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Newsletter Vol 35 / Issue 04

Splinters April 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 04

Greetings

I guess it’s true that you don’t really appreciate what you have until it’s gone. I really miss the monthly meetings with fellow woodworkers. I miss talking face to face with friends and shaking hands. I miss going out to eat with the best wife I ever had. Toilet Paper – (no need to say more!)

Actually, most woodworkers will probably agree that “social distancing” hasn’t changed their lives that much. Eat, go to the shop, eat again, go to the shop, etc. Maybe even wear a mask if you’re sanding or spraying. All in all, a great life!

Time to make some sawdust –

Looking Back

  • How long – has it been since you’ve been to any kind of meeting? I have at least three monthly meetings, one weekly meeting, plus church three times a week. Cancellation of all those have left a large whole in my life. The one I miss most is church.

Coming Events

  • One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworker’s program! The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid 19” Show & Tell! Don’t miss it!!
  • May 16 – Carver’s trip to Franklin (Plan is to be back before the picnic.) More details below.
  • May 16 – Annual Picnic

Membership Dues

Paul Jalbert will let us all know where we stand when we meet again.

TVW YouTube Channel

Two new videos have been added to our YouTube channel. First, Henry Davis tells us how he sharpens and uses hand scrapers.
https://youtu.be/-B26Bg87MW8

In the next video, Tom Cowan interviews Walter Clement at his shop in Old Salem. Walter has an extensive collection of antique machinery.
https://youtu.be/-twpQNn6k1A

Tips, Tricks, and Other Ideas

Doyle McConnell sent in this link. Another way to hold a bowl while finishing the foot:
http://www.davidreedsmith.com/Articles/BlueBowlReversing/blue_bowl_reversing.htm

Jack Kincella says he’s been re-educating himself on a couple of restoration and finishing processes he studied during my apprenticeship.
Instead of using canned shellac that is so generic, for a lot less money you can order flakes and mix your own. the benefits are great for finish flexibility and the startup cost is about $75.00 for everything. There is great article in Fine Woodworking Nov/Dec 2003 issue for those looking to get knowledge as well as a list of suppliers. The best supplier I found was shellac.net – phone 707-391-4042. You can order as little as ¼ lb size as well as filters and denatured alcohol.

**The other process is FRENCH POLISHING using SHELLAC OR PUMICE/ROTTENSTONE. This is a process primarily for flat surfaces that you want a semi or high gloss hand rubbed finish and requires more time and energy but he results are really great.

If you have questions about any of the products, or how to use them, Jack says to call him at 931-759-6808.

Mary (Meg) Garrett is looking for sawdust suitable for composting. – No walnut, pressure treated, chemicals.

BTW, I’ll be having a LOT of cedar shavings. I’m making 900-1000 bd/ft of paneling for a mountain cabin. Probably won’t compost, but will make great bedding.

April Corona Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” 

Chuck Taylor sent photos of things that he has been up to. Items are made from holly, harvested from the front yard of the oldest member at church. She passed away last year and these items were for her family. The three pieces are: A small holly bowl finished with gloss lacquer. A potpourri dish: holly with interesting grain for holly. Finish” gloss lacquer. And he made two small lidded boxes, same material and same finish.

The following items were made for a school benefit auction in West Tennessee: A small box, figured maple with cherry top. Satin finish; A salt & pepper mill, pecan with oil/wax finish. A set of Leyland cypress bowls. Oil/wax finish. For good measure, a 6” apple vase. Finish – gloss lacquer.
Great work Chuck!

Doyle McConnell sent me a picture of a beautiful wedding bowl and another salt and pepper mill for a bride-to-be. Doyle also has an idea to get a Longworth chuck to hold a little better.

Gary Walker sent in picture of two twin beds made for their grandsons. The beds are convertible between bunk beds or twin beds. Headboards and footboards form a built-in ladder.  He used 1x poplar for posts, 2×6 for horizontals and ash for bed rails.

Jim Jolliffe sent pictures of doors he made to protect the magazines and books from TVWW Emeritus Member Phil Bishop’s shop.   Jim says “The carvers bought his shelving unit and the books.  I have added my magazines and books to the shelves as well.  I’ve been wanting to put these doors on for years….”

The rails and styles are made from Red Oak and the panel inserts are Luan plywood (primed on the inside).  I used a Kreg jig to connect the the rails and stiles.  I cut a 1/4”w x 3/16”d dado to accept the panels. The two left side doors are bi-fold doors connected with two hinges.  The doors have 3/8” rabbets to sit inside the book case openings and to lighten the doors. The finish is Danish Oil natural color.

Kenn Burgess has been working on 5 bark houses in the round. They are a little difficult to visualize since they are in the round. They average about 5 inches in height and 2 to 3 inches in width and depth. They are finished with Min-Wax floor wax.

Matt Brothers says “For some crazy reason I decided to build all of our cabinetry for our new house. All 43 of them. All the carcasses are done and 14 of the face frames. All that’s left is 29 more face frames, doors, drawers, assembly, finishing and installation. Someone please shoot me.”

Franklyn (Pete) Miller says “It’s gardening season so I turned the handles for the garden tool kit from WoodCraft. The wood is TN cedar and has 3 coats of outdoor polyurethane finish.”

Richard Gulley made a two sided street sign for his daughter’s new house. It’s made of 1.5”x13” cedar and will be partiallt painted and sealed with an exterior UV finish. He’s also been doing some shop maintenance. He made new push sticks for the table saw and new hold down clamps for the CNC. The clamps were milled from ½” HDPE and use 5/16” Tbolts and knobs made on the CNC. Finally. he and his wife made “Psalm 91” yard signs for friends and neighbors. The stamps were made on the CNC. You need to take the time to read this good Psalm. It puts Covid 19 in a proper perspective.

Chris Sautter sent in before and after pictures of a little wheelbarrow he rebuilt for his wife. A great looking little wheelbarrow! One thing for sure, Chris knows who butters the bread.

Denis Urbanczik sent me a picture of a piece of wood he got from his mom. I’m not going to tell you about it here. You’ll just have to see it in the gallery.

Internet Links of Interest

Carver’s Corner

Jim tells me the carvers have suspended their Saturday morning meetings till Covid 19 leaves town.

However, the field trip to Vic Hood’s Shop is still on. Be at Vic’s shop at 9 AM on Saturday May 16th. They plan to caravan to save fuel and increase chances of finding his shop. Contact Jim ([email protected]) or one of the carvers to schedule a ride.

The address to Vic Hood’s shop:
4231 Old Hillsboro Rd
Franklin, TN

Sweeping Up

I saw this in a post on routerforums.com –
“As you reach a certain age, and when you drop something on the floor, you start questioning whether or not you really need it, rather than going through the trouble of picking it up.”

But if you’re thinking it’s tough getting old, maybe you’re not looking at it right.

Thanks to Pete Miller for sending in this picture.

That’s all for this month. Watch out for SPLINTERS

Submissions to the newsletter are more than welcomed. Send funnies, tips, or other content that may be of interest and you may see it in a future edition of SPLINTERS .

 Newsletter Information

Splinters is a publication of the Tennessee Valley Woodworkers. For submissions, email editor, Richard Gulley ([email protected] .)

Membership Information

If you change your phone number, email address, etc.; please notify Chuck Taylor, membership chairman (931-728-7086 or [email protected]. This will allow the membership listing on the web site to reflect current and up-to-date information of all our club members.