Shavings
Shavings
AS THE HILL COUNTRY TURNS
Volume # 8 Issue # 7
JULY 10th
MEETING PLACE
Hill Country Turners meet in the basement of the KACC (Kerr Arts & Cultural Center) at 228 Earl Garrett, Kerrville, Texas at 6:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month, unless otherwise notified.
EDITORS
NOTE
(Vance or someone put something in my drink!!)
I (Lewis Dodd) have chosen to subject myself to the future scribbling of this here newsletter for a spell! This issue is my maiden voyage. Yep, that’s right folks, the premier edition! This issue could be worth a lot of money some day. Look out New York Times! No telling what the course will be or where the destination ends up. You are welcome to make suggestions and comments at any time. All will be listened to and some may even be incorporated! All help is appreciated and needed. I shall endeavor to do my best for as long as I last. Anyone has complaints, the President will hear them!
“HEADSTOCK
CHATTER”
(Everybody
needs a boss to blame stuff on! This
is the boss’s vent!)
Summer is upon us and each of us are going different directions. I appreciate the fact that the Vice President and the Past President carry the load for me when I am gone in the motor home. We just returned from a long trip up north, Hammond, IN, for a grandson’s graduation from high school. That’s two of them now. It was wet and cold most of the time and that makes us glad that we live in Kerrville. Some folks have suggested that we should go away more often as it seems to rain here when we are gone. If the offer becomes large enough, we can be bought.
I understand that I missed a very fine program in June. We have a real experience coming in July. Larry Genender will be here to demonstrate and to further encourage participation in the TTT’s SouthWestern Association of Turners
symposium in Wichita Falls. If you haven’t made your travel plans already, let me encourage you to do so. Early registration ends on July 15. If you need a registration form, let me know, I have plenty. Not only are there many fine turners lined up to demonstrate there but there are other enticements such as a large number of vendors, and a 2 for 1 raffle. If you have attended other symposiums, you know the value of participating. If you have not then it is time to take advantage of a great opportunity. Many of your fellow Hill Country Turners are contributing to its success. If you want to help we can put you to work at the symposium.
The Hill Country Turners will be hosting one of the demonstration rooms. We could use your help in this effort.
Many thanks to Lewis Dodd for volunteering to serve as newsletter editor. This means that he needs your help. Write an article, submit a plan, send photos, or list materials or tools for sale. It is your newsletter; make it more than just a notice of the next meeting.
I will be present for the July meeting but will be absent in August. Then before you can say “whodathoughtit” the end of the year will be here. So, be thinking and planning for the annual Christmas toy donation. How about a toy workshop in October? We are open to suggested toys and processes.
See you at the meeting. Dale Lemons
“TURNED
EVENTS”
MEETING
IN REVIEW
(If you were there and paid attention you know, if you didn’t or weren’t, then this is a recap)
Well, let’s test the notes and memory! James Johnson (I think UEL may have been involved also) worked his tail off and showed up with some beautiful spalted box elder he was selling. Eves dropping, I think the Johnson monster chain saw died on this tree, thereby making the wood extremely valuable! Gosh, I wanted some of that!
Our Headstock was missing (?){rumor has it he is still running from the law}, and Raul Pena and Jimmy Holton almost fought over the opportunity to run the show. Both ended up amicably sharing the power! I got to talk to the Super Star (Rusty Meyers) from Austin before the meeting, nice fella (even if he does work for IBM). Rusty did a great
job of demonstrating how he makes his beautiful bowls. Nice to see such quality work made to look so easy, and in front of a crowd of top notch critics too! BTW, the new Oneway worked flawlessly and superbly! Oh those ONEWAYS!!!!!!
Vance and Gene Loy got some booty for their hard work on the newsletter in the past (not near commensurate, the next newsletter editor is expecting to receive an all expense paid trip to Hawaii! or Key West??). Vance said the June letter was his last squawk; consequently, he received the appropriate gift.
Lewis Dodd was in charge of the drinks and Doug Clark brought the cookies. Doug didn’t cook those cookies, regardless of what he says! A new twist, Lewis strayed out of the box (cage) again and put numbers on all the drinks. Lucky Tom Ridout won the “wonderful” woodturners “hand massager” having drunk lucky number forty-one (that’s a lot of drinking!). Tom said he may give it to his wife!
