Farewell Note from James Rutledge

 The following is from an e-mail from Jim Rutledge:

Woodturners, 

Hope things are well.  As you know I have supported the (Retreat and hold) response to covid.  As people have started the vaccination process, I think that the coming summer may bring more normal conditions for us.  I want to share with you my situation which has direct impact on our woodturning club.  As you know I had a hip replacement on November 10, 2020 recovery going on well. In early December I started experiencing shortness of breath.  After extensive testing it was determined that I had developed an acute autoimmune disease called Myasthenia-Gravis (MG).  The disease attacks the voluntary muscles, eyesight, ability to balance.  I spent 16 days in the Petoskey hospital.  I am currently under the care of Dr. Levy in Petoskey who is the country’s leading authority in this disease.  I am able to walk with a walker, but not stand for long periods of time.  I have also developed some small blood clots in the lungs controlled by meds (blood thinners).  The disease also caused severe fatigue.  I would be unable to attend meetings.  (must avoid dust)  I think my woodworking career is over.  My goal at this point with my doctor is to control my symptoms (this disease is not curable) to a point allowing a more normal life.  Most people with this disease do improve to this point after a long recovery - months - years.

Steve has agreed to organize and run meetings during the half year he is here.  I am asking others to step up and help run meetings and carry this club forward.  You could make this a combined woodworking & woodturning club or not.  As I said I am not able to attend and run meetings.  Steve is just asking for help.  

Sometime in the future I will have a sale of my equipment.  A shaky man on blood thinners should not be using sharp tools on moving machinery.  Please feel free to contact me about the club or anything else.  I will miss watching us get better together.

Our connection to the schools, especially your demos were a very positive feature for us.  The St.Ignace paper has been very good promoting us.  We have new members, etc., definitely a reason to continue.  I will contribute if able in a very limited capacity.  Please contact me with questions, ideas, etc..

Jim  906-287-5114, email:  ljrut@sbcglobal.net  

Jim Rutledge

 

We all wish Jim the best and hope his health improves.  Jim we will miss having you at the meetings.

Yours friends at Hiawatha Woodturners

 When I lived in Northern Michigan, and was active in this club I was always envious of Gary Smith's shop.  Well I finally have a shop that rivals Gary's, (but without the carved window and door trim.  Thats the good news....the bad news is that I have to share it with about 76 other woodworkers.  

Our community has a woodworking club with a shop with multiples of any power tool a person could want.  So I can still get my woodturning fix...as long as one of the 3 lathes is open.  Fortunately the lathes don't t seem to be the more popular work stations.  

 

Archie's Soft Burl Finally Completed

 You may recall that back in August of 2020, I posted some pictures of a soft burl I was turning and how the shavings stuck together and it ripped and did not cut well.   This is the only good piece I got from a large burl.   Most of it was so badly rotted that I had to throw it away.  I still have on unfinished bowl. 

The burl has very wide rings and you could press your finger nail into the wood.   Above is what I posted in August.  Well it is done.  Finished.  Yea.  I soaked the bowl in denatured alcohol and then dried it in a sealed bag for four months.  When I took it out it did not feel wet anymore.  Below is a side view of the finished bowl.

I cleaned out the worm holes before applying the finish.  It was a pain sand as the wood clogged the sandpaper.   Here is a look at the inside.   You can see the width of the wood rings. 

Added some decorations to the bottom.  For the writing I used an electric engraving tool and then poured the shellac over it to soak into the writing and circles.

The finish is a coat of wax free shellac then three-part finish (shellac, linseed oil, and alcohol mix) and buffed.   On top of that I put finishing wax for good measure.   Looks nice but I really had a hard the getting the sanding scratches out.  Luckily the finish hides the remaining ones.   - ajp2