Call to Order Opening 2021-22 AWA Season

Sept. 21 – first meeting of the 2021-22 Season (continuing in virtualform)

In Attendance

Phil Carter, David Costain, Gary Dumas, Trevor Edis, Calum Ewing, Brad Holley, Ted Monk, ME O’Toole, Stephen Parsons,   Don Shubaly

Welcome

Hopefully back in person in Oct (latest announcement is no sooner than Oct 4 for next phase)  — plan to offer virtually / blend – option until at least end of the year

Dues are due – prices returning to Pre-COVID rates ($30/person or $40 / family)

PRESENTATION 

ReLearning Workshop Safety (The Hard Way)

Calum Ewing shared a presentation of a recent shop accident

In July, Calum was building a new compost box  with rough sawn spruce and standard spruce. He was wearing gloves to avoid splinters and removing them when ripping on the table saw 

Unfortunately, in a moment of distraction, he did a cut without taking off the gloves.  When he automatically reached behind the blade to move the offcut, the blade caught the edge of the glove and hauled his hand into the blade, cutting across all 5 fingers – cutting the end off the thumb, through the next to fingers, leaving a long cut on the ring finger and zigzag cut on pinkie

Calum required a 4 hour surgery.  He required splints, stitches and a month in plaster cast, another month is modified cast – and is still recovering.  Because the cut severed between knuckle and joint of thumb they were not able to reattach the missing part of the thumb, thought Calum did correctly preserve it and bring it to the hospital.

Here are some details and lessons learned, that  Calum shared with us:

Causes

• No guard in place
• Lack of attention / care
• Over confidence
• Safety rules not followed

Lessons learned

• Be sure you have a First Aid kit in workshop AND ensure it is easily accessible – to you and others in your household
• Know what to do
• Get help
• Know the impact of shock
• Always have the proper guards in place
• Follow safety procedures

Calum added that he has kept the glove and put it in his shop all as a reminder of how quickly things can happen and the consequences of not being constantly vigilent.

Doctors are very familiar with woodworking injuries and their impact.   It can happen so easily and so fast.

Please take the time to be aware and safe as you work

Suggestions for first aide kit (from people who have had traumatic incidents)– gauze and tape, plastic bags, sterile cloth

Other News

Darrel Hamilton has lots of items for sale – reach out to him directly for details, or contact Brad for additional info

Updates from Program Chair

• Will send out 2×4 contest, looking for a 2×4 people’s choice award
• Included plan of 2×4 contest from Stephen – on chezcraft.ca
• Looking for members to do a demo or technique or other short presentation
• Committee will reach out directly to people who have offered  in the past and will start to schedule details.
• Planning to get some info about machine / computer controlled equipment – Stephen and Trevor going to get together to create  presentation  — any others using similar tools are invited to be part of discussion

Examples of woodworkers who have changed their woodshop with new tools include Jonathan Katz-Moses and April Wilderson.  

 

Show and Tell

Stephen Parsons –  urns for Goro  — smaller than usual (5x5x4) x2 –   identical boxes for two people to split ashes

birds eye maple and black walnut 

Used new Snapmaker2.0 A 350  to cut the dado in the base with beautiful precision.

New tool

Q&A re the CNC – presentation for upcoming meeting

 

 

The boxes – featuring box joint corners – are constructed from a single length of birds-eye maple, with contrast provided in the base and lid built from a piece of black walnut.

 

Reviews

In Lee valley today, picked up Quercus magazine, hand tools – this month focus on sharpening featuring Richard While   – he also makes miniatures

Hoping to get Richard to  make a presentation for us re some of his skills projects

Skill demo

Brad – making a bed for son – design from Thomas Mosher picture-  they don’t show the joinery as they are selling bed

Short cuts
Drawboring and spring cuts

Drawboring – reinforces mortise and tenon  using an offset wooden peg – predates clamps and also useful where clamps might not be long enough and/ or sufficient enough.

Click to watch Brad’s full PowerPoint  202109 AWA Meeting 

Paul Sellers drawboring on youtube

Stephen – have used for breadboard

Short Cuts – Sprung Joints

“Springing” a glue joint – such as for a table top or panel, by planing – tighter glue lines – sprung joints – handy hen you have few clamps

“I’m not anti-clamp — definitely pro-clamp”

Don Shubaly – by having tension in the middle, the ends of the table pushed together and prevents splitting over time  – don’t get the drying out at the ends  — taking advantage of the stress properties of the wood

Suggestions for ebonizing wood

Stephen – Bill Howes  gave me some tips about processing and steps

Calum – working on tool shed in the yard – re-shingling and experimenting with shingle art

Stephen – doing some collaboration for new little projects –  Ataraxy farms – do a lot of or with goats – making goat’s milk  soaps and shaving projects  — doing some partnership with them – jatoba good for this as very dense so resists rot and water, and then soaked with double boiled linseed oil  – fun to work with someone doing different art

mention Ataraxy farms in the next newsletter

Wrap-up 

Hope to do Lee Valley for the 1^st Tuesday of December.  Start thinking about toys for Salvation Army

Next meeting:

Tues, Nov  8

November Challenge:

Remembrance and memories