Independence Woodturners March 2018 Newsletter

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Offcuts from the Board
March 2018

As woodturners, we do not have much scrap, just smaller pieces that can be used together to make something larger in combination with other bits and pieces. That's what this little section attempts to produce. By adding the small parts of our activities and plans we have a combined bigger picture of opportunities to take part in within the club.

Keep turning safely and we’ll see you at the meeting.

Monthly Open Shop

The Open Shop for February was pre-empted by the Woodworking Tool Show. However, we will be available this month even though the Woodcarver's Show will be under way at the John Knox Pavilion in Lee's Summit and several of our members will be participating. Someone will be there to help in whatever way they can.
Keep turning and be safe.

The Wood Working Show was a great success which was due in large part because of the excellent help of the volunteers that worked the booth and especially the help in the setting up and taking down of the booth. So, a BIG thank you to all of those that helped where you did.
There was extra activity this year in the booth because of the pen turning experience offered by the Wood Working Show which took place in our booth. Thank you's! go out to those that helped tirelessly in that arena. It is rewarding when someone new to woodturning says, that they've "found their new hobby".
Below are a few pictures of the booth and activities.

Just about set up

A slow moment

Pen turner activity

Pen turners

Submit your tips for this column and win a $10 gift certificate from Craft Supplies, USA if it is published here in the newsletter. You may submit your tip to Mel Bryan at mrwudb@gmail.com or indepwoodturners@gmail.com

Now for this month's tip:
How do you turn duplicates? For instance, when you want to make multiple spindles, balusters or matching table legs, how can you make them match without using a duplicator? The short answer is; use a "story stick" or pattern. To read an article explaining this, click on this link to read the answer. Enjoy.

Due to the cancellation of last month's meeting, needless to say, there will not be any Show & Tell pictures.
Be sure to bring is what you had intended to last month along with this month's projects. Our Show and Tell should be great this month!

Where We Meet

Metro Hardwoods

4243 S. Noland Rd
Independence, Mo.

Click: http://mapq.st/1jjGqsW for a map

5 Woodturning Questions

The intention of this is for us to get to know each other and our passion for woodturning by answering five simple questions related to our woodturning desires. This month the questions have been answered by Wilbur Wilson

1.         When did you start turning and why?
I took wood shop my junior or senior year in High School. My dad turned lamps when I was a kid.

2.         What tools do you use the most?
   Scrapers, curved more than anything.

3.         What finish do you prefer?
  Hut Crystal Coat for my pens and Polyurethane for other things.

4.         What part of turning do you enjoy the most? What draws you to it?
Pen turning. It's small and fairly simple to do.

5.         What do you hope to achieve this year in your shop?
Getting it cleaned out some so I can walk around in it without having to do body contortions to get through the small "close" spaces.

Wilbur Wilson

Thank you, Wilbur.

   Do you enjoy this feature of your newsletter? If so, why not submit your answers to the following five questions and let us get to know you a little better. Who knows, you could help some other member gain the confidence or confirm that they are truly on the right track.
Don’t wait to have your arm twisted to answer these five question. Simply write down your responses and submit them to indepwoodturners@gmail.com or give them to Mel Bryan at a meeting. As they are received, they will be put in the newsletter and we will be able to enjoy “your” story and get to know you a little better.

Turning to the Library.

As a reminder, be sure to take advantage of the fact that our monthly demonstrations are not only in our library on DVD discs, but are posted on You Tube. One advantage is that the most recent demo will be on You Tube faster than it shows up in our library. This is true for most of the demos done this year. Simply go to the You Tube site on your computer, tablet, iPad or smart phone and in the search box, search for “Indep Woodturners” and the topic in which you are interested. And usually, the first item in the search results will be our YouTube channel which when you click on it you will get our channel with all the videos. Not only will the video of our demo show up, but related videos will show on the screen for later viewing.
Don’t forget to check the inventory of our library as we are regularly adding new items.
--- John Thornton, Librarian

Once again, the following is from Ron Brown's newsletter. I think this even applies to everyday turning and the improvement of our turning skills.

Professionals Don’t Make Mistakes

We do, but you will never see most of them. Before I give a public demonstration, I have practiced and practiced. I know what I need to get the job done, materials, tools, equipment, etc. and I have it on hand. I have rehearsed the steps and sequence things will happen and I’m ready to give my presentation/demonstration.
I never do things for the first time in front of a crowd, because I don’t want someone to get hurt (including me) if something goes wrong. The mistakes and failures I make are in private so I can correct the issues before hand. It has always baffled me how some Youtubers post videos of their first attempt at something knowing they are clueless and the possibility for catastrophe is enormous.
As many of you know, as I write this newsletter we have just completed 7 Woodworking shows in a row. I am demonstrating texturing methods and techniques this year just as I have done for many years previously. To say that I’ve made thousands upon thousands of samples is very accurate. Still, before each show opens, I double check my supplies and my tools. I make a couple of warm up practice samples in order to get ready for my guests that day. Folks who don’t care wing it and often fail due to lack of diligence and proper preparation on their part.
When you are called on to do a public demonstration for your club, or at a turning symposium, or some other event in front of a crowd, practice first, get yourself ready, rehearse a few times. Know what you are doing and you will discover the tremendous confidence it brings.
I recently had a long time customer ask me a serious question “How often do you get catches?” I said “Never unless I’m distracted or not paying attention. I never get an unexpected catch anymore because at this point I’ve learned how the tools work and I understand how they cut. I’ve studied to the point that I understand them thoroughly.” When is the last time you saw Richard Raffan, Mike Mahoney, Jimmy Clews, Nick Cook or Stuart Batty make a mistake? They are all practiced professionals who have spent the time and effort to perfect what they are demonstrating. Although we all do make mistakes eventually, they are few and far between.
Of course when a professional does make a mistake, they know exactly what they did wrong and normally use it as an object lesson for their audience. At the same time you shouldn’t be afraid to fail in front of a crowd because it does happen. Just know that you’ve put in enough practice and prep time so that mistakes are not likely. Fear of failure is one of the greatest causes of folks not trying in the first place. Overcoming that fear is easy with enough practice..

Ron Brown

Turn With Independence

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The Value of Practicing