Nick Huntley made an extremely impressive “?” roll around high desk-low podium. I watched Nick flinch a few times as the Super Star of the evening used it to “slam” his extra chucks and tools on! Fantastic job Nick, the club appreciates it muchly (very much), a whole bunch, hell, we like it. I asked permission to carve my name in the top, wasn’t received very well!
James Johnson informed us he was responsible for the new impressive logo of the Texas Turn or Two dba as SWAT (SouthWest Association of Turners). Nick, always looking for credit, chimed in that he held the paper and eraser! Good work, the “both” of you! Are we related Nick? Check out how many different colors are in that sucker! James cracked the whip on us and reminded us to go to the SWAT Symposium in August or he would lose face and perhaps other things!
Uel Clanton gave a report on KACC and the Kerr Arts Festival. Uel is still peddling tops and glue! Can you believe it, over 4200 people walked the hallowed halls of KACC since those Texas Speed Bumps (Armadillos) showed up! Ya better believe they looked at those woodturnings too folks! Kerr Arts Festival response was mixed but generally poor! Uel passed out a brochure on an opportunity to sell turnings to a big Travel Center going in east of San Antonio.
Uel draws these folks in like a magnet! Way to go Uel!
Mr. Holton, asked (begged) us to look for a video camera for the club. Not that he hasn’t done enough, but who steps up to the plate? Yeppers, our EX- newsletter editor, Vance Loy, and donates one to the Club. You sell those high dollar turnings and you can afford to do such gratuitous things! Appreciate the camera Vance!
Not sure if I got this right, but I think the new camera operator is Don Kaiser. Careful from now on folks, you could easily be on film with the camera in this guys’ hands. After all, there was not much entertainment in Utopia, Texas the last time I was there!
Show and tell was started with a camphor crotch bowl by Barbara Holton, beautiful work, even if it was a bit hair lipped (see Jimmy Holton for explanation)! Carl Johnson, impressive as always, showed what he called a water flask. This sucker smelled like a wine flask to the editor. Andy Chen ...well what can you say about this guy? Lookout Carl! Andy brought in a pith helmet, made to size! Remember, pith helmets are NOT round! It is summertime ya know! He also showed a vacuum chuck swivel whatchamacallit thingamajig. This guy made the swivel out of Teflon! Some loose accusations (unfounded I’m sure) were blurted out about government property and such, thusly suggesting the whatchamacallit is owned in common by all attending!! An excellent (even plausible) explanation by Andy was proffered! Editor’s note: I saw one member attempting to get samples for DNA testing! Stay vigilant Andy!
Barbara Holton (yep, our Barbara) vacuumed after Jimmy showed her where the switch was located and how the vacuum principle worked. (simply amazing!). As normal, Uel Clanton (Mr. Mesquite) swept up the mess and turned off the lights! Good meeting, wish you were there!
“NEW
AND EXOTIC WOODS”
(Since
we learn and grow from our members, all of us need to strive for new members)
New member-Don Markam: Center Point-- ddmarkham@hctc.net
New member-Ray Haines: San Angelo--txmesquite@cox.net
New member-Mikel Watts: San Angelo--wattscabinets@cox.net
New member-Curtis Wiemers: San Antonio--cwiemers@telewrx.net
(I know this guy, he can work pretty good but ya gotta stay on him!)
WELCOME ABOARD FOLKS! Let’s try not to overwork them right at first!!
Guests-Vern Hallmark brought a charming lady by the name of
Linda West from Fredericksburg. She won a bringback too! Way to go Linda! Guys, the women members may be growing!
Keith Longnecker really hustled and rounded up three guests!
Rolf Lux-an engineer from Kerrville. Rolf came in with two fingers bandaged. I tried to get Keith to get him to give us a show and tell, all to no avail.
Roy and James Llewellyn are a father and son team from Kerrville. Roy and James are looking to join and are in need of a good used lathe! That James looks like he can heft some heavy logs!
CHIPPER
OF THE MONTH
(This
is who we throw money (or rocks) at for entertaining us at this months meeting!)
