The Monthly Newsletter of Yellowstone Woodturners Billings

ED'S SWAN SONG

This may come as a surprise to you--but, aside from my writing an article for the newsletter, I've actually been doing some turning. Some time ago George Hoffman loaned Lu his thimble cutter. Just one thimble and she just had to have one. I thought this would be no problem as I always have bits and pieces around that are too good to throw away. The problem is that Christmas is coming--so far I'm at 25 thimbles and Lu is still finding friends and relatives. With this kind of production, a side benefit arose. I had been fighting a sticky banjo for some time--fixing it prompted me to do a quick tune up for the lathe.

It occurs to me that many new members may not have done this and are still fighting with their lathe and tools. The first thing that need to be done is to take the banjo, tool rest, tail stock and anything else that can come apart -- apart. Get out the degreaser and clean all the surfaces. The area under the bedways is commonly overlooked, but this is where the tightening disks slide. Next, get out a fine tooth file and take the casting flashing off the edges, inside and out, of the tailstock, banjo, ways, and anywhere else you can find them. Now flat file the sliding surfaces of--NOT THE WAYS--the banjo and tailstock. Look for areas to lubricate with 3 in one oil: pivot points, bushings and so forth. Use only a drop to avoid collecting dust. Do not lubricate the eccentric bar which supplies the clamping pressure for the tailstock or banjo--they won't stay clamped: DAMHIKT. WD40 is not a good lubricant over the long term in that it evaporates leaving not much behind. On the sliding surfaces on the base of the tailstock and banjo, use paste wax or paraffin.

While you are messing with the tailstock, unscrew the piston and clean the barrel and threads and lightly deburr the slot for the locking screw. Use oil on the threads, but wax the piston and barrel. The toolpost is usually in need of deburring the setscrew scars. Spend some quality time with your fine file and the toolrest surface getting the nicks and dents out of it and rounding over the sharp edges and corners, then sand its surface with 400 grit and run your paraffin stick over it. Keep that paraffin handy and run it over the tool rest frequently as you turn.

Now get after the ways. I use lacquer thinner (careful, it will take the paint off places you don't want it off: DAMHIKT either) to remove spilled finishes, sap and so forth. Then I attack the ways and the softened grunge with a paint scraper, more thinner, then a razor blade, more thinner, then 400 grit, more thinner, and finish with paste wax.

Ron Musgrave called the other night with a question about vacuum chucking. While I have one, I have not got around to adapting it to the Powermatic and as usual in woodturning there is more than one way to skin a cat. Taking a break from those flipping thimbles, I turned 2 small plates and had remembered to leave a dimple in the center of my chucking area. I typically just pinch the plate between the live center and a padded faceplate, finish the base of the object and hand sand the nubbin left in the center (Dan showed me this trick). However, with one of these plates, I had become pretty uncomfortable with the thickness. It had got down to where Dan would start to think it is acceptable. I was concerned that my pinch trick would just push the center out of the plate. So, I did use the live center to center the plate on the faceplate, ran into the kitchen when Lu wasn't looking and swiped her Saran Wrap. It was far too wide for my purposes. so I put the roll between centers, sharpened my (%#@!!) skew and sliced it in half slick as can be. Then I lashed the plate to the faceplate with Saran Wrap, then for insurance used strapping tape over the whole mess. I suspect that clingy stuff shipping departments use would work better, but this was handy and it worked too. Note to self, don't swipe the Wife's cling wrap when there are all those leftovers Thanksgiving day.

The December meeting is important: We all get to visit and see each other's work. We also get to see the Nominating Committee's work and elect officers, set next year's dues, put the finishing touches on our symposium, figure out January's program and who knows what all. I've enjoyed being President of our club and not having to bring my own chair, but I'm going to enjoy the meetings from the other side of the table. I'm curious about who will be next year's officers--they'll do a good job with the help from the membership that I have had. Yellowstone Woodturner's ain't a TV show where you get to sit on your backside and be entertained--you are the entertainment in the form of your participation and ideas. The leadership should be more like a traffic signal, helpings thing run smoothly but not necessarily generating goals, programs, and ideas--those are the jobs of the real leadership: the membership.

Am I the only one who tries to scratch his nose through the facemask?

MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 2006

Meeting opened at 655 PM by President Ed Auker,, there were 25 members and guests present, The guest was Keith Beartusk,, Welcome Keith.

Show and Tell

Ed Auker showed off a piece of aspen he had turned, but not completed yet and in the process he and Dan Schindler did some critiquing of this piece and decided how it should be completed.

Dan Schindler suggested that Ed should take a piece of plywood with a V notch cut in it and hold this near the base of the vase you are turning as this will give you a better view of the shape that you are getting on the vase as it cuts out the sight of the chuck.

Dan Schindler showed off two small green turned goblets, one made of chokecherry and the other of black/white walnut. Pointing out how one had cracked a little at the base of the bowl part of the goblet, because it was not turned thin enough.

John Tuttle had a large bowl made of mesquite. He had turned this green, nice job John.

Stan Lambert had turned a large salad bowl from primavera wood finished with peanut oil, he also had two servicing spoons with this bowl.

Stan also passed around some pictures taken at the art gallery where he had attended.

Don Buska showed off an oak/black walnut candy dish with a lid and also a bowl with a lid that he had done some off center decorative lines on it, very nice Don.

Don also had a box full of Christmas ornaments on display which were finished with Formby’s tung oil.

