Splinters October 2020
Volume 35 / Issue 10
Greetings
The “norm” for the monthly Greeting is usually light hearted. However, in keeping with the “norm” for 2020 (there is no norm,) I’d like to go in a different direction.
I’d like to ponder on how quickly the abnormal can become normal, and what we can do to prevent that from happening.
We haven’t had a club meeting in about 8 months. During that same time, folk have been quarantined in their homes, prevented from going to work/church (but not Walmart.) We been advised to wear masks and stay 3’, then 6’, now as much as 12’ apart. I’m not going to speak on whether any of that (other than church attendance) is right or wrong. A lot of that depends on who you are and where you are. But I would like to offer some suggestions for abating the isolation that is being foisted on us.
Take whatever opportunity you might have to work together in small groups. Jack Kincella and I have worked together on a couple projects. I know that Vince Zacardi, Paul Jalbert, Henry Davis, Jim Jolliffe, Dean Lutes, Matt Brothers, Bill Ward and probably many others have worked together in different combinations on several different projects. The carvers are meeting twice a month at Jim’s shop. So, reach out to your fellow woodworkers. If you know of any that are still quarantined, send them an email or give them a call.
When you get out into the public, be kind to people. Cashiers, waiters, and waitresses are having an especially hard time as tempers grow short. Use the powerful words “Thank you” a lot and smile (or draw a smile on your mask 😊.)
Coming Events
- One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid19/Riots/Supreme Court Appt/Election” Show & Tell! We will meet again. Don’t lose hope.
- Summer/Fall Events – Cancelled
From our Treasurer
Due to the cancellation of so many Wood Club meetings and activities in 2020, the Wood Club Executive Committee has decided that dues paid for the year 2020 will also cover the year 2021. New members are still welcome to join ($10 individual and $15 family). Also, there is no rush to pay dues. This can wait until the next monthly Wood Club meeting.
October Show & Tell
Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” I never cease to be amazed at the quality of work our folk turn out.
Chuck Taylor – finished 2 sets of “handmade” ABC blocks, 48 blocks and 96 letter/numbers in each set. Blocks are Bradford pear and have light coat of sanding sealer. Boxes are maple and finished with satin lacquer.
Clay Cooper – submitted pictures of a Poplar Slab and the buffet it turned into.
David Duesterhaus – made a bookcase from a Woodsmith plan using cherry plywood and cherry wood and finished with tung oil.
Thanks to Vince Zaccardi and Paul Jalbert for getting him the last few pieces of cherry when he ran a few pieces short.
Jack Kincella – Jack and Richard Gulley built a large white oak dining table (9.5’ long X 45” wide) with a live edge (some real, some simulated.) The wood came from Dean Lutes and most of the sub-assembly was done at Dean’s shop. Assembly was done at Jack’s shop and, of course, Jack did the finishing. The customer was very pleased with the finished product.
Jim Jolliffe – “Scottish Bark House with Tree and Thistle” – Planned for the “Piping On The Green” celebration held annually at The Celtic Cup Coffee House the first weekend in April. Sprayed with 2 coats of satin lacquer and highlight painted with acrylic wash. Final spray with matte lacquer. ( Pic 1, 2, 3, 4)
Loyd Ackerman – The end table project for my granddaughter is a mix of woods that I had on-hand. The top, shelf, and aprons are of mahogany but the legs are a mix. Having only enough walnut for two, the other two were made from poplar and stained with aniline dye to match the color of the walnut legs. The legs were carved on the CNC with a vine model.
– The next project is a beanbag toss game for my grandchildren. It’s assembled from dimensioned lumber from Lowes and has several coats of sealer and paint. All holes were filled with wood putty sealed with shellac and sanded. Three coat of water base enamel finish.
– My step-son had low coffee table and asked me if I could make longer legs for it. Just a rough work table so this is how it turned out.
– Continuing my Huntsville Country Club logo theme evolved into a set of coasters for my son who is their chef. The project required carving part of the job and then removing the workpiece painting steps and returning it to the CNC to finish the carving. The trick was re-aligning it perfectly between mountings.
Noel Johnson – Noel says “It has been a while since I’ve been able to attend meetings and then COVID, but I’m still turning! Here are a couple from last week; lidded butternut and a piece of Osage Orange from the wood pile. Best wishes to all.”
Richard Gulley – I carved a cross, using the CNC, into a crematory urn box for the husband of one of our members, Teri Smith. I counted it an honor
Sam Clark – Sam says “I ordered some pen kits last week and I thought I would try something new. My 1st serria pen using Olive wood burl. I’ve been been saving this wood for years. Time to use it…I’m not getting any younger. 😃
Pete Miller – Here are 4 cutting boards in the shape of Tennessee. The wood is Ambrosia Maple and the finish is mineral oil.
The wood was on sale at Woodcraft and the temptation was to great so I got 1 6’board that was 6” wide and 1/2 board that was about 10” wide. They had a cheese cutter in the shape of TN so I traced it for my pattern. I think they look pretty good.
Peter Hunter – Peter sent in a couple picture of a Thanksgiving tray he carved on his CNC. I like it!
Tony Murphy – A pair of Craftsman-style sideboards made from white oak and poplar, finished with stains and Tried and True varnish. Dovetails are hand-cut, joints are drawbored.
An Unusual Tree
Tom Gillard sent me this info. See the pictures in the online newsletter.
During the days of October 2 – 6, Paul Jalbert, Mike Glennon, John Petty, and myself were backpacking in The Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Northern Middle TN. (near Jamestown). On this trip we were hiking in a dense second growth forest of many varieties of trees. The one that stood out was the Bigleaf Magnolia (M. macrophylla). We saw many small examples but were amazed at the size of a few others. Many of the larger examples sprouted from a single root system with many trunks. They were 9” in diameter and about 15-20’ tall. This is within the cover of the deep forest amongst the large Oak trees without much sunlight, so this is pretty good. The leaves of these trees are huge. When the leaves fall in the Fall the white undersides make the ground look like a major catastrophe has occurred at their base.
Internet Links of Interest
Pete Miller sent me this link to a glossary of woodworking terms. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/woodworking-glossary/
Several wax recipes can be found at the top of this lumberjock thread – https://www.lumberjocks.com/alba/blog/18172#comment-781470
5 Need to Know Nailer Tips
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tools/power/pneumatic-nailing?did=570727-20201015&utm_campaign=wood-online_newsletter&utm_source=woodmagazine.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=101520&cid=570727&mid=42773514534
TVW YouTube Channel
Well, I redid my computer desk setup and now I can’t find my backups of the TVW video files. As soon as I locate them, I’ll post a new old video.
Carver’s Corner
The Splinter Carvers continue to meet first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 am to 10:30 am (whether Jim’s there or not). The shop is located at 201 Jolliffe Acres Ln, Tullahoma. Tools and wood are available at the meetings, just bring yourself and try your hand at carving!
Jim reports that he and Steve Shores visited the Leiper’s Fork Carving Club during an outdoor and socially distanced sale of Ol Don Burgdorf’s carving books, videos, hand carving, power carving and wood stock over the past several weeks.
Sweeping Up
This month I have a couple signs for you –
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.