Look out! He’s coming, he’s gonna be here! That’s right members, right in our own dungeon! All the way from the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area, the Guru, the CHIEF HONCHO of SWAT, Dr. Larry Genender! I understand he is gonna serve us up with some platters! Ain’t it great being guinea pigs and getting these super stars warming up (practicing) for the great SWAT convention!
Be nice now, someday you may be against the wall and besides, remember, this fella is a doctor and can probably fix things on you that you didn’t even know was broke!
Read about this guy!! You sure don’t wanna miss this one! Hurry up July 10!
Larry
Genender is a member of both the Woodturners of North Texas and the Dallas Area
Woodturners . He has been turning sporadically since 1996, but more
seriously since retiring from surgical practice in 1999. He is a member of the
American Association of Woodturners and currently chairs the Board of Directors
of Texas Turn or Two. He has studied with Ellsworth, Raffan, Keith Rowley,
Rodger Jacobs, Stuart Batty, and others. He has demonstrated
"Platters" at Texas Turn or Two in October 2002, and an article based
on that experience appears in a recent issue of the "American Woodturner". Editor’s note: See
American Woodturner, Spring 2003, Vol.18, No.1, page 18-19.
See his work on page 37, same issue.
Other interests include turning and finishing Norfolk Island Pine by the
translucent Hawaiian methods, and fluting and carving on bowls.
"I
bought my first lathe in 1996, and as soon as I saw the shavings fly, I was
hooked. It
took 2 years before I stopped calling the tools instruments. I like to make
large pieces
with lots of chips flying. I feel that turned wood is a very rapidly growing art
medium,
and have seen great progress even in the relatively short time I have been
turning."
MYSTERY
WOOD
(Snippets
of local, regional or international newsworthiness)
Well, James Johnson succeeded in scaring the hell out of me and probably everybody else! Seems the rascal wanted a break from the norm and went down to San Antonio to visit with the folks at Methodist Hospital Saturday the 21st of June. Something about chest pains but reportedly the big heart he has checked out fine! Pains were probably attributed to attempting too much with SWAT. Editors note: I like James an awful lot, but I “REALLY” didn’t shave my legs for him. Haven’t heard much about Paul Korbach, hope he is doing the best he can with the cards he’s been dealt.
The following is an excerpt sent to me by Dr. Genender from his club’s newsletter. Well deserved accolades, I’m sure, for our club and a few of the movers and shakers!!! RAH! RAH! RAH!
A
TEXAS TURN OR TWO --WE ARE UNITED AGAIN!
By Larry Genender
It is my pleasure to bring the latest TTT information to the Hill
Country Turners. Your club has been very active in the affairs of TTT,
and Dale Lemons, James Johnson,
and Uel Clanton have all had leadership roles which have greatly
contributed to the good news described below and to the 12th TTT which will be
the best ever.
The initial organizational meeting of A Texas Turn or Two, Inc. took place in
San Antonio on May 12, 2003. Fifteen of the 16 clubs were represented and
seated Directors on the Board of TTT, Inc. All the assets of the
unincorporated TTT were transferred to the clubs who then transferred them into
TTT, Inc. This transfer of assets was done in a very amicable fashion, and I am
pleased to report that the woodturners of Texas are all united once again.
We have renamed the Symposium, which now will be called SouthWest Association of
Woodturners, or SWAT for short.
There will be one unified Symposium each year, this year's will be in Wichita Falls, TX, on Labor Day Weekend, August 29 - 31, 2003. Early registration ends on July 15, 2003 - after this date it costs $10.00 more. Download a form on our website www.texasturnortwo.com, or contact me at lgenender@aol.com.
GET THAT MONEY IN THERE!!!
Lots of our guys are mentioned and profiled on the Texas Turn or Two website. Check it out! www.texasturnortwo.com Read the “historic” article by our very own historic James Johnson! See some of your Club turner’s very own compendiums, repertoires, and outright bragging!
PICNIC?PICNIC?PICNIC?PICNIC?PICNIC???
There is rumor of a possible HCT Bar-B-Que and picnic plans forthcoming! Any good meat turners in the audience? Just how many ways can you turn a hotdog? Be on the alert! Any volunteers?
