Christmas Party

Though the attendance level was on the lighter side, those in attendance had a good time and a good dinner.
As is our custom each member turned a Christmas ornament and wrapped it up and added end it to the gift table at the party. Each of the turners partner then went up to the table and picked out a present.

The Gift Table

by Tom Cadwalader

by Jim Rutledge

By Charlie Wilson

by Tom Jacobson

by Gary Smith

Still Turning

I haven't posted in awhile, but I have been turning some. Below is a platter from 5 pieces of cherry. It's 14 1/2 " in diameter and the Xmas trees are less than 3 1/2" also in cherry.

Another colabrative

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
Picture is a collaborative effort between my wife Gloria and I.
A hostess gift for someone hosting us.

October Meeting

We had our October meeting today.  Steve Promo was our demonstrator and he showed us how he turns lampshades.  I have to confess that I had no idea how one would make a lampshade from wood, that is until I saw Steve's demonstration.
Steve did an excellent job on his presentation, as he always dies.  I think the members and guest learned a ton about turning this project as well as picking up on some basic skills that can be applied to all of our turnings.  I think Steve does a great job of working in the different tool presentations and other safety tips into his demonstrations.

Below is a link to a short slideshow of todays meeting.  I hope to put up a trailer for the demo DVD in the coming days.  Stay tuned.

http://youtu.be/8i5x3Mv44A0


For you other members....post some of your work.  If you are unsure about how to post just email me the pictures and a description and I'll put it up here for you.

Keep the chips flying.

Jim holds the attention

Jim turns a spruce burl while a small crowd gathers.
Not selling much but getting a lot of attention from on lookers.

Day 2 St Ignace

Well we are set up for day 2 here. The sky is clouding up and it's cooler. Hopefully the buyers will be warming up. Some of our wares are pictured below.

St Ignace Art Show

We have 2 booths at the show. On to sell turnings and one to demonstrate wood turning. 2 day show. Traffic has been light today. Hope tomorrow is better.

Vases by Tom Cadwalader

The vases are  turned from maple, purple heart and the box is oak that was on the bottom of Lake Superior for a number of years.

August Mtg by TJC

At our August meeting we had another great demonstration.  Our August demonstrator was Steve Promo.  Steve showed us how he makes his larger bird houses.  It was a very informative demo.  Below are some stills from the demo.  A video will be available in the coming weeks.  Again if you weren't present....you missed another great demo.

Starting with a fairly round cedar log.  Where does he find timber with the center already marked?  That was one of the questions asked of Steve during the demo.

July Meeting

Ok so I am just a little late with this post.
At our July meeting our demo was done by Gary Weiermiller. Gary showed us how he does his seed pods.
Gary first turned the seed pod, which was basically a review of his blind boring demo. Then Gary showed us how he refined the shape and added detail through carving. It was a very interesting demo. Below are some pictures from the demo as well as the show and tell table. If you weren't present....,you missed a great demo.

Shear Scrapper by Tom Cadwalader

I was looking through the newest issue of the Woodturners catalog the other day.  In the tool selection guide I saw a Shear Scrapper.  The description read:

"A shear scrapper is simular to a standard scrapper with the burr on top side of the tool used to cut the wood.  Shear scrappers have a semi-rounded underside that allows you to roll the scrapper on it's side, which changes the angle of the cut from scrapping to a shearing cut resulting in a smoother surface in some cases"

This tweaked my interest, as I had just had a very difficult time with some end grain tear out issues in the las few pieces I had turned.  I looked through the various tools offered,  including those that were endorsed or somehow designed by well known turners.  To my surprise there were hardly any shear scrappers offered.  Why weren't all of them offering shear scrappers ?  Maybe they aren't the answer to my tear out problem after all.

Shear scraping has to be better than scrapping.  How are other turners getting the shearing cut from their scrappers.  I have seen our demonstrators making shearing cuts with gouges, but scrappers don't normally have rounded bottoms.  Are others modifying their scrappers to allow them to be rolled into a shearing position ?

I welcome others to comment,  all of this sanding of end grain tear-out is not fun.

Tom Cadwalader

Some new turnings by Tom Cadwalader

An Ash bowl ( or open vessel ?)  12" x 4 1/2"  The textured banding is  also has ruby Rub'N Buff for contrast.

Cherry Burl natural edge bowl.  5 1/2" x 4 "

Open Vessels from spalted pecan.

The larger one is 9 " x 5" and the smaller one is 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"

One more cut by Tom Cadwalader

One more cut to get just a little bit more of the nub off.

Cherry Bowl by Tom Cadwalader

The above bowl is a piece of cherry that was cored from a larger bowl.  It was cored but wasn't turned on the inside.  It was just put away for a year or more inside a paper bag.
I feel as though the pictures don't quite capture the true tone of the wood.  I might be a little biased, but I think it looks better than the picture shows.
The bowl is 7 1/4 " x 2 3/4" with a mineral oil and wax finish.

It was intended to be a bowl for our personal use.......but my wife things it should be sold.

Platter by Tom Cadwalader

Below are some pictures of a Birdseye Maple Platter.  It is about 8 1/4 " x 1 1/2".

The wood was a thin piece of slab wood that was a bring back from one of out meetings.  The finish is Danish Oil.

I also made a small bowl from the cut - off when I made the platter.  Don't want to waste any Birdseye !  The bowl is 3 3/4" x 1 1/4"  The finish is Food Grade Mineral Oil and Natural Waxes. ( Butcher Block Conditioner ).

May 2012 Meeting

Pictures form todays meeting.  Lawrence did a demonstration of the various cuts than can be done with a fingernail grind on a bowl gouges.  It was a great demonstration and few of us grabbed the gouge to try the various cuts with Lawrence's guidance.

Birdseye Maple Box by Jim Rutledge

After watching Bill Wiered's April demo I choose to try a multiple axis turning.  This hollow flask/box was done with a chuck only...no glue blocks.  It is 5 x 3 inches from birdseye maple and walnut.