November 12, 2014 General Meeting and impromptu Picnic
The regular meeting room locks did not respond to any codes to unlock the doors so we sat at the picnic tables. Apologies in advance for any omissions, but working in the dark and changing locations made part of this report a bit disjointed. We had four guests who introduced themselves.
Mike spoke about the Christmas party, and promised not to eat all the food this year. He reports that Susan promised to spiral cut a ham on her lathe! He asked that all bring two gifts to share with club members—spouses usually get a gift and the remaining items are auctioned off.
Sue Darovec announced that February 15 and 16 is the Florida State Fair. Volunteer workers get free tickets, with extras available(for free) if desired.
The November’sTurners meeting will have a guest turner, featuring a talk on making pens.
A discussion was held about how to attract new members. Some found us from the display at Kimal Lumber. Some found us from an internet search.
360 Woodworking.com was reportedly started by three people that all left Popular Woodworking Magazine at the same time. No one was sure why they left or the circumstances surrounding their sudden departure.
Mike Swart announced shifts will be open at the Tool Show in March. Workers get free admission, so sign up for a shift at the club’s booth. The club has had two booth spaces for the past two years and filled the space with fine wood work and some outstanding 2 by 4 contest entries.
The general meeting theme was jigs and fixtures.
Mike Swart showed of his Rockler clamp table as it is Mike’s favorite. He makes a lot of pocket hole face frames.
Joe : A table saw cross cut sled was shown. Joe shares that one should use the Fostner bit first before the screw pilot bit.
John Darovec: A one-time use jig was shown that fits a cup in his bathroom that was recently remodeled.
John Phillips: A jig with a strap was shown that holds a long log to be cut on the bandsaw. The jig keeps the log from spinning around when cut. John also showed a “go no—go” measuring jig sized to fir his lathe’s spiral scroll chuck. A guest mentioned that a Little ripper jig is a commercially available jig that can be purchased that does the same thing.
Larry Simmons: A handy dandy beader! A slotted head screw was inserted into a shaped 2 by 4. Then when the screw is flush, file the screw flat. The screw is withdrawn to the desired amount and when drawn along the work piece, the beginning of a hand-made bead is made. Another piece was made with two screws in the same manner, but the screws were spaced apart the width of a desired mortise by turning the screws in or out. Then when rubbed against a work piece, two lines are scribed at the same time, showing the outline of the mortise.
Show and Tell:
Denny Wetter: An open segmented vase with a floating bottom and a mahogany vase with a lid.
Ed Columbo: A layered and segmented walnut salad bowl along with salad utensils made of cherry finished with arsenic and mineral oil.
Raul Detweiler: A lighthouse intarsia along with a jig on a lazysusan with pegs sticking up. He positions his work piece on the pegs and then applies finish. He also brought in a wooden hammer to be given as a gift.
Mike Swart: A photo of a library shelf system and a rolling ladder with upper hooks. He worked hard to achieve a 12 degree pitch (incline from vertical) just right.
John Phillips: A small watch making tool kit for which he rebuilt the box and the base. Also he showed us a small compartmented possum animal out of wood. John showed photos of an oval vanity mirror he made for his relatives. John promises he will never work on an oval again, as there is no reference point.
Fred Daimamos: A mahogany picture frame from cut –offs. Fred cautioned about using compressed air since it may contain compressor oil and water that can ruin a finish, causing him to strip and refinish a brand new piece. Note that air compressors use oil internally as a lubricant, which can get into the air stream, so be careful using spray equipment. Also, as the compressor works to put air under pressure, water vapor is compressed along with the air. That water vapor can condense inside the pressure tank, or in the air lines, as the hot compressed air leaves the tank and cools down as it gets to the spray equipment, sometimes coming out a sputtering mess. And thus the woodworks acronym for, “ Don’t Ask Me How I Know.”
Andrew DiLorenzo: Showed a small bowl of hollyberry (he thinks) wood finished with water based stain and India ink.