NAP
ATTACK STUFF
(Material borrowed, received or stolen that might help your turning)
Microwave Drying Wood
From
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~rhaslip/Rex/workshop/frmain.htm
Microwave drying wood is a good technique to utilize where you need something dried in a hurry. I have read many articles on this matter and have heard of several ways of doing it.The process outlined in the following text is the one I use, and I am very pleased with the results. The reason is simple. "I HAVEN"T HAD A FAILURE YET"
Sooooooooooooo lets get cooking
What you need.
|
Of course you will need a
microwave oven. The only other factor is the physical size, and that's sort of self explanatory really. If the piece is too big it wont go in the door. You will also need some scales to weigh the article with. This bit is difficult because you need a set of scale that allow you to measure accurately to small amounts (5 gram steps or so). I have a set of digital scales that are in 5 grams steps, and they perform well. If you are drying any wood by other methods, you will probably have scales anyway. The only other things you need is time, patience and something to microwave of course |
|
First, you need to prepare the piece. Rough turn the piece until the wall thickness is about 10% of the total diameter. This allows you to remount it and finish it off when dry, with the benefit of enough meat in the walls to allow for any oval distortion that may occur. If the oval distortion is not important, turn it to the finish you want. IT IS YOUR CALL. I AM ONLY EXPLAINING THE MICROWAVE TECHNIQUE HERE. Speed here is really important, as some woods are prone to crack if left to air dry, so keep moving, and if you need to leave the piece in the lath for any time, either cover it with a wet cloth, or place it in a sealed plastic bag. You are now ready to cook the piece. Weigh the piece and record the weight. Place the piece centrally in the oven, set the power level to what ever you use for defrost (3 on mine, but some even have it called defrost. clever that ) The following times give some indication depending on the size of the piece.
After setting the oven as described (defrost setting and time), start it. At the end of the cycle, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool Leave until cool, or at least 1/2 hour. This is one cycle Replace the bowl in the oven and repeat the cycle. At the end of the 4th cycle, weigh the piece and record the weight These 4 cycles are one drying program. If you are using a non turntable oven, turn the piece upside down and rotated 90 degrees between cycles. This allows for even spread of warming. At the end of the program, allow it to stand for an additional 1/2 hour, and then repeat the program. Keep repeating programs until the weight remains the same between two programs. At this time it is as dry as you will get and the piece can be finished. |
Why it works, or perhaps that's how it works.This is my story and I am sticking to it.
|
Microwave ovens work by vibrating the molecules within a material, and this movement creates heat. The microwaves penetrate deep within objects (organic articles). As you can imagine, the molecules in a liquid (water and sap) are easier to vibrate than those in a solid (wood). This more so with liquids that contain "sugars", such as the natural ones found within wet wood. (are you starting to see where we are going here) As you gently "defrost" the article, you warm those liquids, which expand, forcing their way along the cellular structure of the wood. Upon exiting the cells at the outside surface, they evaporate off. You now have a 2 fold process underway, heating/expansion moving the liquid out from the centre of the article, but also the sponge effect, of the dry outer surface drawing the moisture out from the centre. This is why it is important to remove it from the oven and let it cool completely in the air. You can also see that by really giving it a good cook, you will boil the liquid within the wood, and like any cooking, you will soften the fiber and damage the wood. This can manifest itself in many ways, including increase tear out on the end grain, articles that are difficult to sand to an acceptable finish, as articles that wont take oils or waxes well By following the method outlined, you are merely helping the natural process with a little modern technology, and instead of taking about 1 year per inch of board thickness, you can achieve the same results in a couple of days. |
ADDENUM:
The editor wishes to add the following received from our special events coordinator:
“A comment on microwave process. I have had limited experience but did have the experience of some mesquite doing some serious outgassing in the process that just about put me on the floor. I am not usually bothered by mesquite. A word of caution to add........”.by Mr. Bill Hussey
Editors note: Bill did not say whether his mesquite had beans or whether it was wormy………!!!!! (Bill, are you doing community service somewhere?)
“TOOL
SHARPENING”
(Brain
Teaser)
A way to find out whom NOT to play mind games with
(Here’s
the rules: Be the first to submit
the correct answers to the editor via e-mail or phone and win a Great Teaser Award at the next regular meeting.
