Abridged Treen Topics which is printed and sent to members monthly.
This is November 2008 edition.
From the President
It was a bit of a shock when I
realised it was November and we were rapidly approaching the end of
2008. We have a very compact program for the rest of this year. We have
been invited to attend a Crafts Night for women at Bunning's on Tuesday
night 18 November 08, we have the general meeting on Wednesday night 19
November 08, the workshop on tool handling turning on Saturday 22
November 08 and the Christmas BBQ at Kangaroo Valley on Sunday 7
December 2008. As you can see this will mean a very busy couple of
weeks.
The following is a summary of actions the committee has or is currently
undertaking:
* The moving of the Clubs Library from the High School to Coastal Phones
allowing greater access to this valuable resource.
* Design and produce an advertising pamphlet that details what the club
stands for and the contact details of the executive.
* Production of a CD illustrating the work undertaken by members.
* The design and construction of shelve units and table tops for the Arts
Centre.
* We intend to start negotiations with the Men's shed over use of their
facilities.
* We are obtaining details of our current insurance cover to determine
what if any changes are needed to operate at the Men's shed.
* The purchase of a bandsaw, table saw and a dust extractor from Keith
Turner. We intend to use these items in the Men's Shed.
* We will be drafting the program for 2009 very shortly and intend to
include as many workshops as we can fit in.
* We have made contact with Bunning's to see if we can use their BBQ
facilities for fund raising.
As you can see there is a lot of work that is being undertaken by the
committee and mostly transparent to the club members.
If there is anything that you would like included in the program for
2009 please let me know and we will see if we can include it.
Ornamental Woodturning Display 25th October.
The Kiama woodies kindly invited members of the Shoalhaven Woodcraft
Society to attend the workshop they had organised on Ornamental
Woodturning. The Kiama woodies had arranged for the Ornamental
Woodturning Group of Australia to provide a demonstration at the Kiama
High School.
The Ornamental Woodturning Group of Australia is based in Sydney but as
we witnessed they are well practiced at providing demonstrations. The
loading and unloading of their vehicles was like watching a well
practiced military operation. The Ornamental Woodturners are a very
friendly bunch who was able to demonstrate great skill and ingenuity in
pursuit of their craft. The thought and skill that goes into the making
of their lathes is inspiring and the cost involved in getting into
Ornamental turning is only a few hundred dollars rather than the
thousands that I had envisaged.
We will be receiving a set of plans from the Ornamental Turners that
detail the construction of a basic ornamental woodturning lathe and one
of their members Tom Cattell manufactures the Aluminium Dividing Plates
necessary for this type of turning. Tom can be contacted on (02) 4777
4224. Tom will need to know what lathe you have and what the spindle
thread size is.
Gordon, Peter, Dennis, Stuart, Stan and I made the journey and the Kiama
woodies made us very welcome. Gordon renewed his friendship with a work
colleague from his early days in the Ambulance service. I managed to
renew contact with a number of the Kiama woodies who I met at a previous
workshop.
The Kiama woodies have given us an invitation to their Christmas Lunch
that will be held on 29 November 2008 and the Kiama woodies have an
invitation to our Christmas BBQ at Kangaroo Valley.
I spoke to all our members who attended the workshop and they all said
that
they enjoyed the day. Whilst talking to Gordon I could see the gear
wheels turning in his head and I will not be surprised to see a piece of
ornamental turning at our next show and tell.
I had a great day and all of our members who attended had a great day. I
would like to thank the Kiama Woodcraft Group for the invitation and the
hospitality and also thank the Ornamental Woodturning Group of Australia
for putting on such a friendly and informative display.
Greg ClarkOctober Meeting -
Woodwork on the Internet
Due to the absence of a guest speaker at the October meeting Bob
Turnbull gave us a well researched insight on the host of information
which can be seen on the internet . Everything from how to do almost
anything , to where you can buy all sorts of tools from anywhere in the
world and have them at your front door within a week (all going well !)
.
There are unlimited sites to look at but you need to decide whether they
suit your purpose or not and whether the quality of the information
provided is good or not . In some cases you will not agree with many
aspects of what is being said and with good reason . But on the other
hand there is lots of good stuff there for the taking and if you are
keen to pick up new ideas it is a resource which can be used to
advantage .
Show and Tell
Graham Wiseman purchased a caterer's roll of clingwrap which is much
larger than the usual domestic variety and he soon saw the need to make
a better dispenser than the cardboard box it came in . He fabricated a
plywood box to which he fitted an efficient cutter which works like a
charm . So much so in fact that every visiting lady who sees it in
operation wants one. This has resulted in Graham making about two dozen
over a period of time .
Arnold Parrott returned from a trip to the north with an interesting
mortise gauge . It has a brass rod and wearing face and the block is a
dark wood which is probably ebony or rosewood . Arnold thinks it may
have been made by Marples and it will be added to his growing
collection.
Peter Jackson has continued with his tool handle turning by making two
scratch awls . The handles are out of Blackwood and he got the steel
from B&J Tools. Nicely made Peter.
Peter has little faith in the Government's proposal to privatise the
electricity industry and their assurances that everything will be sweet
afterwards . He has demonstrated his scepticism by making a sturdy
candle holder out of walnut which will illuminate their household when
the lights go out .
Christmas Barbeque and the Great Superfoot Challenge
This is our break-up event for the year and will be held on Sunday 7th
December at the Kangaroo Valley showground . The highlight this year
will be the show and tell for the super foot challenge in which you can
make whatever you like from one super foot of wood. The basic dimension
of a super foot is 300 x 300 x 25mm . There can be any variation of
these measurements as long as the volume of wood is 2250 cubic centimetres . For example 300 x100 x 75 OR 300 x 85 x 85 OR 200 x 200 x
55 OR 130 x 130 x 130 all meet this requirement . Here is your
opportunity to let your imagination run wild and make that thing you
have been putting off for so long. Let us see what you can do .
In order to allow Warwick to cater for the barbeque we need to know at
this meeting how many are going . Please sort this out with your wife
before you come to the meeting so you can make a commitment and thereby
give us accurate numbers . Ladies are encouraged to bring their items
for show and tell as well .
The library is up and running at Coastal Phones premises on the southern
side of the IGA car park . It is more accessible than what it was at the
school and you will find it much easier to find what you are looking for
. We are asking users to sign the book when they go there just so we
have an idea of how much use is being made of this very good facility.
Equipment for Shed
After inspection and assessment for meeting OH&S requirements the
Committee has agreed to buy a bandsaw , a table saw and a dust extractor
from Keith Turner's estate for $300 . These machines will be used in the shed and
may cost another $200 for electrical work.
It is with regret that we inform you of the passing of Don Morgan.
Don passed away in his sleep on Tuesday 11 November 2008. Don had been a
member of the club for a number of years and he will be missed.
Greg Clark
Programme for November Meeting
Peter Farrell will be talking about and then demonstrating his method of
hand cutting dovetails . He has developed his system using jigs which he
calls chisel guides and which produce good results .
Tool Handle Turning Workshop
Saturday 22°d will see a workshop at Warwick's shed with three lathes in
operation . Cost will be $10 and will include a sausage sizzle lunch .
If you want to attend , put your name on the sheet that will be doing
the rounds at this meeting .
Club Website
Photos of work displayed in Creative Moments in both 2008 and 2007 are
being prepared for inclusion on our website . If you do not want your
work shown you MUST let Bob Turnbull 0412333477 or Greg Clark 44478384
know within the next two weeks .
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