As The Wood Turns Internet Version

May 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
> April 2005 Gallery
> Club Meeting Minutes
> Bottle Stopper Contest
> Gallery Review Schedule

The Greatest Risk is Not Taking One
The last time you stood at the lathe did you take a risk? I don’t mean a safety risk, of course. I am talking about pushing your artistic and technical boundaries. “The greatest risk is not taking one”. I'm quoting an advertisement from AIG, a financial investment company. The statement rings true, no matter the endeavor. If you don’t push yourself, if you don’t test a new idea, well, no risk equals no growth.

As members of the CWT, and as members of the woodturning community, we are obligated to stretch out, both technically and artistically as turners, and as members of our community. Turning a paper thin bowl, making a matched set of candle sticks, making that last, nerve wracking finishing cut all involve risk. The last cut is when the spiral catch occurs; it's when the bowl becomes a funnel. It is when we attempt a new technique that things can go awry. The risk? Firewood. The reward? A great turning, a new skill learned, a new confidence in yourself.

The same applies to our club. To volunteer as a mentor or committee chair, to commit to helping to improve the educational process, that is also taking a risk. The risk: Your time and personal commitment. The reward: A private satisfaction that comes from helping; from doing what you know is the right thing. Your student rolls a concentric bead, fits a box lid properly, and has safe shop habits. Your club’s library is organized, your club's books balance, your club hosts a guest demonstrator. At that demonstration, there’s fresh coffee, good lighting, and the video camera works. And you made it happen, because you took a risk.

There is one more risk that bears our attention. Asking for help. To do so is admitting a lack of knowledge, risking an ego bruising. In our club, believe me, that is no risk at all. Every member is ready and willing to help one another towards better turning and greater artistic understanding. That’s the way it is in Chicago, and the way it is in the woodturning community worldwide.

Until May, take a risk, be there for your fellow turners, and please turn safely.

Paul Shotola
Email address:

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Meeting Demonstrators 2005

May
Turning Thin Bowls — Binh Pho

June
Designing & Building Your Own Tools — Francisco Bauer

July
Identifying Woods — Grant Barlow

August (tentative)
From Log to Bowl — Dan Anderson

September (tentative)
Marbling — Carole Floate

October (tentative)
Power Carving for the Woodturner — Pixie Eslinger

November (tentative)
Threaded Lid Boxes — Fran Islin

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Minutes of the Chicago Woodturners Club Meeting on April 2005
 By Paul Cavanagh

President Paul Shotola opened the meeting at 7 pm and explained the usual house and safety rules.

The club’s library of books, videos, DVDs, and tools has grown very large over the last few years, so the Board of Directors decided to separate the tools out of the library. Paul asked for a volunteer to be the new Tool Librarian and Larry Heuvelman is now the new CWT Tool Librarian. Please give him your cooperation in borrowing and returning tools. (Besides, he is a big guy and has a very big wrench!) Special thanks to Larry because this is a big job that badly needs doing.

We also need someone to assist the gallery photographer and Alice Call volunteered. Thank you, Alice.

Bottle Stopper contest at this meeting drew some pretty amazing entries. The votes are being tallied and the winners will be announced next meeting.

Auction of the ¾ HP motor and the AC controller from the Woodfast lathe. Bidding is open until midnight on May 8th. Email Paul Shotola with your bid. Bids will be posted on the website or Yahoo Groups.

The next guest demonstrator will be Bob and Susan Rosand on May 21st. They specialize in small, but highly decorated, turnings. Come and enjoy.

Paul Shotola reiterated that Turning Days at Woodcraft will be May 28 and Oct 15, 2005. All members are encouraged to come down and make some curls and friends on those days. Teach someone to turn.

Microplane, Inc. donated some rotating planers and several varied hand planning heads to the raffle. They also offer CWT members discounts on their website http://www.microplane.com/ using discount number.

The Craft Supply promotions are now listed on their website, www.woodworkerscatalog.com Check the site for monthly specials and mention CWT.

Library News
John Crissman noted he has a new video from Scorby. But the Big library news is that Dennis Sullivan donated boxes of videos from his own collection. Thank you, Dennis!

Anyone who is interested in doing a demonstration of any aspect of woodturning or related areas, such as carving, finishing, decorating, etc., please contact VP Phil Brooks. No experience necessary.

Raffle included some two nice tools, wood blanks, and several Microplane items.

The gallery was then reviewed by Tom Paul Pyrcik. There was a much larger number of pieces included in this months gallery, which he noted.

The demonstration was on segmented turning and the use of the ringmaster tool.

CLEAN-UP VOLUNTEERS FOR MAY
Don Johnston
Tony Olszewski
Jim Friedman
Dave Buchholz

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Gallery Review

April was Paul Pyrcik

May — Chuck Young

Bottle Stopper Contest  The votes are being tallied and the winners will be announced next meeting.

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