We’ve just had 30 nice shiny red new chairs delivered!

Anyone available with a chainsaw on the first weekend in Jan?

There’s an oak tree down near Crossmichael that the club can have if (a) we want it and (b) we can get it!

There is a big trunk with a base of about 2 feet diameter and there are numerous branches that would be big enough for turning.

I don’t see any problem with trimming the branches off, but getting the trunk back to the main road might be difficult. There are no obstacles but there is only a small track nearby and I’m not sure what transport it would take.

Usual apologies for the delay…

Eggs and Cups

The new “Director of Competitions” seems pretty good… the competition was only yesterday and the results are already in 🙂

Congratulations this month to… Chick and myself who just narrowly pipped Phil H into third.

Cheers,
Phil J

Candelsticks October 2013

Galloway Woodturners

 

September Newsletter

 

Dear All,

 

I hope everyone has had a good summer – we can’t really complain about the weather apart from it being too hot to turn at times!

Lots of things have been going on over the last two months and an exciting programme coming up.

 

During the last few weeks we have taken stands at both the Dumfries Show and the Wigtown Show  Judith & David also were at the Borgue show. Overall we made  some money for the club but more importantly a great deal of interest was shown in the club, so hopefully we will get some new members.

 

The two Phils’ are about to start a beginner’s course at the workshop with three new members and I have two enquiries for a course based in Creetown, so again things are looking positive. If you want to know more about the course please see the web site www.gallowaywoodturners.co.uk click on “About us” and follow the links.

 

The next Club Night is on Tuesday 10^th September and this will be a demonstration by Brian Conchie. When Brian demonstrated last year I know everybody enjoyed the evening and I’m sure it will be well worth coming along in September. Brian will be looking at texturing and colouring.

Coming up in November we have Nikos Siragas from Crete demonstrating. This will be a full day demo on Saturday 16^th and it will be entrance by ticket only, so watch this space for further details.

 

Turning Tuesdays at the Workshop are continuing to attract a good core of members with some getting on the lathes for hands on experience and some there for the social aspect.

 

The competition for September is a thin walled bowl any size.  Lampshades will not be  accepted.

 

The programme for Border Woodturners is now out and can be viewed on their web site www.borderwoodturners.co.uk visitors to the club are very welcome

 

We are currently looking at our full day demos for next year and among those professional Woodturners who are looking at coming up to our area are: Andrew Hall (The Hat Man),  Jerry Marlow, and Nick Arnul with a possibility of Simon Hope in 2015. We normally join with other clubs when booking professional Demonstrations so that we can save on mileage.

 

Tracy Owen will be demonstrating at Burnhead Woodturners, Auldgirth, Dumfries on the 28^th September for further information please contact Bill Johnstone on 07932 155544

 

Upcoming Shows:  We are now coming into the woodworking show season with Scotland’s National Woodworking & Powertool Show at Ingliston on the 25^th & 26^th October and The North of England Woodworking & Power Tool Show at Harrogate on the 22^nd – 24^th November. There are at least 10 professional turners giving demonstrations at Harrogate, so not to be missed. Tickets on sale from the end of August and I am hoping to be able to negotiate a club discount, so if you are interested please let me know.

 

The club shop has now negotiated discount rates with Axminster and we are also looking to get a full range of supplies from Craftsman Supplies, so whatever you are looking for from finishing to a lathe please have a word with me and see what price we can offer.

 

I think that’s all for the present

Keep Making Shavings

 

Roger

Anybody want some brass candle dishes from Axminster? If I order 2 they’ll be £5.80 plus postage, but if I order 10 they’ll only be £4.34 each with free delivery 🙂

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-brass-pillar-candle-dish-prod462901/

Hi

FYI, here are a few woodturners who put their videos on youtube. Some nice projects and some new techniques and ideas for consideration.

A Wood Turns – http://www.youtube.com/user/AsWoodTurns

Carl Jacobson – http://www.youtube.com/user/haydenHD?feature=watch

Eddie Castelin – http://www.youtube.com/user/capneddie/featured

Cheers

Hello, All,

Thanks to everyone who joined in with our fund-raising completion, where we were challenged to make something interesting out of a donated and randomly allocated lump of wood. We had twelve entries, and we were asked to judge them on skill and ingenuity, given the starting point, and then to suggest a suitable selling price. The selling price was clearly quite a challenge, as the valuations varied widely…by a factor of fifteen in one case!

I don’t have the IT skills of Phil J, and have relied on pen and paper, with the backup of a £1.99 calculator. Nevertheless, having done the sums twice, I have come up with the same answer.

Winner for skill and ingenuity is Rolf Buwert, with an average score of 8.8 out of 10. Roger Cutler came a close second with 8.5, then David Simpson was third with 8.0.

David Simpson topped the valuation table with his five items totalling £32.25 in our estimation. John Brown’s two items were judged to be worth £29.67, and Rolf Buwert’s single bowl, £25.56.

It may be that we shall raffle Rolf’s bowl and David’s five items, if we have a suitable event at which to do this. All other items will be offered for sale to the public, possibly at the Dumfries Show, with the proceeds to club funds. I have them safely at home meantime, as the heat in the workshop may damage them.

Bryan Jardine and John Brown both told me that they had buyers lined up for their items, so I suggest we work on the assumption that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and let them sell their items on behalf of the club. If anyone has any objection to this, could they please let me know? Otherwise, Bryan and John, if you contact me in a week or so, we can arrange to get your items returned to you to pass on to your buyers.

Happy Turning!

Judith Simpson

25 & 26 May 2013 at Shed Therapy, Dalbeattie

Spend the weekend with professional spooncarver Steve Tomlin and learn the techniques of carving with axe and knives on this fun and inspiring workshop.

All tools & materials supplied

You will learn

·         How to select wood for carving spoons

·         Splitting blanks from branches and larger timber

·         Using an axe for fast, efficient carving

·         5 special knife techniques to shape your spoons

·         Hollowing the bowl with a hooked knife

·         Safe methods of working

The focus on this course is building skills so that you take home much more than just your completed spoon. You will learn a set of skills which are the foundation of any greenwood working and will enable you to go on carving on your own.

Steve Tomlin has been a professional greenwood worker for 10 years and is an internationally respected carver. In 2013 he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship in recognition of his skills and spent 4 weeks working one-to-one with master spoon carver Fritiof Runhall in Sweden. As well as selling and demonstrating his craft at shows around the country, Steve has taught dozens of people how to carve on his lively and engaging courses.

Spoon carving is an engaging pastime which is accessible to all, requiring only a small toolkit and easily-found materials. It makes an ideal introduction to woodworking for beginners while the design elements and particular skills will engage more experienced woodworkers.

Two-day workshop just £100.
Only  6 places – call Gavin on 01556 611380 to book.

Or gavin.phillips@virgin.net