Classic City Woodturners

Fellow Woodturners, the next meeting of the Classic City Woodturners is Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St, Athens.  The meeting begins at 6 PM.   Gene Wengert is our demonstrator for April.  Gene is an expert on woods and is known as the “Wood Doctor”. Gene has been a woodworker for over 65 years.  He began his career with the US Forest Products Lab in Madison, WI, with work on solar heated lumber dryers.  After 15 years there, he transferred to Virginia Tech for 16 years and then to the University of Wisconsin as a wood products extension specialist.  He is known for translating complex aspects about wood and wood processing into practical procedures.  He has written 9 books about wood processing and over 500 magazine articles.   

Since he is known as the Wood Doctor, we can bring questions to our meeting to see if we can get answers or can  “stump the Wood Doctor.”   Topics will include moisture measurement and effects, gluing tips, sandpaper, and wood species. This program will be a discussion and will include identifying species both domestic and exotic.  He will present a discussion on moisture content in wood and demonstrate the use of various types of moisture meters.  His demonstration will include control of moisture content in turning projects as well as other woodworking projects.

Gene’s resume and a brief outline of his presentation are attached.  Gene will discuss building a solar kiln as part of his discussion on moisture content.  Link for plans for one are as follows:

               http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/420/420-030/420-030_pdf.pdf

Gene will bring a small solar heated kiln in his pickup truck.  Our program will be informative and should be a hands on type of meeting with participation from the group.  Remember to bring some wood for the raffle and bring a guest.  If you haven’t paid your dues it is time to do so.

Fellow Woodturners, our next meeting is March 5, 2019.  We meet at 6:00 PM at the Lyndon House Arts Center located at 293 Hoyt Street, Athens.  Our demonstrator for the month is Ken Rizza.  Ken is the owner of Woodturners Wonders which sells various woodturning supplies and tools..  He will demonstrate sharpening carbide bits used in carbide turning tools.  This time the demonstration will be hands on so any person who wants to sharpen whatever tool they bring can do so.  Sharpening skews should be of particularly interest.  The demonstration will also include honing.  Members should bring a couple of tools but don’t monopolize the entire time with tool sharpening.

The demonstration will show sharpening using CBN wheels and grinder and then participants sharpen their tools, especially skews as they are difficult to sharpen.  There will be a chuck with a bowl blank partially turned to demonstrate sanding tools.  Additionally Ken will show his latest respiratory protection gear, especially the new Sundstrom half face respirator with either particulate or vapor filters.  Also super glue products, lathe lamps, which are LED and have a high light output and sanding tools .  There will be an opportunity to take orders or buy various items Ken will have available. 

Remember to bring something for the raffle and a friend.  If you haven’t paid dues for 2019 bring your check book.  Individual memberships are $30 and family memberships $35.

Fellow Woodturners, our next CCW meeting is Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at the Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt St, Athens. The meeting begins at 6 PM and concludes around 8:30 PM. The demonstrator for February is Marvin Payne, a member of the CCW.

Marvin will be doing a demonstration on turning a natural edge winged bowl. Not only will he turn this from a piece of log but he will also demonstrate safety tips and techniques that need to be followed. By following these safety tips and techniques the process of turning a winged bowl can be done by most turners.

Marvin has made this presentation to various clubs in this area and has worked with this technique at John C Campbell Folk School on five different occasions including as an instructor and also at Arrowmont under the guidance of David Ellsworth. 

As we begin a new year, it’s time to pay 2019 dues. Individual dues is $30 and a real bargain of $35 for a family membership.

Remember to invite a guest and bring something for the raffle. This should be a good demonstration so he is hoping for a big crowd.

Justin sent out an email for a headcount.  Those of us attending, it is Tuesday, Dec 11, 2018, 6 PM at the clubhouse in the Greystone Subdivision (where we have met for the past several years), cost: $10 person.