Author: Alec Mutch

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Report on the meeting on 13th June 2019, sharpening.

Our club meeting on the 13th June 2019 was all about sharpening hand tools. There were 4 club members using a variety of sharpening devices , those were David Hay, David Hutcheson, Errol Levings and Alec Mutch. Each were demonstrating how to use their particular sharpening tool with tools brought in by many of the club members. Some had brought a whole selection of tools to sharpen or re-grind, this was exactly what we wanted to happen, they would be shown how to sharpen a particular tool then be asked to repeat the sharpening process themselves. There was a lathe set up with a block of wood for anyone to try after sharpening a tool, it was very well used. The turn out of club members was very good and they had for the most part taken part in the demonstrations.

Alec Mutch preparing his equipment to start the sharpening demonstration.
Errol Levings setting up his equipment, Errol was working 2 machines.
David Hay showing one of the members how to sharpen a gouge with a belt machine.
David Hay working on the fibre wheel with a gouge.
This was myself re-grinding a tool one of the members had brought in.
Now I'm assisting one of the members who is doing the grinding themselves.
Here I'm re-grinding the bevels on a skew, both sides had been hollow ground.
David Hay using the sharpening jig to sharpen a bowl gouge.
Errol Levings about to sharpen a parting tool with a belted machine.
Her one of the members was re-grinding the bevel on a bowl gouge to remove the wings.
David Hay with another piece of equipment to assist the sharpening, very useful for beginners.
Here I am trying a gouge for sharpness after re-grinding and sharpening.
Now cutting on the edge side of the blank, this is mostly end grain, and a good judge of sharpness can be found if it cut this well.
David Hay now sharpening an oval skew chisel.
Here I am working on a second bowl gouge using the white wheel to remove some of the wings and also to sharpen.
Here I am trying the second gouge for sharpness after re-grinding .
David Hutcheson using a belt tool with the tool guide to sharpen a flat skew.
One of our members. Richard Comfort trying a tool he just sharpened, not the size of the wood blank now, it was well used.

If you want to see a larger picture and some text just click on the image. The pictures for this post were all taken by Mike Day.

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This week’s meeting 13th June 2019, Sharpening.

This week’s meeting on the 13th June 2019 is all about sharpening tools, it’s being organized by David Hobson, we will be using the sharpening station at the club along with additional sharpening tools brought in by some of the members who will also demonstrate the use of these tools. There should be at least 3 and possibly 4 members using the sharpening tools and advising on their use, these are David Hay, David Hutcheson, Alec Mutch and possibly Errol Levings. If any of you have a tool or tools that require some attention, then bring it with you, we will try to show you how to sharpen or regrind any tool, we will also be asking you to have a go yourself. Next to using the tools correctly has to be sharpening, without a sharp tool the correct use of the tool becomes nearly impossible.

This is one of the club’s own sharpening tools, it’s based on using a belt rather than a stone or stones, it can produce a very fine edge on any tool in the right hands, it can also accommodate a jig for assisting the user.
This is the other sharpening tool our club has, this time it’s a grinder with 2 different grade grinding stones, this too has the jig facility. The grinder is more useful when regrinding a tool as the stones work much faster in removing material than any belt. I will be bringing my own grinder with me, I don’t use any jigs when sharpening or regrinding it’s all done by eye and touch, and I hope to pass this on to whoever wants to learn.

We are looking for a good turnout as usual and do bring your tools with you.

For all the committee members, remember there is a committee meeting starting at 5.45pm on Thursday, please try to be there sharp.

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Report on the Hollow Form competition 30th May 2019.

The competition on the 30th May 2019 was all about making Hollow Forms. The entries for each category was a little disappointing, especially in the “Intermediate” category, the judges for the competition were David Hobson and Mark Sutton. Here is a summary of the competition entries and winners. In addition to the competition David had organized 5 turners to man the lathes whilst the judging was going on, these were, Colin MacKenzie making miniature bird houses, Mark Dale making a natural edged bowl, Dave Line working on a large laminated vessel, Bob Chisholm making pens and Geoff Potter working on a spalted beech bowl. For pictures and text on all of this see below.

