PIW News Letter

May 2008

 

 

 

                              

April ’08 Meeting

     Our April meeting featuring Don Geiger was very well attended.  The weather has finally warmed up!  Don’s presentation was not only a well organized review of what many of us have learned (and need reminded of occasionally), but then went on to demonstrate some tool techniques for getting better results more efficiently.  Working at the lathe and explaining exactly the positioning of the tool for best use was combined with an excellent power-point presentation showing exactly what he was doing and why.  The samples of his work that he brought along demonstrated what can be done with attention to detail in both planning our approach to a project and proper tool technique.  Significant time was given to proper tool sharpening and repeatability of that particular grind shape in order to maintain the feel of the tool in its appropriate cutting position.  For many of those present it was also a chance to see a different style of lathe in operation.  Don brought along his own Stubby Lathe for use in his demonstration.  It has a multitude of features and capability beyond the basic lathes many of us are accustomed to using. 

     Thanks again to Don Geiger for a very informative presentation.

 

Users of Minwax Antique Oil?

     On occasion we can take advantage of bulk purchasing power if enough individuals are interested.  Anyone interested in purchasing Minwax Antique Oil?  Several have already indicated interest at our April meeting.  If you were not present or missed getting your interest on the list, give Bill Hess a call at 899-8942 ASAP.  Bill will be ordering on the 28^th of this month.  Good chance to save some $$.

 

****May 7, 2008 PIW Meeting (Please note the LOCATION change!)
     The May meeting will be held at Bill Blasic’s Shop on Wednesday May 7th with Doug Thompson turning a full size cowboy hat in 2 1/2 hours (Approximate time).  You are welcome to come at any time on said day as I will be here all day.  We will serve food and drinks starting at 4 PM (no excuses that you had to have supper) and hope to get the demo going by 6:30.  Parking will be to the north side of the house, as you turn in the driveway turn left through the pad and park where you see others parked.  Carefully walk down and around the building attached to the back of the house where the fun will begin.  For anyone who has trouble walking we will shuttle you around to the shop.                                                Following are directions to get here from several locations in town. The house is a White Ranch and I'll get some sort of sign up.

From Rte 8 & Rte 90 - Go south on Rte 8 2.3 Miles.  Turn right onto Tate Road (opposite Hammot Motors), proceed .3 of a mile.  Turn left onto Lake Pleasant Rd and proceed 4.2 miles and then turn left into driveway.
From Rte 97 & Rte 90 - Go South .8 miles to traffic light (Robinson Rd) Turn left and proceed East 1.5 miles to Old Waterford Rd.  Turn right and proceed .3 miles to East Rd.  Turn left and proceed .6 miles to Lake Pleasant Rd.  Turn right and proceed South 5 miles.  Turn left into driveway.
From 38th Street - From 38th Street proceed East or West (depending on which direction you are coming from) to Pine Avenue.  Go South on Pine Avenue to Lake Pleasant Rd (Breakiron Jewelers will be on your right).  Turn right and proceed South on Lake Pleasant Rd 8.8 miles.  Turn left into driveway. 

     If you need directions from any other direction, call me (Bill Blasic) at 814-796-4609.

 

Background information on Doug Thompson:

