Another good club night - February2005

It was a dry but cold night for the 55 members travelling to the clubhouse tonight. Ken B was setting up a table of bits and pieces in aid of the tsunami appeal. Tools, power cable, books and a couple of old kitchen wall cupboards were for sale. The camera's set up and raffle tickets purchased with the usual good selection of prizes on display. Trevor has kindly taken over the raffle for us and has added a mystery prize for the last number called. I got it last month and it was a Bankshia nut so now I've got two so I guess I better get and use them. I chatted to a couple of new members and placed my competition piece. The demonstrator and club lathe was all set up and the hall was buzzing with guys talking turning.

The chairman welcomed us all and mentioned various bits of news and both Derek the magazine editor and myself mentioned a few odd bits of interest. John handed over to Ken who introduced Mark Baker our demonstrator for the night who was received with a warm round of applause.

Mark gave a brief history of his career concluding by informing us that he was giving up his job as editor of "Woodturning Magazine" I think to concentrate more on turning as he is a very competent turner. He went to some lengths to explain tool sharpening explaining the actual edge of the tool, and that polishing the ground surface can very much improve the finished work. Various tools were passed round including a 100mm dia metal disc impregnated with diamond, now this disc fitted into the chuck on the lathe and did look quite easy to use, he sharpened a tool on one half only and passed it around so we could compare the difference. The only problem is that once you've mounted your blank on the lathe the last thing you want to do is remove it in order to sharpen your tools. Mark of coarse then went on to tell us he hones about twenty times before returning to the grinder. But at £50.00 per disc I don't see many being purchased somehow.

First on the lathe was a blank that had been part turned before seasoning, this was a piece of Olive Ash. As he turned he explained in detail exactly what he was doing and why. He finished the outside with a group of small beads near the rim; it was sanded, oiled and buffed. He explained the hook and loop paper he was using on a roll and to our surprise it was time for the break. I checked out the competition pieces, chatted to a couple of guys and eventually got my cup of tea just in time for the second half.

Mark answered some more questions on sandpaper before turning a spigot on the piece and mounting it in the chuck. He described rims and wall thickness and warned us to keep a constant look out when exposing new wood on pre turned blanks for cracks as the piece after time become dark and dusty hiding these nasty surprises. He finished the bowl to a very fine standard, sanding after oiling which is a brilliant way of controlling that dust. As this was a salad bowl he wasn't looking for a shine of any kind. Finally he reversed the piece and turned the base off finishing with a light oiling and sanding. There were a few questions before Ken thanked him for his detailed demonstration and was acknowledged with a good round of applause.

I am lucky in as much as I make notes for this article so I have detail to file for future reference. However there was a lot of very useful tips tonight that I'm sure the guys will pick up on. Well done to Ken for another brilliant demonstrator. The competition results were read out and the Tsunami collection raised over £55.00 over the two club nights, That money just keeps' coming in doesn't it. Next we had the raffle, well Derek I had four numbers tonight, and I only took the first as you do. I don't know who had the mystery prize this week but if I find out I'll mention it next time. There were the usual chairs away, chat, vacuuming and goodnights and there goes another good club night.

Boots - Feb 2005