These were the entries for the "Novice" category.
These were the entries for the "Intermediate" category.
These were the entries for the "Experienced" category.
These were the winners in the "Novice" category, 1st on the left was by Geoff Potter, 2nd on the right was by Ian Savage.
These were the winners in the "Intermediate" category, 1st on the left was by Dave Line, 2nd on the right was by Bob Chisholm.
These were the winners in the "Experienced" category, 1st on the left was by Alec Mutch, 2nd on the right was by John Ruickbie.
A close up of the winning Hollow Form in the experienced category.
Here we have Bob Chisholm as he prepares to make a pen.
Here we have Colin MacKenzie setting up to start making a miniature bird house.
Here we have Dave Line, Dave was working on a laminated vessel that he started at home.
Here we have Mark Dale taking his first cuts on a natural edged bowl in Elm.
Here we have Geoff Potter getting started on a spalted beech bowl.
Mark Dale sanding the outside of his natural edged bowl.
Colin MacKenzie making progress on his miniature bird house.
Dave Line sanding the inside of his laminated vessel, with the use of some sanding cloth attached to a push stick.
Bob working on a 2nd pen, this one was being made from a acrylic blank.
Geoff Potter having completed the outside of his bowl, now turning it around to work the inside.
Mark Dale applying sanding sealer to his natural edged bowl.
The outside of Geoff Potters spalted beech bowl now sanded and sealed.
Mark Dale working on the inside of his natural edged bowl.
A closer view of Mark Dale's internal cuts.
Dave Line hand sanding some small areas on his laminated vessel.
Mark Dale's completed natural edged bowl.
Colin MacKenzie's completed miniature bird house.

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If you want to see a larger picture and some text of any of the above click on the picture. The range of items that can be made as “Hollow Forms” is far reaching, here are just a few but we hope they will give you inspiration to make one of your own.

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This week’s meeting. Hollow forms competition.

This weeks meeting on Thursday 30th May 2019 is the competition on hollow forms, the meeting is being organized by David Hobson, he along with Mark Sutton will be the judges for the competition, we are looking for a large entry from all 3 categories and do remember there is a £25 first price for each of the 3 categories. In addition to the competition David has organized at least 3 turners to man the lathes whilst the competition judging is going on. Here is a reminder of the type of thing hollow forms covers.

Here is a reminder of the criteria.

This is just an example of the type of thing hollow forms covers,
More examples of hollow forms.
You do not need to follow any of these exactly, your own interpretation on something similar is what’s required.

Good luck and lets see plenty of entries.

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Report on our meeting on 16th May 2019.

Our meeting on the 16th May 2019 was all about making wooden fruits, the meeting was organized by David Hobson who also took part in the turning along with Alec MacLeod, Bob Chisholm, John Ruickbie and Richard Comfort. The meeting was well attended, it had quite a variety of ways in which wooden fruits could be made which made the evening even more interesting. Here is a summary of the evenings proceedings in both picture and print.

Here we have John Ruickbie as he starts to make a wooden apple from a piece of Cherry wood.
Here we have Alec MacLeod as he starts to make a wooden apple from a piece of Sycamore.
Here we have Bob Chisholm as he starts to make a wooden Orange from a piece of Elm wood.
Here we have David Hobson as he starts to make a wooden pear from a piece of Zebrano wood.
Here we have Richard Comfort as he make a start on making a wooden pear from a piece of Elm wood.
Here John Ruickbie is working on what will be the bottom of his apple.
Here Alec MacLeod is working on shaping his apple.
David Hobson's Zebrano pear taking shape, here he can be seen doing the final sanding.
Richard Comfort is being guided by one of our senior turners, Bill Munro.
Bob Chisholm now making a Butternut Squash from a piece of fence post.
This is one of Bob Chisholm's Butternut Squash, although not a fruit, Bob carried on making it.
Here John Ruickbie is now shaping the top of the apple.
Richard Comfort working on the base of his pear.
Here Richard can be seen sanding his pear, and looking good for a first attempt.
John Ruickbie's completed apple, made from a piece of Cherry wood.
Alec MacLeod's completed apple made from a piece of Sycamore.
David Hobson's completed pear made from a piece of Zebrano wood.
Richard Comfort's completed pear made from a piece of Elm wood.
David Hobson brought in a bowl of fruits by way of examples he had made earlier.
The inside of the club house, with the members watching their preferred turner.
John Ruickbie went on to make a wooden pear to accompany the apple he made earlier.
Alec MacLeod applying a finish to his apple.
David Hobson went on to make a wooden plum from a piece of Purpleheart.
Here David can be seen taking some of his final cuts on the plum.