     Woodworking has always been a part of my life, since early childhood to
the present the sight of a board or log is still a thrill and the
question goes through my head… what could I make from it. I learned from
my dad early in life that planning is the key to any project and even
the most difficult challenge can be worked through if you take it one
step at a time. This single lesson has carried me through every project
I have done.
     Since my first woodworking project at age 10 to the present I’ve always
enjoyed a challenge. My first project was a gun stock for a BB gun made
from a redwood 2 x 4 and a rasp but it had a cheek rest! Later in life I
would buy a book and carve a rocking horse and a toy box was covered
with veneer, the list goes on. The first trip to a mill yielded a curly
maple kitchen island complete with dove tail slides and then went on to
making Maloof style rocking chairs.
     Project after project had to present a new challenge until the day I saw
the ultimate challenge. One day while surfing the internet I came across
www.woodhat.com … no way could someone turn a hat! The only problem was
I didn't know how to turn; sure I turned my first bowl in high school
and a few after that. Legs had to be turned now and then but a scraper
that is sharpened once every couple years won't take you far.
     I bought a big lathe and it sat for months, every attempt make something
ended in disappointment… also the fact it was painted yellow so you
couldn't ignore this huge piece of steel sitting in the shop. Enough is
enough so I called Johannes Michelsen, told him the fact I couldn't turn
and asked (sorta begged) to take the class… he reluctantly said yes. Now
the challenge, could you learn how to turn and make a hat from a video
tape in a month and a half… yes you can… how… one step at a time. I wore
a hat into the first day of class, it wasn't pretty but I wasn't
embarrassed either. The next three days was filled with amazement how
much skill a professional has, what you learn in three days could fill a
book and last a lifetime.
     In the beginning I tried many different tools, most were placed in a
drawer soon after they were purchased, they were too difficult to use. I
finally bought a gouge made by Jerry Glaser, after the first five
seconds it touched the wood I was in love with wood turning, this was too
easy. I found out a good tool does make a difference and never looked back.
     The problem with the best tools are the cost, they are expensive. I
could not justify the high cost of replacement blades to fit in Jerry's
handles so I decided to make my own. As a machine repairman by trade and
a good machinist it was the only thing to do. What started with a single
design would grow with the help and support of woodturners across the
country.

 

 “Learn to love your Skew Chisel”????:

     The nemesis of many Woodturners is visited again in the May 2008 issue of Wood magazine.  A very well presented four page article can be found beginning on page 70 of the latest issue.  The accompanying photographs do an excellent job of illustrating how to position the tool for the variety of cuts possible with the skew.  Topics addressed include: choosing a skew, grinding, honing the ultimate edge, planning cuts, V-cuts, beads, and the final admonition to Practice, Practice, Practice!  Dig out that “paint can opener” and give it another try.

     I left this item in the PIW Newsletter again this month.  I’m wondering if anyone gave the article a try.  Was it helpful?  Any reactions?  If so, how about writing up a brief review from your perspective and send it to me (Paul Rose) for publication in the next newsletter.  And again, if you see an article or other source related to turning that you might recommend for member attention, please forward the information to me and I’ll include it in a subsequent Newsletter.  Thank you!

 

2008 PIW Officers and Board Members:

Bill Blasic, President                       Bill Hess, Elected Board Member

John Fox, Vice-president                Bill Noce, Elected Board Member

Wanda Lucariello, Secretary           Paul Rose, Past President

Dave Knight, Treasurer

     Please feel free to offer suggestions, notes of concern, requests for programming a specific topic or, most helpful and hopeful, offers to present a demonstration or discussion on a turning related issue.  PIW is guided by member input.  Participate!

Let your Board members know of your interests.

     It is also not too soon to begin considering how you could serve our group in an elected position.  Most of us realize the importance of the administrative end of running a smooth organization, but it is unreasonable to think “That’s somebody else’s job,” forever.  Our sincere thanks to those who have served!  Consider taking a turn.  Help is always available.  It is not an impossible task. 

 

Programming for 2008

May 7:  Demo with Doug Thompson on turning hats.  This event will take place at Bill Blasic’s shop.  Directions appear above.  Don’t miss this one.

June 4:  A representative of the USDA Forest Service will present information about the Emerald Ash Bore. Wood users such as us are affected by availability and cost due to loss of this resource.

July:  No meeting

August 2:  PIW Picnic.  Mark you calendar now!!  More details will appear in a later issue of the PIW Newsletter.  Thanks to Dave and Georgi Knight for again hosting this event.

September 3:  Turning platters with Larry McCardel.  This event will again take place at Bill Blasic’s home where a larger lathe is available.

October 1:  Dave Swanson has invited our group to his shop to see some of the equipment he uses as well as how to cut logs and prep them for turning. More details will be posted in a later Newsletter.

November 5: Joe Hermann, editor of Woodturning Design Magazine, will join us again for an evening of turning.  More details later.

December 3:  Elections. Some ideas are being developed for the meeting.  Again, details later.  If you have any ideas, let any Board member know!

 

PIW Dues for 2008

Dues for 2008 remain at the current level of $20 for individual, $10 additional member same household, youth 18 and under FREE with sponsoring and attending regular adult membership. Dues can be paid at any regular meeting or mailed to: Paul Rose, 5607 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511-1520.

