2019-10-08 Monthly Meeting

AWA Meeting. Call to order. 7:00

18 members present

Welcome

News

Stephen & ME described their open studio event in Sept (Surfside Studio Tour)
McNabs – felled trees would like to have some of it made into projects for fundraising – add link to Friends of McNabs / McNabs Island to newsletter
Woodworkers association on Instagram – matching projects seen online and how to make them
- Getting together to talking about making / selling
Ideas for keeping your shop neat
- Work yourself into a mess and soon as project is finished get it fixed
- Have regular shop tours – forcing you to vacuum, clean, organize
- Consider that the cleaning and organizing has value
- Bill – was invited to Bill Flynn shop when setting up and gave some tips on keeping clean – one of his tips when teaching a shop class put regular put tools down and do a clean – clean regularly as you go – also give you a chance to think and organize – start by sharpening all hand tools at beginning of session
Status of Hands on Halifax – unknown at this time. There was a message on Facebook that closing immediately then next day an update that already scheduled classes will continue.

Hands on Halifax UPDATE: Nov. 3 – New classes added and notice posted of large new tool donation.

Member Presentation

Bill Howes – Wood carving

Relief
Lettering
Whittling

Carving is portable and easy to start in terms of tools – nice to have chisels of all sizes but not necessary as you can make it work with limited selection. Build collection slowly as needed.

: Ancanthus leaf

: Sample practice sticks to develop skill

Bills early carving projects included relief carving on furniture pieces – used a Greek Ancanthus leaf (see illustration above)

Details need to be better on higher parts of the furniture – ex feet do not need to be as perfect because they are not easily visible

Chisels can vary

Number 1 is straight line

Gradually increase in curve

# 3 is very gentle curve to #11 is full half circle

Same number will be available in different sizes. It will be bigger circles but will have same mathematical portion of the circle

Recommend – first chisel to buy – 1” #3

Recommended chisels

Pfiel – swiss made carving tools

Henry taylow

Carving vs regular chisel – not beveled so can do a straight line, even on both sides

Looking after your tools.

When you first get them, need to put an edge
Sharpen as you go – have a piece of leather next to your work
Sharpening a v chisel – if you sharpen the two sides separately, you will end up with hook

Carving an image:

Trace your image onto the wood as guideline
Don’t start with chopping out, start with v tool to mark – and test wood
Hands a driver and steerer
Most controlled cut is with mallet – light taps
Can do the work step by step and a little at the time
Always have to be aware of grain – mahogany is best – fine, straight grain — walnut good to work—butternut carves nicely but very grainy

Lettering

Can print out what you want and enlarge to the size you want – and takes care of spacing properly – like to use Gothic letters – advantage – has the serif – vertical lines are wide, horizontal half that width- serifs in place for carvers as “stop cuts”

Raffle

No raffle tonight

Other News

Nov 15-17 – Seaside Christmas on the Eastern Shore. Stephen and Mary Elizabeth opening studio (Sat and Sun only) if anyone wants to visit – or put items for sale.

Reminder – December meeting – 1^st Tuesday of the month – More Details to follow next month

Show and Tell

Bill – scraper and pizza cutter from scrap

Darren – honey dipper from maple – fixed in jar with lid – mason jar – be aware that all mason jars are not created equal so have to make for the specific jar.

Doug – onion and garlic cutting board – that stands back of the counter

Callum – tips for the organizing question – no name storage containers

David – Cooling rack and cherry spoon

Stephen – set of small carving tools – carving mallet with ash

Brad – folding book stand – from popular woodworking