Words from the Chair

Nearly there!

As it stands and unless there is further intervention resulting in a change to current rules our first club meeting since this all began will be on the third Wednesday in September although this is still to be confirmed.

Committee have met and agreed we will continue to follow recommended protocols.

• Unless exempt, masks shall be worn in the hall.

• Sanitiser where provided should be used.

• Do not enter kitchen unless helping.

• Chairs will be spaced and should not be moved.

Please bring correct cash entry fee, this is important as we are unable to accept card payments.

We will try to make the evening as ‘normal’ as possible but there will not be a shop for the time being.

It has taken a long time to get to this stage and I am guessing it will feel strange when we all meet again but I for one am really looking forward to this new beginning.

Newsletter

For those members who may have been due to attend the AWGB seminar in late September, we regret to inform you that the event has been cancelled this year in favour of a ‘virtual’ seminar. The AWGB hope to put on a physical seminar in 2022.

A Focus on Allan Whiffin

Allan has kindly written his story of woodturning over the past 40+ years, detailing how this has been intertwined with his life and other passions. An absolute joy to read as it is laced with humour as well stories of how things can turn your plans up side down. Read the article by clicking below.

Oak Burr for sale

I have a saw mill in Nayland and have a nice selection of burr wood mainly oak. Prices vary from £75 down to £20, I have some stunning pieces at the moment. 1st photo is £50, second is nearly 2ft all round and is £75 3rd is a selection varying from £20 up to £40. Always happy to do a deal. Photos do not do this wood justice, well worth a site visit to see first hand.

Contact Shaun at shaundoyle9@hotmail.com if interested.

Segmented Pens?

by George Locker

Do you watch the Zoom meetings organised by Record Power ?

I have seen a few but the times have not suited me for a while and I certainly will not be watching just after midnight!!!

There was one meeting a few weeks ago and the demonstrator was in the USA and he showed how to make a segmented pen.

So I bought some sheet stuff like he had and I am sending you a few pictures to show how they turned out!

The first picture with five pens shows the first two which are made with ebony

The third one is a composite material which a friend called Nick Banks said came from an electrical switch board. They had some at our last Saturday get together at Sandon. The blanks are 3/4" diameter and 6" long and at that time there were about 12 in the box (and I took six of them.!) There is a dark red streak running through then, only just shows up after polishing.

The fourth one is Bubinga and the fifth is Silver Birch.

The second picture is the Silver Birch

The third picture is the composite material which has a little bit red marking in it.

I have tried using Ca glue on these (10 coats!) I just used Thin Ca and gave it a squirt of the hardener after each coat. I then polished it with wet and dry 800, 1200 and 1500 which removed all the little marks I could see then a final polish with burnishing cream.

The pen kits for the single piece are from Beaumont Ink and called Sirocco. They are about £7-£8 each depending on the finish, ie, Gold, Titanium, Black Titanium etc.

The slimline pen kits I got them from Craft Supplies USA. I used to order 10 and had them sent to my daughter in California, then I picked them up when we visited them once a year.

Of course that has come to a stop these last two years. I think they cost about $8 each and were called Gold Titanium or just Titanium. (All supposed to be hard wearing)

I was once told 'don't buy the cheap kits, if you are using good wood blanks you should use good kits otherwise you are wasting your time and talent'

I wonder if you would call this kind of effort as segmented for our annual competition?

Thanks to George Locker for his interesting pens - We’ll now be keeping our eyes out for some switchboards - Best be disused ones or we could get ourselves into some trouble!

What happens once you get your first workshop?

I’m sure you’ve all been in a position where, as a WOOD turner, it is often conflated with being an ‘expert in all things wood’. That one was news to me, but it tickled my ego just enough to be persuaded to try carving a new table leg. Fortunately, the same person who asked me to do that lives next to a retiring timber merchant who is looking to get rid of some wood. Perfect Payment! I thought. Little did I know that ‘some’ wood was a pallet full, which made an interesting exercise in getting the wood home in our little Volkwagen polo! The wood was destined for the fire - ‘Sacrilege’ I’m sure you’d cry out! especially when you find out that it is Brazilian mahogany. Needless to say, I took the whole lot. At the very least, a lot of spindle turning practice is better than this beautiful wood being burnt. My intention is to create some small bud vases as wedding favours for my wedding next July - A good project to practice my skills and build some consistency. We are having a comparatively small wedding at 40 guests so need to get cracking soon!

The wood also became handy when the local Roundtable that I am a part of suggested a rounder match for a social event. Great - I could do with a bit of exercise. An hour before we were due to meet, it turned out that no one actually owned a rounders bat. Not to worry I thought, I could whip one up and it worked well - Who knew woodturners could save the day? I think we should get a super hero cape. I just hoped that it wouldn’t get mistaken as a truncheon and that I’d get charged with possessing a dangerous weapon. I’m pleased to report that fate didn’t fall upon me.

The final job on my list was building a phone stand to a particular design, to hold two mobile phones, which my friend asked me to make for her home working desk. By chance, I mocked one of these up to a slightly different design on my 3D ‘CAD’ (Computer Aided Design) software, and I thought I’d get some practice in with the old design software and engrave her initials into the piece. I’ve used the engraving before when turning cap for a mallet (see the ‘members work’ section of the website) and I’d like to try combining turning with some CAD/CAM techniques - Ideas are welcome! We moved into our house in late May, and I’m quite pleased with how much I’ve been able to get done in the new workshop - There’s always a job to do!

Kyle McGill - July 2021

Woodturning Zoom - https://woodturningzoom.com/

Don’t forget to have a look and let us know what you think. It might just trigger a thought that you want to share about how we can do things to interest you.

If you decide to get involved, let us know your experience! - info@chelmerwood.co.uk

Conkers Live

The web demos brought to you by Chestnut Products.

The next sessions are as follows with the presenters to be announced shortly.

• 2 August 2021

• 26 August 2021

• 4-5 September 2021 – Woodturning Weekender!

• 30 September 2021

https://chestnutproducts.co.uk/conkers-live/

Show and tell - August’s Theme

The AWGB are now running a monthly competition called Show and Tell where you can enter to win a £50 voucher.

August’s Theme – Baroque Inspired

In contrast to July’s theme, we look at the other end of the spectrum of being highly ornate and detailed. Here we are looking for a piece with many different elements that work together to form a whole. Will you put Bellarmine’s chapel dome pyrographed into a bowl? How about a lamp body with a 100 beads? A uniquely segmented pen? We can’t wait to see what you produce!

Prize – £100 total voucher from Whyaye Wood. Whyaye Wood will kindly add £50 to the £50 AWGB voucher.

Deadline for entries is the 31st August.

See existing entries as the come in here - www.awgb.co.uk/show-tell/

See how to enter and the rules here - www.awgb.co.uk/show-tell/show-tell-rules/