Issue 5, May 13,1986
GET
SHARP-BE AT THE MAY MEETING
Do
you have a desire to learn more about tool sharpening? If you’re well versed in
sharpening, do you mind sharing your skills with some of us who can benefit
from your experiences? We’re all aware that sharp tools cut smoother, are
safer, and last longer than their dull cousins. Phil Bishop and Tom Cowan have
invested in wetstones (the power kind) and have agreed to demonstrate their
prowess with them. Phil has set up the May meeting as a sharpening clinic and
workshop. He’s asked all of us to bring in a chisel or woodturning tool for the
demonstration and, if anyone has a favorite oilstone, Arkansas stone or
sharpening jig to bring it to the meeting. Phil has plans for a sharpening
attachment which works with a grinder. He will have the plans at the meeting
for us to look at. Be sure not to miss this meeting, we all may pick up some
helpful tips.
We
still have plenty of membership applications so bring a friend to the meeting.
EXECUTIVE
BOARD MEETING
Henry
Davis, our club President will try again to convene the Executive Committee
meeting after our regular meeting—if time allows. We’ll discuss the general
health of the club and solicit ideas for the clubs direction. All members are
invited to stick around for the meeting. Everyones ideas are welcome.
TURNING
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTED APRIL MEETING
A
bowl turning video was the main attraction of the April meeting. Techniques and
some pretty wild turning tools were featured. One member was quick to spot the
length of the shavings one can obtain with green wood (my well dried oak or
hickory puts out about a 1/2 inch chip at best) For those who missed it, Phil
still has the VCR Cassette (VHS format) if anyone wishes to borrow it.
We
also discussed the Atlanta woodworking show, workshops sponsored by Tennessee
Tech, and area woodworking shows. We missed some of you at the April meeting,
hope you can make the May meeting. Our May meeting is scheduled for the 20th at
the DREMEC meeting room. If you have a problem getting a ride to the meeting
please call me (Joe Pawlick) at 649—5728 and I’ll see if I can find a club
member who can give you a ride.
SPOTLIGHT
Your somewhat humble Secretary Joe Pawlick is in the spotlight this month. As the least experienced woodworker in the club, when elections were held, the committee asked me to sit behind the computer and type newsletters and minutes rather than show off my projects! Retired after 21 years in the Air Force, we settled into our home in Estill Springs. One of those dastardly double dippers, I’m employed by Schneider Services International at AEDC. Things are pretty quiet around the house now since the last of three kids left for more tolerant pastures (according to them) so its up to Judy and me to run the farmstead and turn spare bedrooms into hobby rooms!
My
interest in woodworking—other than model airplanes, began when I was stationed
in Tucson, Arizona in the early 60’s. The base had an outstanding wood hobby
shop and a very patient instructor. My first projects were completed due to
necessity, like a table to replace the cardboard boxes and a chest to get
clothes off the floor! Since then I’ve dabbled in almost every aspect of
woodworking and have built up my tool inventory to all that I can uncomfortably
stuff into our garage (and still leave room for a car). My favorite woodworking
projects are those for Christmas presents and some small benches and tables
used around the house. Someday I hope to make fine furniture but that may have
to wait till I can leave a project set up and not worry about running over it
with the car.
My
other hobbies include Boy Scouting, cattle (and Judys horses), gardening, model
airplanes, and computers. Like many others I find woodworking to be totally
relaxing and a hobby that can stay with you for a lifetime. My goals as a club
officer are to make the club a place where each of us can learn, or teach, and
enjoy the fellowship of others who share this great woodworking hobby.
LIABILITY
Readers
Digest, in the May ‘66 edition, carried a short commentary on the national
crisis in liability settlements caused by outlandish court rulings. For
example:
“An
Oregon jury ordered Ford to pay $1.4 million to the estate of a woman who was
killed when a runaway horse she hit crashed through the roof of her Ford Pinto.
Although Ford argued that the case was one in a million’’ and no car roof could
withstand such an impact, the jury found the auto maker liable. (Ford is
appealing the decision)”
That’s
a direct quote, you can find it on page 42! Ridiculous you say, but what does
that have to do with woodworking? How “liability proof “is your workshop? You
may be accustomed to using the table saw without a guard but does the neighbor
who wants to rip “just one board” know as much as you about the saw? Do the
visitors in your shop wear safety glasses when you’re using a planer? If an
intoxicated driver who hit a phone booth can win a settlement against the phone
company who put the booth on that corner, shouldn’t we pay a bit more attention
to making our shops more ‘‘ accident proof”?
Our
constitution and by laws were structured to help the club avoid liability
confrontations, that’s why we specifically avoid club ownership of tools. It’s
a penalty for those of us who may not be able to afford an expensive tool and
who would like the club to make the investment and share the cost.
‘Nuff
said, stay safe!
HELPFUL
HINTS
Some
of the wood turning tools depicted in the video at the last meeting were
somewhat crude but the wood didn’t seem to mind! The scrapers shown were made
to perform a certain job, one for which no commercial tool existed. From the
VCR and Popular Mechanics come these tips.
You
can make excellent scraping tools to use on your wood lathe from old files.
This is a particularly good stunt to know when the shape you want varies from
the standard turnings.
Shorten
the file to about 10 in.(if it is a long one) by snapping it off in a vice—
don’t forget the safety glasses! Grind the tip smooth and then to a 60 degree
bevel. Hone the bevel on a coarse oil stone, but do not remove the wire edge
formed by the honing (it helps with the scraping action).
To
finish, fit the homemade chisel with an 11 inch long hardwood handle. If anyone
gives this a try, please let us know about your success at a future meeting.
How
about using foam brushes for applying finishes’? According to the editors of
Woodsmith, when used to apply varnish these polyfoam brushes leave no
brushmarks. minimal air bubbles, and a smooth, even coat. Best of all, since
they only cost 39 to 79 cents they can be thrown away after their used! We
probably would end up spending the same for one quality natural bristle brush
as we would for forty -disposable ones. Imagine what the natural bristle brush
would look like after 40 cleanings! One note of caution, don ‘t use the polyfoam
brushes with lacquer or shellac, they melt!!
Does
your bandsaw track to one side? Use an oilstone and lightly touch it to the
side to which the saw pulls. The turning blade will hone a flat on the errant
side and eliminate the tracking problem. Careful, you don’t want to take too
much set out of the blade.
SEE YOU AT THE MAY 20TH
MEETING!!