The Monthly Newsletter of Yellowstone Woodturners
Billings, Montana

 April 2009                          Vol. 10, No.4

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Think About Turning Today!

    Just be reading the newsletter from the North Dakota Woodturners (Bismarck Club) and it was mentioned that this is a good time to get some wood prepared and some rough turning done. This can give you a good supply of bowls to finish when it is handy in the future. Along these lines I have been sawing up some Cedar and some Elm ( I have a very large supply from Ray's tree) for club members in April. Coming up this spring: we will have a report about the Bismarck Symposium ( if it isn't cancelled this coming weekend); a report from our own symposium committee ( if we can get a meeting done before the club meeting); a report from Martin on his progress of the club's sign for our meeting place ( Ron's Shop); and hopefully a May date for our demo outside of the Ace Hardware store in the Heights.

    Going back to our plans for the Oct. 3-4 Symposium; the plan is to have 8 or 9 small committees to do specific duties before and at the event to ensure a well run and fun learning experience for everyone. This April 8th meeting we may ask you to be on one of these crews. (No, this is not a good excuse to skip this one meeting - we know where you live!) As a carrot to attend, this month's program will be presented by George Hoffman, Martin Robinson, and Eddy Leuenberger ( I do not know what (?) but I am sure they are working on it). As you have probably heard we had a really good open shop March 14th. If interest remains high we can certainly plan to do these events on a more less quarterly basis.

See you at the meeting,

Stan Lambert, Pres.

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Minutes

Pres. Stan Lambert called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. sharp.

A new quest, Kenny Dorge, introduced himself to members. Welcome Kenny!

Jane Swaby supplied the cookies. Thank you Jane.

The shop joke of the month was supplied by Martin Robinson.

Show and Tell: Members brought many items for all to enjoy.

Dr. Van: Led off with his first scroll saw work – a cathedral made from poplar with a mounted clock. It displayed quite an effort for a first project! Very nice.

Derrick Reimann: Followed with a lidded box of found pine branch – very nice fit and a great match of grain – well beyond his years – I’m sure we all felt. Thank you Derrick!

Dave Torrence: Inlayed (intarsia) platter of flower pattern – oak, walnut, and poplar?

Bob Orr: Touring car of maple, Ipe and American walnut. Was that a Packard and if so what year?

Don Buska: Has been very busy. Don presented a whole box of segmented vases and scrap wood bowls. Don said he “used up every piece of scrap in his shop.” They were a wonder to behold, beautiful woods, too many species to mention, arranged in interlock, variegated, stripy and veined patterns and designs. That left us to say the usual “how did he do that?” His “nut bowl” was 6 sided in the shape of a metal nut! Maybe he could have also called it “loose nut.”

Stan: A beautifully turned figured maple bowl.

Ralph Torrence: Working model bulldozer – we’ll call it a CAT D9.

Wayne Stahly: A flower or stem vase made of cedar. Wayne asked for a critique of his work and several club members were glad to oblige.

Dan Schindler: A free-flow bowl, a hollow form vessel of fir burl, and a very nice, very thin walnut bowl. A top, driven by string held by a wooden forked holder and a turned wooden ball in a 4-sided rail cage was another project. Dan’s directions for those wanting to turn the same – quote: “remove everything that isn’t round.”

Treasurer’s Report:

Club Treasurer Jane Swaby reported on club funds. Jane also reported that to date 23 members have paid their yearly dues out of approximately 40 potential members.

With no further corrections or additions Pres. Lambert accepted the treasurer’s report and February’s minutes. We are very grateful to Lu Auker for taking those minutes. Thank you Lu!

Health Reports:

Dan reported on Red O’Connell’s back surgery saying that the surgery seemed to go well and the rehab. is looking good.

George Hoffman reported that Dwaine Beckman’s wife Bev had lung surgery for cancer Monday, March 9^th and he did not know the outcome at that time.

Dwaine Beckman’s wife Bev had lung cancer surgery Monday, March 9th.  Upon returning home about 10:00 P.M. that night, Dwaine slipped and fell splitting his head open, but he managed to keep conscious and drive himself to the E.R. Doctors had to use four clamps (staples) to close the wound. Rumor has it that upon hearing Dwaine was a woodworker; they used “Bessey” clamps. Anyway, thankfully he is feeling much better and at home. As of March 18th, Bev has also returned home; both are recuperating.

