared so if members have any items they wish to sell they must be given to a member of the committee by the week before.

Post Meeting Notices

Nikos Siragas will be with us for a demonstration in December. It may be possible for him to stay on an extra day for a Master Class. If any member would like to take part in this please let me know ASAP. This was announced last night and I have three names already!

A couple of members have shown interest in seeing a bowl centre saver in action and maybe having a go themselves. At Turning Tuesday on 3 May, I’m going to bring along my Kel McNaughton centre saver and make some shavings.

If you know of another member who may be interested but is NOT on our website’s email list, please tell them.

Dear All,

Please be aware that I will be opening the workshop 2.00 – 4.00pm tomorrow, 23rd March.

This will be my final session of the current run but, if there is sufficient interest, I will consider starting them up again as the nights begin to draw in again in October.

David Simpson

The Club has bought a Sorby Texturing and Spiralling tool to add to our tool collection. 

So you can all have a go at making a hedgehog !

Please note that the date of the wood preparation workshop is the 20th March not the 13th as mentioned in some places – my apologies for any confusion!

Note also the time is 12noon to 4pm.

The main objectives are:

• Convert the remaining ash planks from the outside wood store into wax-sealed bowl and spindle blanks.
• Tidy up the inside and outside wood stores and make sure as much as possible is priced up.

Secondary objectives are:

• Plank the remaining logs of oak, elm and sycamore in the outside wood store
• Convert the remaining yew logs inside into something turnable

Anyone wanting to assist would be very welcome. There will opportunities for getting acquainted with the bandsaw under supervision, sealing wood with wax as well as some planking using the chainsaw.

Hope to see you there,

Phil J

Our four course members successfully completed their course, having fun, learning some stuff, and hopefully enthused to turn some more.

Many thanks to Phil and Jake last night for a great demo of little critters.  Phil produced a great range of mice, hedgehogs, and various insects. I should have photographed them so that I could have a go myself. I loved Jakes woodpecker, and clever choice of woods to make it really colourful, and the little guy that wobbled his way down the welding rod-pole worked really well.

This is what the club is all about, having a go, producing something exceptional, yet within our capabilities, and sharing your skills with club members, in a friendly and understandable way.

Well done to you both.