   

 

Membership in the American Association of Woodturners

    Members of PIW are strongly encouraged to join AAW.  The benefits of membership can best be viewed and understood by going to the AAW website at www.woodturner.org .  Browse through that site and see the many reasons for joining AAW.  The AAW quarterly magazine American Woodturner is full of ideas, examples, discussions, and addresses interests from beginner to advanced turner in its presentations. If you have any questions about joining AAW, please see Bill Blasic for additional information, AAW informational pamphlet, and a membership application form.

 

Tom Obourn Memorial Scholarship

     Prior to his untimely death, PIW founding member Tom Obourn made a very generous contribution to PIW for the purpose of establishing a scholarship fund to support educational experiences for PIW members.  Applications can be obtained from Bill Blasic or via any Board Member.  Be aware of the ‘review periods’ for consideration.

 

THANK YOU

    A very appreciative thank you is in order to Sue Obourn.  As most members know, Tom Obourn was a founding member of PIW and contributed extensively to the growth of our organization.  Tom had an extensive collection of turning related magazines and books in his personal library.  Sue has donated that collection to PIW for inclusion in the club library.   Take some time to review those additions to the collection.  Some of the items are quite unique.  Again, thank you Sue.

 

Item for sale? / Looking for something? / Find something of interest?

     Just a reminder that the PIW Newsletter is open for any member to contribute an article on any turning related topic, or call attention to a related item found in a recent publication.  You are also offered the opportunity to post “for sale” and “looking for” ads related to woodturning.  Just put together the information and email it to me at rosep2@velocity.net , USPS it, call me at 899-4501, or give me a copy at the next meeting.

 

For Sale: 

     Diamond wheel dressers, 10 available @ $22 each.  Contact Bill Blasic

 

AAW Symposium Community Support Program

    AAW local chapter, Woodturners Anonymous of Richmond, who will be hosting the Symposium, has selected the Children’s Hospital of Richmond as the recipient of the Return to the Community gifts this year. Children's Hospital is a private, nonprofit hospital that serves children from birth through the age of 21. Click on this link for more information on Children’s Hospital.

     Any toy that kids can play with turned or otherwise, will be gratefully appreciated.  Suggestions include finger tops, pull string tops, toy cars and trucks, as well as rattles for the little ones, but we are certain that the ingenuity of AAW members will produce some inventive toys. The Woodturners Anonymous of Richmond chapter wishes to thank all woodturners in advance for the toys they will be contributing to the hospital.

     If any members of our club would like to contribute to this endeavor, the two Bills will deliver them to the Symposium as we did in 2006 in the name of the Presque Isle Woodturners.  Get any toys that you would like to contribute to Bill Noce or Bill Blasic by the June meeting.
Thanks,
Bill & Bill

 

Library

     Take a few minutes at our next meeting to browse through the items available for your use.  Remember, we use the ‘honor system’ for keeping track of library items.  Please be sure to put your name on the library card of the selected item and place the card in the library card box when borrowing.  Likewise, be sure to return the card to the item when placing it back on the shelf. If you see an item you would like to have included in the library, let our club librarian Bill Noce know of your wishes. If you would like to borrow a club lathe, tools, or other related hardware, see Dave Swanson for the necessary form.  The library and club mini-lathes are available for member use.

Upcoming Woodturning Symposiums

     There are several woodturning symposiums presented each year.  The listing presented here includes those for which we have received information.  Others will be added as we receive their information.  Please check the listed web site for details. 

1) AAW Symposium online registration is now up and running.   This is the “big one”!
 http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2008/

 

 

Support Those Who Support PIW:

The following suppliers and organizations have supported PIW.  Give them some thought when you make your next purchase of goods or service.

Packard Woodworks, Inc.                  packardwoodworks.com

D. K. Hummel Company:                    dkhco.com

American Association of Woodturners:     woodturner.org/

Agresti & Agresti Law Firm

Parker’s Garage

Technatool International Ltd.            www.teknatool.com

One Way Mfg.

Clark – McKibben Safety Products

Craft Supplies The Woodturners Catalog        woodturnerscatalog.com

Woodturning Design Magazine

Stihl Chainsaws