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If you want to see a larger picture and some text, click on any picture. We hope these picture and text gave you an insight into the making of wooden fruits, and it doesn’t stop there, a whole range of wooden fruits and vegetables can be made.

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This week’s meeting 16th May 2019.

This week’s meeting on the 16th May 2019 is all about making wooden fruit. It’s being organized by David Hobson, He has arranged for 4 more turners to man the lathes these are Alec MacLeod, John Ruickbie, Bob Chisholm, Richard Comfort and David himself. All will be making some sort of wooden fruits and hopefully a variety of fruits.

Here are a few examples of some wooden fruits from my own portfolio. Left is an Apple made from African Padauk, centre are a couple of Pears made from Sycamore and Ash and right are a pair of Plums made from Purplheart.
These are also from my own portfolio, the Banana although not turned is made from Pau Amarillo and the Grapes that were turned are made from Native Walnut.
Here the fruits can be seen as one display in a bowl made from Native Walnut, the Orange on the right is made from Agba a very light wood that took the detail of an Orange easily, it was stained with an orange water based dye.

These are just some ideas for fruits that we might see at the meeting being made, but there may be some other fruits being made that I have not pictured. Come and observe anyway, we hope for a good turnout and that the meeting will be enjoyable and informative.

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Our club meeting on 2nd May 2019 was a showtime meeting.

Our club meeting on the 2nd May 2019 was a showtime meeting, this is where the members are encouraged to bring and show any item they had made over the past few weeks, each one would get the opportunity to tell the members how they made any item and answer any questions from the members. The attendance for this meeting was a little smaller than usual and the number of members exhibiting was also a little smaller than usual, however the amount of items displayed was very good. The evening went well and the members got fully involved with all the item shown.

Here I am doing my introductions for the meeting, I was also the compere for the showtime meeting.
First up was Douglas Stewart, Douglas had made a selection of wooden mice as a novelty.
A closer view of some of Douglas's mice, all made in a variety of woods.
Here we have Dave Line, Dave made a couple of items, here he is showing his segmented vase with lid.
A closer view of David's vase with lid.
Dave also made this novelty mock up of an old style of telephone in Oak.
A closer view of Dave's 2 items.
Here we have Bob Chisholm, Bob had several item to show, here is his first a wooden platter made in Sycamore.
Another of Bob's items, a Mortar and pestle made from a segmented form.
Another of Bob's items a very shallow plate made from Sycamore.
Bob also made this Gavel and Block.
A closer view of Bob's Gavel and Block.
Here we have David Hutcheson showing the first of his 2 items.
David's first item was a shallow bowl with a natural edge, David explained he did not like to throw any piece of wood out, and this was the result of one such piece.
The underside of David's shallow bowl, he had made an insert to fill the chuck recess and added a little decoration.
The second of David's items was this piece of Elm, again this was salvaged from the throw away pile, it had some cracks that David stitched using some metal staples.
The top side of David's Elm plate, he had scorched the underside and carried the scorching on to the top side for forming the lip.
Here we have Geoff Potter showing a natural edged bowl, Geoff explained that this piece of wood was salvaged from the shore of a highland loch.
A closer view of Geoff's Elm bowl.
The second of Geoff's items was this highly spalted bowl, it had been made from a piece of Beech that had been cut using a bowl saver.
A closer view of Geoff's Spalted Beech bowl.
This picture shows the piece that came out of the bowl using the bowl saver with the bowl to the left and the natural edged bowl to the right.
Here we have Bill Munro, Bill showed a couple of items that were all made by using the inside out turning method.
This was Bill's compote inside out turning, made from native Walnut.

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If you want to see a larger picture along with some text, click any picture. Most of the pictures for this post were taken by Dave Line.

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Hollow form competition on the 30th May.

The next competition will be held on the 30th May 2019, the subject will be making a hollow form, this can be made from a single piece of wood or from as many pieces as you wish. A sheet with each categories criteria is included in this post along with a few other sheets with some designs for your consideration or to just give you some ideas, you do not need to follow exactly any of these ideas, they are there just to give you inspiration but do use your own initiative and make something completely different.

Competition-criteria, select the category you are in.
Hollow-forms-design-1, shows how a 2 part hollow form is made.
Hollow-forms-design-2, a selection of designs for your imagination.
Hollow-forms-with-text-1

Use the criteria page as your guide for the category you are in, and we hope to see lots of entries from all 3 categories, do remember there is a prize of £25 for the winner in each class.

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Next meeting 2nd May 2019, it’s showtime once again.