Correspondence:

Stan presented a letter from the AAW to our chapter promoting the upcoming National Symposium in Albuquerque, N.M. June 26^th – 28^th, 2009.

Stan also reported receiving correspondence from the Bismarck Club announcing their second symposium for year 2009 with dates of Oct. 3^rd, 4^th, & 5^th. They might have three presenters including Jimmy Clewes.

Committee Reports:

The A&E committee has secured Trent Bosch for our October Symposium. Stan asked club members to consider a one or two hour present of THEIR lathe specialties.

This could fill in around Trent’s present. Sam Angelo may also be available to fill in. Stan feels that club member presentations have worked well for the Bismarck Club.

Old Business:

Stan reported that the West High woodshop class has been scheduled to begin again on Wednesday, March 18^th. Paul Spencer will teach faceplate bowl or platter turning and be joined by Don, Stan and George.

V.P. Martin Robinson reported he had purchased clear cedar for the front of the larger club sign and has finished the glue-up and sanding for that and will make a vertical back to glue to the front out of aromatic cedar that Stan had purchased. This will give the sign extra strength and there should be enough cedar to frame the edges once the lettering is finished.

New Business:

Stan passed out an agenda to attending members assigning three members to present a program after each monthly meeting. These presentations can be anything to do with woodworking. He asked members to review the list and inform him if they could not meet their scheduled dates and he would affect a trade.

Stan informed members what was left of Ron’s wood was cosigned to Rick at A&H Turf. Martin reported that he had noticed the wood for sale on the warehouse floor.

Stan also reported that the Heights ACE Hardware has agreed to a wood turning demo in May. The Central Avenue ACE Hardware has also expressed an interest, but let’s see how the May demo goes . . . .

A Saturday March 14^th workshop was set up for 9:00 A.M. at Ron’s shop to run until interest wanes.

Lloyd Reimann asked for an inventory of the club owned lathe he is storing. He has purchased a dead center and a faceplate so the Reimanns could use the lathe, as agreed to by club members .

Stan announced a raffle of fir and myrtlewood that was donated to the club.

No new motions were presented.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:03 P.M.

Minutes submitted by V.P. Martin Robinson

March Program

A program titled: “Wood Turning dealing with the Ascetics” was presented by Dave and Ralph Torrence following the March meeting. Dave presented and Ralph moved samples through the audience. Subjects included: texture, color, grain, and finish. Harmonizing and contrasting grains, texture and wood species as well as finishes on each was presented. “Choose the wood for its looks, texture, color, hardness and function,” they said. Good present!! Boy that Ralph can still move pretty darn well!

Submitted by V.P. M. Robinson

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Club Workshop

    There were sixteen participants at our first workshop of the year on Saturday, March 14th.  We had six helpers and instructional persons on hand and everyone seemed to feel that we all learned something of importance. Club members provided four mini-lathes and two grinders for attendees to use. Thank you to these members for providing and setting up those stations!
    Shortly after 9:00 people began arriving and V. P. Martin Robinson began the session with a standup talk on woodturning, tool grinds, and their presentation to the wood and instruction on wood turning in general. This was aided by Dvd’s of Proturners and the welcome and timely input by long time club members George Hoffman, Mick Hogg, Pres. Stan Lambert, Paul Spencer and club advisor Dan Schindler.
    The session then moved to sharpening and regrinding of tools brought by attendees. Mick, Stan and Paul assisted attendees in preparing their tools and explained the dos and don’ts of sharpening.
    Then it was on to the lathes where Paul and Stan mounted projects and explained proper turning techniques. This was then followed by hands-on with the students.
    Dan and George worked among the stations and offered good sound advice as only they can.
    The Dvd’s continued through the day and provided entertainment of many interesting turnings by the Pro’s.
    Club Treasurer Jane Swaby provided cookies and took attendance.
    The Reimann’s showed up with brownies and soft drinks for all. Thank You!
    The workshop moved along very quickly and all to soon, it was time to clean up. Many helping hands were provided to make this a quick task. Thanks to all who helped! Equipment was loaded by 2:30 P.M. and the shop ready to close. A suggestion was made to combine a monthly meeting with a workshop. Let’s hear some input on this.

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Calendar of Events

April

April 8th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop

May

May 13th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop

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Wanted, For sale, Free