WSWT Newsletter – August 2007
Meeting Report Sunday August 5th
Ted Hickford in the chair – no joke – but we all came to order! Secretary Tony Matthews then reported that we would be attending the Surrey Association of Woodturners‘ Open Day on Sunday October 28th at the Mytchett Center near Farnborough. David Unsted and team will ensure that the club exhibits get there (and back!). These will be chosen at our Wood Turner of the Year evening on October 19th. Individuals are also able to enter an open competition – Tony has the rules of engagement.
Don Pollard, events organiser then introduced our demonstrator of the day,
Mark Raby, from Chestnut Products,
and Peter Hemsley from The ToolPost, a
Chestnut agent, based in Didcot.)
Mark quickly got underway, talking generally and amusingly about
‘finishing’ and finishing types and aids. His first up-front comment
has come from Charlie Martyn and Peter Coxall a few times recently:
‘take as much time finishing as you take turning the item’. He also
pointed out that kitchen roll is absorbent and full of lint, the last thing to use
when applying something to a surface. It is designed to mop up and that is what it
does! Synthetic pads work well (as does paper roll from the shop!) and when
applying over big areas, a foam ‘lollipop’ is superior to a brush.
Another early snippet was to avoid diluting sanding sealer except on big pieces,
and then only by 10%, to prevent lifting the grain.
Mark, using small pre-turned items took us through colouring (using uv resistant, spirit based colours) on bare wood, sealing (don’t use shellac after colour) burnishing (before and after your chosen coat). He makes a point of allowing the burnishing cream to ‘flash off for half a minute’ before working. To avoid rings he prefers aerosols or ‘safety pads’ for application, but the key is to work deftly from one end of the item — ‘chasing the rings out’. Good stuff on stick waxing and oiling and many more gems; impossible to capture them all! A gently amusing, most informative morning that should, if taken on board, see an improvement in our collective finishing standards. (A big one in my case!) Don’s thanks and the applause was well deserved. Mark got home safely and phoned Don to say that he very much enjoyed his time with us.
Future Events
The next meeting is on the first Sunday in September and fields the convoluted
turning competition and much more!
Two lathes will be available and members Charlie Martyn, David Gwynne,
Ron Wicks and Jim Young will be demonstrating fruit turning while the
judges carry out their duties. Thanks to research by David Peffers,
additional ideas on convoluted/involuted turning can be found on US based websites
– but under the banner of ‘inside-out’ turning…
Turner of the Year evening is Friday 19th October, 7.00 for 7.30,
at our usual haunt (Sullington Village Hall) – full details next month.
Sorby‘s Sharpening Demo Day is being held at W.L.West & Sons in
Selham on Monday 20th August, 10.00 until 4.00. Demos throughout the day.
The long weekend of 25th-27th at Wakehurst Place will
have at least one good display to augment the late summer gardens - several of our
members will have top quality items on show and (of course) for sale.
The big bash at Bentley Weald is 21st/ – 23rd September.
Wood crafts with demos are well represented.
For Sale
An Axminster M900 vari speed lathe on stand, very little used since new. Also chuck, turning tools and a selection of blanks. £300 or close. Barry O’Neill on 01903 690080.
Member Albert Milligan (01403 710104) has a Myford ML8 lathe for sale. 30″ between centres, ¾hp motor, 4 speed with many extras. Available for £350 o.n.o.
And Not for Sale
Member David Martin has a Taiwan made 37″ round bed lathe with all accessories. ‘A bit worn but still capable of good service’. David (01903 742272) just wants someone to provide it with a good home. Winner collects!
Encouragement for the ageing male of our species
You really should not worry too much about the occasional failure to ‘zip up’. Dementia is not just around the corner. So, cheer up!! The big problem is when you forget to zip down…