Our next meeting on the 2nd May 2019 is a showtime meeting, it’s your opportunity to to show the members what you have made over the past few weeks. It will be the same format as on previous occasions, each person will get the opportunity to present their work and give a short presentation on what they have made. A good turnout will be expected and we would like to see as many entries as possible especially from some of the newer members. You will all get a seat and the cameras and screens will be in use.

Here are some pictures of some of the entries on a showtime meeting held on February 2018.
More pictures of some of the item shown on the February 2018 meeting, the skeleton clock in the middle picture was shown by one of our most recent members at the time.
These pictures were taken at the June 2018 showtime meeting, as you can see a wide range of turned items were shown.
More pictures taken at the June 2018 showtime meeting, 3 very interesting items, John Ruickbie’s Mons meg cannon on the left, David Ross’s laminated and pierced bowl in the centre and Gordon Leitch’s Monkey puzzle bowl on the right, all expertly done.
These are pictures from our last showtime meeting held in August 2018, again a wide range of turned ware.
More pictures from our last showtime meeting held in August 2018.

It never ceases to amaze me at the diversity and quality of the work presented at one of our showtime meetings, so do keep on showing your work, your friends and fellow members all like to see what everyone is making and we can all learn from each other by sharing our experiences.

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Report on our meeting on 18th April 2019, making repairs in woodturning.

Our club meeting on the 18th April 2019 was organized by David Hay, his main theme for the meeting was how to make repairs in woodturning. David would be the main contributor to this type of work, however he had also arranged for 3 other members to be demonstrating their own things, these were David Hutcheson on a lathe, he would make a container for holding and storing sanding sealer, Mark Sutton also on a lathe, he would make a small Japanese style tea bowl, and Mark Dale was tasked with doing some hand carving and would make a large spoon or serving ladle. The turnout of members was very good and the evening went well, each demonstrator seemed to get a fair share of the attendees.

Here we have David Hay making his first of many holes in his Cherry blank to take the plugs he would use to disguise the shakes (cracks) in the blank.
Once the holes have been drilled corresponding plugs need to be fitted, these are held in with super glue, the plugs a re gently tapped into each hole.
Here we have one of the members having a go at drilling the holes, David likes to encourage onlookers to have a go under his supervision.
David continues to drill some more of the many holes required.
These are the plug cutters David uses, some of these sets come with corresponding drill bits.
Once all the plugs have been inserted, the blank is spun and any excess plug material skimmed off before sanding to a finish.
The outside now complete, all the plugs have been fitted and the outside sanded sealed and polished. David would do the inside at home.
Here we have David Hutcheson's blank about to be mounted in the chuck, the wood is Sycamore, he is going to make a lid with an integral brush to hold and apply sealer.
David starts to shape the blank to take a plastic seal that fits the top of a jam jar.
Here David is trial fitting the plastic seal, it needed to be a very good fit.
With the seal fitting, David turn his attention to the shaping of the handle.
David continues to shape the handle, but you will see a drill bit in the tailstock, this would be used to drill a hole to take the handle of a sealer brush.
The shaping of the main handle nears completion, the hole for the brush handle has been drilled.
All that remains is a little bit of decoration to the main handle, this is achieved by scoring the wood and using a wire to burn a few lines in the handle.
Here is David with his finished sealer pot complete with the handle he has just made, the brush would be inserted into the drilled hole and fixed with epoxy resin.
This is Mark Sutton's blank being mounted on the lathe, the wood is Sycamore, and Mark would demonstrate the making of a Japanese style tea bowl,
Here Mark has shaped the outside and made a short spigot on the bottom, this would be used to hold the item when turned around.
Now Mark has turned the piece around and has started to shape the inside, you will notice before he turned it around, Mark did some texturing and colouring of a band near the top by way of decoration.
Here Mark is using a ring tool on the inside to give him the shape and quality of cut on the inside.
Here Mark is doing the final cuts prior to sanding and finishing.
To clean up the bottom and get rid of any chuck marks, Mark has used a piece of router mat fixed to a disc and held the cup between centres using the tailstock, some very minor sanding would be required after cleaning up the base.
Here is Mark's finished Japanese style tea bowl.
Here we have Mark Dale making his first cuts on a piece of Birch using a hatchet and a home made chopping block. Mark would go on to make a large spoon or ladle.
Here is a sample of Mark's excellent work, one he did earlier by way of example.

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For a larger picture and some text, click any picture.