You gotta be at the meeting to collect your booty.) (
In the event no one wins in the short time to solve the teaser, the prize will
be awarded to the first solutioner at the following meeting after the solution
is received) huh?
This
is designed as an individual grey matter exercise, no collaboration between
husbands, wives, or friends allowed!!
1. What is the only sport in which the ball is always in possession of
the defense and the offensive team can score without touching the ball?
2. What is the dot over the letter “i” called?
“2003
GRIT”
(Tips)
Mike Lewis advises—If you are working with an epoxy fill and inadvertently get a bubble half opened at the surface, fill it with superglue and leave it to set-preferably 24 hours.
Teressa Hopkins advises –That you try a bit of hairspray when you strike difficult end grain in dry wood. Apply the spray to the hairy patch and it firms the grain for cutting.
Lewis Dodd has found that the longer you wait before your next turn, the more you gottta turn to catch up to where you were! (you know, the faster I go, the behinder I get). And the lathe wasn’t even turned on while you were away! Is this a young mans game? The moral is turn regular, turn often. Sage advice for us older turners!
FREE
WOOD AND ETC.
(If
you got it and don’t want it, tell us about it here; wives,
husbands and kids excluded)
Green pear-Will share..Contact Lewis Dodd-(830) 997-3652 or ripsawed@ktc.com
CLASSIFIEDS
(FOR SALE)
(Make
room for more and bigger tools, sell those old ones here)
(Same exclusion as above applies)
1. One Grizzly G5979-12”X35 ½” variable speed wood lathe on stand, $350.00. Call or see Lewis Dodd. (830) 997-3652 or e-mail ripsawed@ktc.com
“THE MONEY PIT”
(Cynthia’s spot for tall tales and such)
Membership……….49
Income……………..$500.00 (seed money from TTT)
Expenses………….. Non reported (I think Cynthia and Carl are going to Pasadena!)
Checkbook balance as of 07/01/03……..$1444.21
WORMY
WOOD
(As
Carl turns)
The club currently has 29 tapes, 15 books, and gobs of magazines (most are general woodworking, but there is a good supply of old issues of Woodturning). There is no time limit on borrowing the tapes and books, but you are expected to leave your name and a $5 deposit for each item you borrow. If you see a general woodworking magazine that you like, feel free to take it permanently; but if you take a woodturning magazine, please bring it back in a reasonable time frame so that others can utilize the resource. We encourage any member who can donate a tape (and we can make copies if you want to keep the original), book, or magazine, to do so, and we will in the future acknowledge your donation in the newsletter.
Editors note: All x-rated tapes are “screened” by the editor first!
“SHOP
CLEANING”
(Bringbacks)
Nick Huntley, Linda West(Guest of Vern), Bob Baremore, Bill Bradfield, and the horse shoe winner of TWO was John Jones. Feel welcome to double up folks, the VP said the pile is getting low! Cynthia appreciated the money from all, even the non winners!
NEXT
“GRUBBS”
(Sustenance
providers for starving artists)
Liquids….Mr. Jim Hill (Jim keeps the really good stuff behind the seat in his pick-up)
Hard stuff……Mr. Larry Werth
“LOST”
WOOD
(Missing
In Action)
Whatever excuse offered, these folks were sorely missed at the last meeting or did not sign the sign in sheet!
John Brunswick, Sam Duke, Jay Frankhauser, Bob Gayer, Howard Green, Jim Hill, Donn Huot, Bill Hussey, Paul Korbach, Dick Layman, Dale Lemons, Walter McBroom, David McCutchen, Ken Neal, Chris Pickens, Bill Pintsch, Steve Promo, Nancy Vaughn, Larry Walton, Bob Waltz, Larry Werth.
Editors note: WE NEED TO GET THE ABOVE LIST SMALLER!
PARTICIPATION
POEM
By
JOE SERVOCKY
ARE YOU AN ACTIVE MEMBER, DO YOU EVER GO TO VISIT
THE KIND WHO WOULD BE MISSED? A MEMBER WHO IS SICK,
OR ARE YOU JUST CONTENTED OR LEAVE THE WORK TO JUST A FEW
THAT YOUR NAME IS ON THE LIST? AND TALK ABOUT THE CLIQUE?
