As The Wood Turns Internet Version

January 2005

Location: Woodcraft Supply Store, 1280 E. Dundee Rd, Palatine IL
847-774-1186

In this Issue
> Curls from the President
> Demonstrators Schedule
   for meeting nights & weekend Master Demos
> Joining and Using the Yahoo Groups Web Site
> Library Notes

Season’s greetings and welcome to 2005. The New Year always brings changes, just like it brings those single digit temperatures. It’s inevitable, and we can’t stop it. I can't change the weather, but I can introduce you to the new officers elected to your board.

Your new Vice President is Phil Brooks. Phil is one of those people who is always there, ready to help out and contribute. He never seems to need an “attaboy” or special recognition; he just does what he can for the club. As your VP, Phil will be in charge of scheduling our monthly meeting demonstrators. The demos are one of three cornerstones of our club, and provide us with real life, knowledge from the trenches, skills and techniques that we can take home and apply to our own projects. The second key element of our club is the Gallery Review, and Jim will be scheduling folks to review and critique the work that we bring in. He’ll be looking for members to help us train our vision regarding good form and proportion, with an emphasis on good technique, both turning and finishing. As always, you are encouraged, no, you are obligated as a member of the CWT to help Phil in his quest for great demos and reviews.

Your new Treasurer is Tom Sashko, a long time member that has always contributed to the club. As Treasurer, Tom will not only take care of the mundane chores of paying the bills and balancing the checkbook, but will be actively involved, along with your other Board members, in charting the financial future of the CWT. You can rest assured that your money will be handled with a “pilot’s precision” and attention to detail.

As pleased as I am with our new Officers, the change of the guard means I won't have the assistance I have enjoyed from two great people. Fran Islin has served as your VP for the past two years, and has not only ably fulfilled her duties regarding demonstrators and reviewers, but has attended every board meeting, no matter how short the notice, and has given great input and guidance to the club. Wayne Bernahl has been your Treasurer for so long he has forgotten exactly when he was elected, but his hair was a different color. He still, however has all of it. Wayne has been the person on your board that sits back, listens to me spin out a really great idea, and then says, slowly and carefully: “Did you think of this?” “This” is always the conservative, sensible thing that I was leaving out, having become so caught up in my plan. Their good judgment and input has made my job easier and more enjoyable, and I thank both of them for their service.

If you were counting, I mentioned three cornerstones to the club. Go ahead and review, I’ll wait here. Back so soon? Good. The third component that drives the club and keeps it vital and growing is the Mentoring program. Many of our members have volunteered as Mentors, which means they are available to answer your questions, demonstrate techniques, and help you along in your turning growth. They are happy to do this, as all of them had mentors when they were starting out. In the past, the club has hosted Mentoring sessions at Woodcraft on the Saturdays following our meetings. This season, we’re going to try Sunday sessions, hoping to avoid conflicts with soccer practice, lawn maintenance and the dreaded “gainful employment”. The first session will be on Sunday, January 16, from 11:00am to 2:00 pm. We will have a couple of experienced turners on hand, so bring in your dull tools, your gnarly wood, your safety glasses and we’ll spend some hands on time at the lathes. A list of Mentors and their contact information is available on the Yahoo Groups web site.

Until January, welcome your new Board members and help them in their duties, mentor or be mentored, keep the chill off, and please turn safely.

Paul Shotola
Email address:

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Meeting Demonstrators 2004

January—
Dan & Marie Anderson
Turned Bottoms

February—
Darrel Rader
Woodturning 101

See Phil Brooks to sign up to be a demonstrator.

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Joining and Using the Yahoo Groups Web Site

The Chicago Woodturners maintain a group or private web site on Yahoo. Membership and access to this group is strictly limited to CWT members. Membership is strongly encouraged, as you will then be on the email list that your club leadership uses to communicate important messages to you. Once you have joined, you will have access to various files that the club will post, including rosters and other data that is available to members only. Other functions available include a photo gallery where you may post pictures of turning related items and events. You may also post files and web page links to the group site. The group is strictly moderated, only CWT and turning information will be posted.

To join the group, simply go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chiwt/ and select “join this group”. On your application, select your email preferences (selecting “no email” defeats the purpose of the group, so choose “special notices” if you need to limit the email messages you will receive), and put your real name in the comments box. That will identify you as a CWT member, and the group moderator can confirm your membership.

The Yahoo Group system is secure, safe and spam free. When applying for a Yahoo account (needed to join the group) the only legitimate information you need to submit to Yahoo is a valid email address. A Yahoo email address is not needed. If you have questions or problems with the Group, contact Andy Kuby or Paul Shotola for guidance through the process.

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Since two heads are better than one, Dick Stone and Bud Tiskis have each reviewed it:

Dick Stone’s Review
This is a quite detailed coverage of the subject starting with wood choice and going step by step to final polishing. It has 10 chapters each of which can be revisited easily in the DVD format. Bill handles this in an easy to follow and very common manner. It contains many little tips which would be helpful to any turner. I recommend it for any but the most accomplished bowl maker.

Bud Tiskis’ Review
Bill Grumbine is a turner who teaches woodturning in Kutztown PA. Turning Bowls Made Easy covers turning a bowl, step by step; from chain sawing timber, to polishing a finished bowl with a buff, and just about everything in between. This is a professional production video, with good photography, and nice close ups, of the four main types of cuts that he uses turning a bowl, somewhat ala Ellsworth. There is not much dead time, of just shavings being made, or thrilling clips of him sanding. Bill is always feeding the viewer with knowledge throughout the process. The approximate two hours and 15 minute running time is jammed packed with information in this condensed production. Bill’s teaching abilities are obvious, with the fact that he not only explains what he’s doing, but also why, always pointing out potential pitfalls along the way.

If I had one main gripe with the instruction, it's with “his” method of using the Wolverine Vari-Grind jig, (no setting block), just eyes it out, making jig adjustments at each grind, which defeats some of the efficiency & speed of the jig if used properly.

Bill has a website with some great turning information, lots of step by step photographs of more unique turning topics, such as harvesting a large tree, and using the McNaughton coring tool. Both the DVD & his website www.wonderfulwood.com are well worth checking out.

• We are always open to donations of woodworking/craft books, periodicals, videos and DVDs.
• Thanks to all what have donated to the library in 2004. You have made it a great year!

Have a Safe and Happy New Year,
John

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