Greetings
I’ve been putting off a complete left shoulder replacement for a good while now. I wanted to avoid recuperating over the summer, but it needs to be done. I go May 7th so I’m trying to get the May newsletter ready for early release. Or maybe just shy of ready so I can send it out the week before meeting, but by then my typing speed will be cut in half – just one index finger instead of two.
I probably won’t be at this month’s meeting. I’ll miss seeing you all.
Now let’s get started with SPLINTERS.
May Program
May 19 — Larry Wendland presents Pen Turning
April Show & Tell
Ron Bundy showed a cutting board constructed from walnut, ash burl, and various cut-offs, featuring a band of birch around the edges. He finished the piece with Howard’s mineral oil and noted that he clamped the board to a piece of marble during the process to ensure it remained flat.
Vince Zaccardi presented a 17″ ambrosia maple platter. He turned the back slightly off-center to create a unique Celtic-like design and finished the project with pre-catalyzed lacquer.
Richard Gulley showed two items created for Mother’s Day. The first was a 1/16″ thick ambrosia maple piece featuring a “Mom You Did Good” cutout. The second was a heart design cut out of 1/8″ plywood. Richard also displayed several push sticks of various designs; all cut from 1/4″ plywood.
Ralph Elmore displayed several bowls he turned, noting his use of Howard’s Feed-and-Wax blend (beeswax and citrus oil) to help prevent tear-out on the end grain. He stained the bowls with a natural stain. The collection included a piece made of figured maple, a black walnut bowl turned from a blank acquired at a Rockler bowl turning class, and bowls crafted from cherry and ambrosia maple blanks provided by Michael Zuccaro.
Matt Brothers showcased a king-sized walnut bed he constructed using air-dried wood sourced from Lloyd Carden. (Pic1, Pic2) Matt noted his preference for air-dried wood, explaining that he avoids commercial walnut because it is typically steamed and that bleeds out the color. He used 5×5 timbers for the posts and utilized mortise and tenon joinery with pegs throughout the entire build. The bed features two raised panel sister boards, stretchers, a footboard, and side rails. (Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic7, Pic8) He incorporated cast iron dogs and a peg system for the center slab. The bed was finished with a first coat of clear Danish oil, topped with pre-catalyzed lacquer. (Pic9, Pic10, Pic11, Pic12, Pic13)
Sarah Morgan showed a set of kitchen utensils she refurbished for a client, finishing them with a blend of mineral oil and beeswax. She also displayed a Murphy bed she constructed and a CNC-crafted medallion created in collaboration with Geoff Roehm. The medallion, made from Brazilian rosewood with abalone and mother-of-pearl inlay, featured delicate antennae cut with a .023 bit. (Photos not available.)
Carver’s Corner
Lion Bust Carving Seminar with David Sharp: Scheduled for Saturday, April 11, and Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at Jim Joliffe’s shop. The $95 cost covers two days of instruction, the blank, and lunch.
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!
Internet Links of Interest
I found this site with free woodworking plans. You can find a plethora of free plans here.
https://freewoodworkingplan.com/free
I haven’t looked over a lot of the site, but I did explore the box building plans.
https://freewoodworkingplan.com/free/box_building/
Look the site over. You’re sure to find something!
Sweeping Up
Another true woodworking observation –
Watch out for SPLINTERS!
Newsletter Information
Splinters is a publication of the Tennessee Valley Woodworkers. For submissions, email editor, Richard Gulley (rgulley@retiree.utk.edu .)
Submissions to the newsletter are more than welcomed. Send funnies, tips, or other content that may be of interest to our membership, and you may see it in a future edition of SPLINTERS.