Author: srdm1207gmailcom

After what seems like an age we finally got together as a club for a Show and Tell – one of the best evenings in the calendar where members get the chance to show their recent (and not so recent) turnings. Contributions from Alan Quinlan and Steve Martin commenced proceedings before Roy again explained his segmented work.

Russell then introduced Brian who had many amusing tales to tell about his turnings before Alan Jones took the floor. He showed us how to make a jeweller’s clamp and a couple of whistles. Russell himself finished this section of the evening with an eclectic mix of items.

After the break Geoff, as usual, entertained everyone by describing his items and ended by producing a surprise package for Russell to open – carefully!

Graham, Phil Morris and Roger with his carved walking stick and other items moved the evening on at a pace.

Ivor then warned us about the perils of turning wet wood before Steve, Ian and a newly – shorn Dexter showed their items. A hugely enjoyable evening as always!

Internal Demo of Off Centre Turning by Alan Edwards

Following on from Ian Ethell’s demo about eccentric turning Alan choose a different subject within the same discipline – pendants turned off centre. Firstly he showed a large audience how to make the jig to hold the blank to be turned. After rounding his blank to the required size and thickness he mounted this off centre to a backboard with hot melt glue before making a hole to the correct size for the blanks he’d prepared.

He then rounded the edges of the blank between centres before mounting it into the jig. Once mounted in the chuck Alan turned a bevel and hole in his yew blank before turning the jig round and repeating the turning to the reverse side.

For his next pendant Alan again rounded the corners of a a paduak blank in the same way before turning a series of centred rings with his thin parting tool. To reverse turn the blank he mounted it onto a block of wood with hot melt glue and off centred it repeating the same rings.

The reverse turning then broke through to the original producing a lacy ‘cobweb’ effect. Thanks to Alan for a thoroughly absorbing evening.

As a new departure for our club we decided, for our internal demo to have not one but four different projects on view so that members could move around the room during the evening. Alan Edwards showed his breadth of skill and knowledge in making bowls and boxes which, I know, many members are interested in.

Moving around the room groups of interested spectators watched Alan P making a variety of needle cases.

The other two demonstrations were given by Russell and Steve – both demonstrating for the first time! Russell showed a number of fruits that he had made and shared how to turn apples with his audience. And Steve demonstrated spindle work in making whistles – standard and sliding!

From the feedback everyone enjoyed the new format.

Multi – Axis Turning by Ian Ethell

To demonstrate this complicated process Ian choose a humble honey dipper – but not as you know it! This one had 9 different axis’ which, luckily, he had produced an information sheet for with examples to illustrate the journey.

Firstly he marked out his blank and began turning the outside of the handle (step 2) with his skew followed by the inside (3). Returning the work to true centre (headstock position 2 + tailstock position 2) he fashioned the honey dipper portion of the project using the skew and thin parting tool.

After the break he continued to turn the eccentric details (steps 5 – 8) following the published plan before delicately parting the dipper off.

Finally, as there was just about enough time left, Ian turned the holder and base to complete the project. An excellent and, for most of us, informative evening.

This evening’s Show and Tell illustrated the value of sharing your woodturning experiences with the group. Several members sought and received advice about problems they had encountered whilst making boxes (tonight’s theme) or other projects. Introduced by Sue, Russell started the evening off with a variety of work with a story attached to each. Roy then showed us a Pagoda Box and a Jewellery Store prompting a number of questions from the audience. Roger then stepped up with the story of his vase with airbrushed embellishment.

Mark showed us a number of items that had been ebonised and waxed including a large platter. Alan Quinlan showed a pine box that he was rightly proud of followed by Alan Edwards’ contributions amongst which were an egg box and a smoker.

Judy’s amazing conkers that she had made 40 years ago excited much interest and many questions!

Contributions from Brian, Ian Andrea and Steve moved the evening along at pace.

For the last section of the evening Phil showed us one of his experiments with his new airbrushing kit and described the problems he’d experienced with it. Keith, William, Sue and Ivor showed us their items to round off a packed and successful evening.