Both shops CLOSED - Friday, July 4 for Independence Day
Steve Parker - Group Leader
We had a number of demos in the last quarter and will continue to have demos each month. We had Danny Hoffman showing his miniature turning skills and Mark Niestadt with Easy Wood Tools. Mark was kind enough to extend a special discount to members for the purchase of Easy Wood carbide tools. I know that some of the members took advantage of this.
If you missed this discount, please let me know as Woodcraft will help to get you a special price on Easy Wood Tools.
There have been a number of classes, and we would like to thank those that have participated and especially those that have instructed. It would be great if at the end of each class, there was a group photo to share on the website. This is a chance for the participants to show off their work and generate interest in future classes.
Although we will continue to have lathe tools in the tool crib at both locations, we would like to encourage members to purchase their own tools. We will assist with sharpening and tools selection. There are many options for tools with the better tools requiring less frequent sharpening due to the harness of the steel.
We will be making an adjustment to the spindle and bowl sharpening at both locations. We will be using special jigs to ensure that both locations are set up identically. This means that if you sharpen at Rolling Acres and wish to touch up your edge at Brownwood, the angles will be exactly the same. This is not the case as it is now. Spindle gouges will be set for 40 degrees and bowl gouges will be set to 60 degrees. We have purchased additional Oneway Vari-grind jigs and will have them available that are adjustable allowing you to choose your own grind angles. This should be used only with your own tools and not with tools that the club owns. Please do not change the angle of the club tools. The spindle rough gouges will be set for 40 degrees. We have one prototype jig, however, it will require some fine tuning as we have two sizes of spindle roughing gouges.
Doug Thompson will also be giving a sharpening class in the near future. Doug is by far the fastest sharpener that I have ever seen, and his grinds are perfect. Doug will bring a new grinder from his factory in Cleveland.
What does the future hold?
The midi-lathes at Rolling Acres have been reorganized and placed on stands. There are four lathes, and one is set up for seated turning. This enhances the view through the windows for guests and tours. Steve Eikenberry has done a fantastic job organizing and executing this project.
We will be adding wood stabilization to our offerings. This will allow us to stabilize wood that is punky and typically not usable. The process requires a vacuum pump, vacuum chamber, and a low temperature oven. We hope to have it all in place in the not-too-distant future.
General Finishes provided a very good demo in the past. On August 13, Old Masters (an appropriate name for us at the Villages) will be coming to Brownwood to demo their finishing products.
We have added a number of new molds for the casting team which allows for the brass pen tube to be cast within the blank eliminating drilling and bonding.
Lastly, we have some beautiful, figured maple and cherry bowl blanks at both Rolling Acres and Brownwood. The pricing i excellent and they are cut round and wax sealed. Please stop by the wood sales area to take a look at the blanks.
Safe and happy turning!