Our meeting on Thursday 18th July 2024 was another of our Showtime meetings, this one’s presenter was Nick Simpson. These meetings are for the most part very successful and although the turnout was a little disappointing it turned out to be a very enjoyable meeting.
As the number of members was low the number of items on show was also quite low, however that did give each of those who did enter something to show a little more time to discuss and appreciate the work they were doing, and there were a lot of questions and comments from those observing.
Here are a few pictures of the items brought in by their makers.
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These 2 pictures are of Nick Simpson the meeting’s presenter. Picture Left, Nick started the meeting by first welcoming everyone, he then went on to show and explain a possible problem that could arise with the make up and assembly of the chuck jaws, he had brought in a bowl jaws assembly and a set of jaws and their carriers and went on to show a possible problem arising, explaining in detail that there was a need to check the tightness of all of the screws involved in the full assembly as there is the possibility of some of the screws working loose and affecting the grip. Picture Right, he took in a bowl made from a piece of Beech that he had turned some time ago and went on to say that he didn’t like the end shape even although he had made it. Was it an unpleasing shape he was referring too with it’s down turned top, he wasn’t sure, all he knew was he disliked it, and because he still had it indicated to him that nobody else liked it too. This only goes to show that design and shape go hand in hand and that it needs to be pleasing to the eye, we don’t always get it right.
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Here we have Alan Smith. Picture Left, here he is showing a natural edged bowl made from a piece of Burr Cherry, I have to admit had I not been told it was a piece of Cherry I would have thought it to be from the Acer family of trees, however it was very well turned with all it’s visual attributes. Picture Right, Here Alan has made a square bowl as one was shown at a previous meeting, he didn’t get it quite right on this occasion but during the discussions that followed his presentation he realised where he went slightly wrong. This is where the value of this type of meeting is realised.
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Here we have Daniel Stewart, Both pictures are of him holding a winged bowl that he had made, it was made from an oblong piece of wood from start to finish, some of the finer detail that was done on the wings was done with a modified tool that Daniel made for himself, the underside was almost perfect as a rocking bowl. Daniel was asked how he held the object, he gave a very detailed reply.
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Picture Left, here we have Barry Cumming showing a square bowl he had made, this was only Barry’s 2nd successful attempt at making a square bowl, he had been mentored by me at a previous meeting on the making of square bowls. It was pointed out to Barry that he had not started with what would be considered an easier design for his square bowl, this was very much an advanced design, he commented that he just liked the design and wanted to have a go and here it was, well done Barry. Picture Right, this is me showing a couple of bowls that I made recently and applied a Laser design on the rims, the reason I brought 2 was to show what happens if you don’t get the centring just right, the one in my left hand is spot on, the one in my right hand is ever so slightly out of centre to the tune of 1.5mm and it shows. The old adage of more haste and less speed springs to mind, it pays to be fussy.
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More of my work in both pictures. Picture Left, a square bowl that I made as an example for the previous meeting, this was the bowl that Alan Smith copied and almost got it right. The bowl sits on the wings and not on the base of the bowl. Picture Right, a couple of Burr Elm bowls, the one in my right hand was made from an offcut that I took from another blank, not large but far too good to discard, the one in my left hand is more the traditional Burr Elm bowl with a mix if Burr and plain wood.
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The inside of our premises with 4 of our 5 lathes visible and the observation screens with each lathe.
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Put this date in your diary and do come and see what it’s all about, there will be turners working the lathes, a selection of craft tables with items for sale including a table from us with wood turned ware that has been donated to the club by the members, there will be tea and coffee available and a couple of model railway exhibits, a competition piece will also be on display to guess how many pieces of wood it’s made from. The purpose of the open day is to make the community aware of what wood turning is all about, possibly to attract more members to the club and the main purpose is to raise the funds to let us buy a Defibrillator for the club. So do come along and see what we are doing.