DO YOU TAKE AN ACTIVE PART SO, ATTEND OUR MEETING REGULARLY
TO HELP THE ORGANIZATION ALONG? AND HELP WITH HAND AND HEART.
OR ARE YOU SATISFIED TO BE DON’T JUST BE A MEMBER
THE KIND TO “JUST BELONG”? BUT TAKE AN ACTIVE PART.
THERE’S QUITE A PROGRAM SCHEDULED THINK THIS OVER MEMBER:
THAT MEANS SUCCESS IF DONE, ARE WE RIGHT OR WRONG?
AND IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED ARE YOU AN ACTIVE MEMBER
WITH THE HELP OF EVERYONE. OR DO YOU JUST BELONG?
DO YOU ATTEND THE MEETING
AND MINGLE WITH THE CROWD?
OR DO YOU STAY AT HOME
AND CRAB BOTH LONG AND LOUD?
“CATCHES”?
(Can’t
solve a problem or want to generate one?)
I got the first question:
How come there is no questions in the Questions Section?
Ans.: DUH!! You gotta start somewhere.
My bugbear? Reverse chucking of course!
“PUNKY”
WOOD
(Don’t
take this too seriously)
Doesn’t Uel Clanton have a truck similar to this?
Murphey was taking a psychological test. When it was put to him-“if you had the choice between wine or a woman, which would you choose?”
He thought for a moment and replied: “It would depend on the vintage of each.”
CHECKS
AND KNOTS
(You
just never know what may appear here!)
One cord of wood can make 7,496,789.18592 million toothpicks!!!! (Approximately) This was scientifically conducted using Mesquite and the WHCA(Worm Hole Calculation Adjustment). Which may be off a smidge, according to Mr. Mesquite, Uel Clanton.
Editors note:
The first norther better hurry up, my “bonfire turning mistakes” are out numbering the survivors!
POLISH OR
BLEAMISH!
(Snippets
about people we know)
The first time I saw James
Johnson was eighteen years ago in Lexington, KY
at the first AAW Symposium. He was in the instant gallery polishing a
couple of *really* big vessels with a car buffer. The only one with larger
pieces was Clay Foster, something about you Texans.
James is one of my very favorite turners, always has been. No matter what
kind of pieces he is doing, they always are personal pieces that he puts a
lot of himself into-that's what is missing from a lot of current work. If
James put his work in the marketplace it would be much in demand, and among
the top.
Though he may be an "old coot", he's not a crotchety one. In fact he's
good
company, always generous with his time and advice, and I'm lucky and proud
to know him.
John Jordan -June 2003
I have been an admirer of his (James Johnson) since I first saw him at TTT, and have become a friend as we worked together on TTT. I admire his can-do attitude, his vast knowledge of anything mechanical, his inventive nature, and his willingness to share his expertise.
Larry Genender
Chairman of SWAT
June, 2003
lgenender@aol.com
Editors’ note:
All the above sounds pretty much “dead center” like the man I know!
“THE BIG CHIPS” of KTC
Hill country turners is a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners dedicated to providing education, information and a place to meet and discuss woodworking and woodturning.
President: DALE LEMONS Vice President: Jimmy Holton
(830) 792-4864 (830) 895-7771
cdalelem@ktc.com jholton@ktc.com
Treasurer: Cynthia Johnson * KACC Liaison: Uel Clanton
(830) 895-5173 (830) 896-5288
Special
Events Bill Hussey Newsletter Lewis Dodd
(830) 896-8093 (830) 997-3652
Library Carl Johnson*
(830) 895-5173
*Ever notice how those Johnsons like to keep control of the books!
OUR WEB BOWL
WEB SITE OF THE MONTH
VENDORS
AND/OR SPONSERS
(Support
(spend) with these guys!)
Gibsons
Jerry Bendenbender
“PARTING”
CHIPS
(Let
the chips fall where they may!)
Experience is the hardest teacher-you get the test first-and the lessons after.
The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement!
Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once!
In order to make your dreams come true-you must wake up!
Everything becomes a little different once it has been spoken out loud!
How long a minute is depends on which side of the bathroom door you’re on!