Hi All,

I’ve recently started my wood turning journey, and bought a second hand Axminster lathe from Rolf. I do however need a chuck set, and wondered if anyone had any items gathering dust that they wanted to sell. Rolf suggested I get something like the Rutland Precision 75 set (https://www.rutlands.com/sp+woodturning-chucks-precision-75-woodturning-chuck-precision-75-woodturning-chuck-complete-kit-precision-75-woodturning-chuck-complete-kit-rutlands%C2%AE+m_r2510?utm_campaign=Googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Googlebase&geoip=GB&gclid=CjwKCAjwq-WgBhBMEiwAzKSH6IhjN6tLTwkruAYdczXaNw31XC_xOVLmBdaDKl8f3wc6dv3e_aXsVxoCoIEQAvD_BwE)

Thanks Everyone,

Steve

What is it ?

A series of four workshops on bowl turning ideas and techniques. Come to all four or just the ones that cover areas you’re interested in.

On consecutive Thursdays 7-9pm, starting on Thursday 20 April.

Each session will be mixture of discussion, demonstration, and hands-on turning – come along, get involved and make some shavings.

The aim of each session is to try different ways of doing things. This means trying things you haven’t tried before, experimenting with shapes and techniques, embracing the possibility of things going wrong. This means that you may not end up with a finished bowl. It’s about the journey, not the destination.

These are not expert sessions, but nor are they suitable for complete beginners. The sessions are intended for members who are comfortable mounting a piece of wood on the lathe and turning it to completion.

Session One – Thursday 20 April

Blanks – Selecting a blank, converting logs to blanks, side vs end grain, cut rim vs natural edge.

Initial mounting methods – screw chuck, face plate ring, face plate, between centres, cole jaws, Longworth chuck. Roughing to a balanced blank.

Session Two – Thursday 27 April

Before turning the outside, think ahead, how will we hold it when we want to turn the inside? Recess vs spigot, creating the holding point, chucks and jaws.

Turning the outside – tools, approach, shapes, roughing, finishing.

Session Three – Thursday 4 May

Turning the inside – various approaches. Rims, undercuts, wall thickness.

Session Four – Thursday 11 May

Finishing – scraping, shear scraping, abrasives, finishing products.

Hiding your holding point – jam chuck, pad, cole jaws, wood plate jaws, Longworth chuck, vacuum chuck. Reshaping the recess or spigot.

What to bring

We will provide the wood. The club tools, equipment and PPE will be available but bring your own if you prefer.

You don’t have to book a place but it would help if you could let us know if you are coming so we can prepare enough blanks etc. Email phil.howard50@btinternet.com

This Saturday, 25th March, is another workshop day, with the subject being ‘Spindles and Pens’. 

By taking part in this workshop you will become more comfortable turning spindles and or pens, learn new tips and tricks, or confirm that you are doing things right. There is no ‘tutor’ at this workshop, everyone will bring something to the lathe and hopefully come away a slightly better turner. David and Judith will be there for a good part of the time as they have great experience in making pens and also quality spindle items.

There are five workshops of this type in the first half of 2023, all being workshops rather than training days.  Each one gives us the opportunity to do some familiar turning in the company of members who have something to share and something to learn. 

The next workshops are:

Saturday 29th April  – Involuted turning
Saturday 27th May – Stools
Saturday 24th June  – Demonstrating 

Chris Parker’s demonstration today, Saturday 18th March, was excellent and very different to any previous demonstrators. His use of shape, texture and colour has inspired us to step up and try something new and adventurous. Although he used several tools we are familiar with there were several which were new to us, especially his negative rake scrapers and bespoke tenon cutter.

During his demo he also used a couple of sanding arbours which gave more precision and can be purchased from Chris via his web site shopping page.

https://www.chrisparkerwoodturner.com/shop

I would encourage you to give these a try, and it would not be right to say they are better than other makes, some of which are very familiar to us, but they can perform in a way that is very controllable and less likely to damage previously cut sharp edges.

Chris can be contacted via  Email: thebaldwoodturner@gmail.com  or by phone: UK 07723097271

 

 

Please note that I will not be opening the workshop for club members this afternoon 1.00 – 3.00pm.

I expect we will be back to normal next week.

David Simpson 

 

Saturday 18th March sees Chris Parker, a professional woodturner sometimes known as ‘The Bald Woodturner’ will come to our workshop and show his skills. Tickets are £15, which will include tea and coffee AND LUNCH. We normally charge £20 but are treating you all to lunch this time.

The demo starts at 10 am and runs to 4pm so will be a full day of excellent woodturning plus catering for a mere £15 so please get your tickets as soon as possible from Jimmy Brown or Sarah Burns. We can accommodate a few last minute ‘walk-ins’ but prefer numbers for the catering.

The following day, Sunday 19th March, Chris will be back for a ‘Masterclass’ , where you will be taught by a master, you don’t need to be a master yourself, just have turned for at least a year and be ready to take your turning a step further.  Tickets are £50 (but you have to bring your own sandwiches) tea/coffee and biscuits are provided. This day also runs 10am to 4pm. This type of training often costs £200 and upwards so this is your chance to have a fun day, learning and making something special under Chris’ guidance. 

Chris does top quality turning and texturing, plus a little bit of colour. You can see some of his work at     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013117201598

 

 

Following a request from members, next Tuesday, 7th March, Phil H (Medium Phil) will bring his Simon Hope Easy Arm hollowing rig to the workshop. Phil demonstrated how to set up the rig in a remote demo during lockdown, but this is a chance to see this system live and have-a-go if you want.

We’ll set it up on the big Jet lathe and make some shavings. The rig will accept any hollowing tool with a shaft 19mm diameter or smaller, so if you have a tool that you would like to try in the rig, bring it along. If you have no idea what we are talking about go to www.hopewoodturning.co.uk then lathe accessories and look for Easy Arm.

 

The Saturday 25th February Better Bowls & Better Bottoms workshop, 9.30 to 16.30, will soon be upon us. This is not a training course but an opportunity to develop your skills and share ideas. There is no leader or tutor, everyone has equal status and value. Come along and try a new shape, size, thickness, or style; using dry or green wood. Alas I can’t be there as I have a family member coming to visit. Please reply to this post if you can come along so we can use the 9 lathes most efficiently.

Rolf

SATURDAY 11th MARCH – is the next all day Beginner’s Woodturning course.

One person has already signed up and I would like another two or three please as I do not intend to do any more until after the summer. The course is 09:30 until 4.30pm (or 5.30pm if you still have the energy). Students need to be full members (£40 per year) and the all day course costs £120.

email me rolfbuwert@outlook.com to secure your place.

February’s competition item was a Valentine’s Day item. Apologies for forgetting to photograph the entries. The points situation to date:

Mature category:

Ken Powers (6), Phil Jones & Mick Schofield (5), Rolf Buwert (1).

Novice category:

Findlay Mitchell (6).

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.