Another good club night - April 2007

Unlike the first meetings this year I had nothing in particular to do tonight so I was hoping to just relax and enjoy the night as a member of the audience, it's a real shame that wasn't the case though as I could have done with the night off. I arrived early, just a couple of guys there chatting, I checked to see if the kettle was on and put a couple of tables up, Colin set up most though so I resorted to chairs. Then the members started to arrive and it was time to go home. Well it seemed like that because the time goes so quickly, you spend the weeks looking forward to a club night and then when it arrives its over in a flash, I guess that's because I enjoy them so much as do all our members.

So what happened in between, Ken and John sorted the tea and coffee so nothing for me there, I helped set the lathe up, chatted to Lloyd who is looking into our camera system, sorted some things for members and took some pictures, I only briefly mentioned some things to the members after Don had finished so that was quickly over so I guess I pretty much did just relax and enjoy the evening demo. So with the announcements out of the way Don introduced Les Thorne our demonstrator for tonight, 99% of our members know Les so he was quickly into the demonstration.

First he did the basic Cove, Bead, half skew type things and finished with an egg on a pedestal with definition, a cut which gives the impression of it being made from two pieces, it's very important to define the some parts of a turned piece; it's what makes it look right. There was a lot of information along the way and what I have finally got into my brain is the soft part of the grain which is the spring growth of the wood, in this case on the piece of pine he used was the lighter material. I was familiar with the soft and hard areas but didn't relate it to the spring growth, there's hope for me yet. You see even a demo showing the basic cuts can reveal information that perhaps some of the more advanced turners did not know.

Les then explained the bowl he was about to turn and that he had one on the counter at John Davis's shop in Stockbridge, this was for people to pick up and get the feel of the beaded outer side. So first the outside was turned to shape with a chucking point and beaded round to just under the rim, he then gave it a good blast with a blow lamp until it was quite black in places, this was then brushed with a nylon wheel in a drill to remove any bits and make it nice and smooth, then it was sprayed with matt black cellulose paint. While this was drying Les gave a very funny 5 minutes or so explanation of the basic novice using his lathe for the first time and turning a bowl, you know the sort of thing, not reading the instructions, basic things like that and yes you've guessed it, he used me as the novice, it had the gathered members in fits of laughter but I think I may have lost a bit of street credibility because of it, that's if I had any to start with?

So back to the bowl, I think it was Lime wax that went on next and a good coating it got to, this was brush and cloth polished to a nice soft sheen. With the bowl reverse chucked the inside was turned and a nice shape turned in the centre, from the outside of the centre shape to just under the rim it was scratched is the easiest way to explain it, and lightly sanded, and with a touch of polish it was done. It was well gone 10pm by now but it was well worth it. Don thanked Les and the audience applauded in appreciation for a brilliant, well balanced, humorous informative demonstration.

The reason it was so late was because we had our Open Weekend raffle at the half time break, with so many prizes donated it went on for some time, next year we will keep the meeting after the Open Weekend as a turn in. So after the competition results we had the draw for tonight's raffle as the hall was cleared. But that's not all, I mentioned young Kayleigh in the Open Weekend write up, I wrote "I have a feeling we will see young Kayleigh again." Well I was right, as part of the turning tuition fee they are invited to a club night to see what we do and Kayleigh wanted to do just that so she did. I explained it may not be so interesting for a young person at a demonstration but this did not deter her. At this point I have to say well done to Les, his demonstration was all that I said in the previous paragraph for the whole audience, from young Kayleigh to the eldest most experienced turners. Both Kayleigh and her mum Helen really enjoyed the evening and a plus was she won a prize in the draw and Derek gave her the bowl blank he won, she now wants to know when she can come round and turn it. What more can I say other than many thanks again to Les and a big thank you to all the members as its you who make it the friendly club it is.

So that was it, all over in a flash, although I still remember Les picking on me, I've booked a course of counselling sessions but they don't hold up much hope for me. To be fair John Davis and Carol's misfortunes where mentioned as well, they are both separate incidents, at different places, not together and at different times you understand; I'm burying myself aren't I, I'm beginning to wish I hadn't mentioned them now. So with the hall cleared and past 11pm it was time for the lights out and the last goodnights, and there goes another good club night.

Boots - April 2007