John Wasden had made a tool called half round from a 7/16" piece of hardened steel from some type of beet machine, He said it worked real well and worked kind of like a skew chisel and/or gouge . He said it almost took the place of four tools, he also made the handle for it.

Dwaine Beckman had made another open segmented vase of purple heart/maple/black walnut. He said that as long as he was to work on open segmented work at the symposium he better practice some. Not really but he had made this as a piece for the symposium, but was not sure he had the right angles on some of the segments and did not want it to blow up during the symposium.

Bob Orr had made a Christmas present for his brother in the shape of a fishing reel, as his brother is an avid fisherman but this item was actually a toilet paper dispenser.

Paul Spencer had been busy making some Christmas ornaments, some turned and some with the scroll saw.

Ralph Torrence showed off a bear that he had made and had copies of the plan if anyone was interested.

Mick Hogg had spent the last six weeks making a large segmented bowl with lid that he had seen in the American Woodturners magazine, but had to adjust the size from the pattern as the pattern was too large for the swing on his lathe.

Jane Swaby had come by a box full of turned bowls and passed them around to see if anyone could identify the wood.

MINUTES.

Ed Auker called for the minutes. They were approved as printed in the news letter

The secretary passed out name tags to Eddy Leuenberger and to Brady Hash (Brady’s name tag given to Jerry Fachner account Brady was not at the meeting)

Treasurers report;

Mick Hogg gave his financial report, things still looking good.

Correspondence

None

Stan Lambert reported that he had been contacted by an individual who wanted to sell a Dura-craft lathe, it has a 12" swing and 36" length also has 7 chisels, Asking price $150.00 or best offer–Contact Stan if interested.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Demonstration at the Billings Hardware tool fair was well attended and several members participated. thanks to all who helped out.

Ray Curtis reported on the upcoming symposium to be held January 20, 2007.. Cost is $20.00 if paid by November 31^st $25.00 after that, last day to sign up will be at the December 13^th meeting.

Lunch will be catered at Ron’s shop from 1130 AM until 12 noon. Coffee, pop and cookies during the morning and afternoon sessions.

Red O’Connell will have several door prizes at the luncheon.

See web site for further information.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Chairman Wayne Hoffman

Members Martin Robinson and Ray Curtis

Ed Auker reminded everyone that to be an Officer, it is necessary to belong to the AAW

MISCELLANEOUS

John Wasden thanked the ones who put on the sanding demonstration at the last meeting when he could not attend.

Meeting closed and everyone enjoyed coffee and cookies compliments of the Billings Hardware.

BOWLING PIN DISPLAY.

It is really unbelievable the ingenuity of some of our members when you see what they had crafted from the bowling pins that were passed out some time ago.

There were seven items on display, each was numbered, and after looking them over the members were asked to cast ballots for their choice.

Paul Spencer took first place with his creation, (I really don’t know what else to call it) but it was a beautiful piece of work.

Dan Shindler came up with a wine bottle with about six open sides and a turned ball inside. Great work Dan.

Ralph Torrence came up with a lamp, using several scrap pieces of wood he had around his shop;.

Dave Torrence made a jack in the box, which actually jumped out of the box when loaded.

Red O’Connell made a penguin.

Jerry Fachner made a dead blow hammer.

Francis Swaby made a candle stick holder.

Everyone really enjoyed this and thought it might be a good idea to do something similar in the future.

Dwaine W Beckman, Secretary

Up Coming Events

December

Dec 13th Meeting, Presentation: Election of new club officers. (Be thinking of who you want to represent the club for the upcoming year. You are invited and encouraged to step up to the plate as well.) Dues for Next year are due. AAW members, remember to renew your membership as well. All club officers are to be a member of the AAW. A Special Thanks to the current leadership for the hard work they have put in this year. May the Next year be even better.

Last chance to sign up for the January Symposium is at the December Meeting..

Dec 25th: Christmas

January

Jan 1st: New Years Day

Jan 10th Meeting, Presentation:?

Jan 20 Billings Woodturners Symposium.8:30 - 4:30 (Click here for more information)

Subjects: Segmented Turning, Enclosed and Open Spheres, Sharpening And Green Wood Turning.

Fees: $20.00 if paid before November 30th, $25.00 Until max number is reached or December 13th, $10.00 Teens. All funds must be paid by the December 13th Meeting. A map to the locations will be given when you pay your entry fee.

A catered lunch will be provided at Ron shop at 11:45. There will be coffee and cookies at the morning and afternoon breaks. There is to a drawing for door prizes at the luncheon. Bring your own chairs, every thing else will be provided. So come and enjoy the fun at the Yellowstone Woodturning Symposium.

Wanted, For sale, Free

This is your area, Email, or phone me if you have an item to post here.

President: Ed Auker (406) 665-1723
Vice President: Wayne Hoffman (406) 598-4285
Secretary: Dwaine Beckman (406) 248-9383
Treasurer: Mick Hogg (406) 656-7724
Librarian: Marjorie Ferrin (406) 656-1744
Photographer: George Hoffman (406) 259-9023
Technical Advisor: Dan Schindler (406) 373-5892
Newsletter Editor: Paul Spencer (406) 861-6718
E-Mail: paulspencer2001@yahoo.com
Web Site: www.ysturners.org

“One Good Turn” is the monthly newsletter of Yellowstone Woodturners, Billings, Montana -
A local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners.