"The program for December will be a round table of all members in attendance to discuss programs and plans for 1999. Some topics will be:

Ideas for meeting programs, a possible 1999 club exposition, special workshops, fall and spring symposiums, picnics, parties, etc. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting and participate. The purpose is to get as much input from the club members into the decision making process as possible."

TENNESSEE VALLEY WOODWORKERS

November 17, 1998

Meeting called to order by President Harold Hewgley

Welcomed guest - Ben C. Spaulding, DDS

New member - Bob Leonard

Announcements - Ralph Cammack passed away November 16, 1998. The November issue of Southern Living has an article on Foothills Craft Shop in Manchester.

Old business:

The Christmas potluck will be held at the Nazarene Church in Decherd on December 5, 1998. Meet at 5:30 PM with dinner scheduled at 6:00PM. John Sargent and hopefully Richard Gulley will provide entertainment.

Election - Phil Bishop motioned that the slate of officers presented by the nominating committee be elected by acclimation. Ben Whiteaker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Officers for 1999 are:

President - Loyd Ackerman,

Vice-president - Tom Cowan,

Treasurer - Henry Davis,

Secretary - John Green,

Splinters editor – Tom Gillard,

Publicity - Doyle McConnell,

Show and Tell:

Crocia Roberson brought two marble races, one from New Zealand and a musical race.

Jimmy Burr - a turned witness stick and a walking cane with carvings.

Harry (Billy) May - a carved dolls head that will be given to his daughter.

Doyle McConnell - T squares to be given away.

Jim Van Cleave - a #45 Stanley plane.

Henry Davis - a copy of the Southern Living article, pictures, a copy of the Arrowmont newsletter and a scaled down hunt table with marbleized top and a painted village scene.

Tom Church - a yellow poplar bowl.

Maurice Ryan - photos of bookcases that he has recently finished.

Harold Hewgley - a turned cherry bowl and a turned walnut pencil holder.

Ross Roepke – a doll bed made for his grand daughter.

John Sargent - a variety of pens.

After a short break Dr. Ben C. Spaulding, DDS presented a program on casting with the lost wax method. Meeting adjourned at 8:31 PM.

Respectfully submitted, John Green, secretary.

The Art of Lost Wax Casting

The process of designing and producing precious metal jewelry used most today is "Lost Wax Casting". Leonardo DiVinci invented the process. The method is virtually the same as he designed it, only the equipment has been changed and upgraded.

Let's follow the progress from the idea to the finished jewelry.

The first step is to put the idea down on paper. This is called the "rendering".

Once our designer is satisfied with the rendering he will begin to carve the piece out of wax. Jewelry designers use wax first to give them complete control over the design work. It all begins with wax that’s where the name "Lost Wax Casting" comes from, (we'll explain the "Lost" part in a second)

When the wax is carved and everyone involved is happy with the wax it is ready for the next step. Any design changes or adjustments should be done in the wax because the next step the mold will be set.

The reason the process is called "Lost Wax Casting" is simply that you lose the wax. You see, in the next process the wax is welded (using wax) on a rubber base, and a steel cylinder is secured around the piece.

The "flask" (wax & cylinder) is filled with "investment" (sort of jewelry plaster). The solution is placed on a vacuum table and all the air is eliminated. Let this set for 24 hours.

Now you are ready to "burn out". Remove the rubber base, which is designed to leave a "funnel" impression, which will eventually direct the precious metal into the mold. Place the flask in the oven and melt the wax from the investment slowly over the next 4-6 hours. With the wax gone you now have a very hot "void" where the wax used to be.

Inject melted gold into the void left by the wax using a centrifugal force casting machine or a vacuum-assist-pouring machine and you have the exact duplicate of the wax now in precious metal.

Internet Resource

Note from Ross:

Thomas Moser, a well-known furniture designer, gave a note of interest from the International Woodworking Federation show in Atlanta in Aug.:

"I see less and less of what looks like it came from a tree. I understand the economies of composite materials. But pretty soon woodworking machinery will be replaced with furniture - making machinery."

Retailers still attempt to conceal the fact that their furnishings are made from MDF or particleboard. This reminds me of how butter substitutes were made to look, taste and smell like butter over the years until they captured the market. Cherry, at wholesale, is now $3.70 per bf. Woodworking is betting to be an expensive hobby. On the other hand, the furnishings we build with care can only become more valuable to those who cherish fine things.

Don Helton has a good idea. He was having troubles with burning his wood in tight turns on the scroll saw. He investigated the Internet and found a chat room in the Wood Magazine homepage. The solution to this burning problem is to place clear Scotch tape over the area to be cut or routed. As the blade passes through the tape it melts it, lubricating the blade. Don says, “It works just great! No more burns on the sharp corners and my blades seem to last longer, too.”

Christmas Party

What a party-- good food-- good entertainment-- good friends. It's hard to pick the best of those three.

Our entertainment was furnished by "The Good Ole Boys Blue Glass Band" with Richard joining in. What makes the Good Old Boys so special is that two of our own, John Sargent and Carl Smith are part of the band.

Richard ended the program by singing " Oh Holy Night", thanks Richard for that beautiful solo.

Thanks are in order too for the hard work that Melissa and Richard do getting the hall ready for us.

“…And the Angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. “

Luke 2: 10-12

The Art of Lost Wax Casting

Christmas Party

CARVING SEMINAR PHOTOS