SPLINTERS
SEP, 1987
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
WOODWOPKERS
Some
of our friends at the Decherd Arts and Crafts show may not have had a chance to
get acquainted with our woodworking club, so here’s a bit of introduction. We
started the club in late 1985 for those
in our area who shared a common interest in woodworking. Our goals are to increase fellowship among
woodworkers, develop programs which make members aware of successful techniques
and products, participate in community activities where our hobby can provide a
service, and have fun while we learn more about this very interesting pastime.
We
have participated in Winchester Olde Timey Days, Arts and Crafts shows, and
Toys For Tots programs in both Tullahoma and Winchester. Our ages vary from
some young members in Jr. High to quite a few retired
folks. We have members from Normandy,
Tullahoma, Huntland, Winchester, and everywhere in between. Membership is not
restricted by county or even state! Some of our wives are also very active:
Susan Church, our President’s wife recently placed higher than her husband in a club woodworking show (Tom still pouts on
occasion)! Our “show and tell” programs bring out the best and worst in us as
we show successes as well as some not so successful ventures—we learn from both!!
We
meet on the third Tuesday of the month at the Duck River Electric building in Decherd at 7:00. Meetings usually last
about
an hour but, depending on the program can sometimes go a bit longer. Please
stop in and visit us at a meeting, even if you don’t decide to join, we’d still
like to get to know you.
THE AUGUST MEETING WAS MUSIC
TO OUP EARS
Those
members and spouses who attended the August meeting were treated to a great
program. Mr. Paul Pyle discussed many of the fine points of building a dulcimer.
His description of the heredity of the instrument and the lessons he learned by
making more than 1500 of these unique instruments over the past 15 years or so
was facinating. For those of us who might be tempted to make a dulcimer or
similar instrument, Paul’s success at cutting the curved sides rather than
steaming them to shape is a point to remember. He passed out so many tips I
can’t possibly relate them. To cap off his great program, Paul played a few
tunes on two of the finished dulcimers he brought with him. It was truly great.
Thanks a lot Paul. Oh, for those who might want to know more about dulcimers or the re-saw bandsaw Paul has for sale,
contact Paul through Jack Townsend. It was great to see all the club members
and spouses at the meeting: spouses, children, and other guests are always
welcome at our meetings.
THANKS
FOR THE MEMORIES
For
the past two months, our jovial President, Tom Church and his faithful
companion Susan have put out the newsletter. Many thanks for a terrific job. If
anyone else would like to try your hand at an issue or even and article, let me
(Joe Pawlick) know. I assure you I won’t be insulted!
I did find one note on the computer that must be left over from Tom: “you are not a carpenter until you’ve run one finger through the saw: if you run too many fingers through the saw, you’re not a carpenter.” OUCH!!
At
the August meeting our logo design was approved. A hand plane with our club
name in block letters was selected. Tom Church is going to get an illustrator
to draw it up, Howard Colson will photograph it, and it will be taken to a
printer— probably Daniels in Winchester. It was also agreed to put the logo on
caps for sale to club and non—club members. They will be available at our September
meeting and in time for the Decherd Arts and Crafts show, September 19, &
20th. We also discussed business cards with the club logo. It was decided that
anyone who wanted to order cards can contact the printer directly and pick out
their own format and color. Tom has given me some more information on the cards
and hats: cards will be about $3.00 per 100 and hats will be from $3 to $5 per
head. There was no fee for the graphic logo design. The printer was able to do
all of the graphics as part of the photo work.
Be
the first in your neighborhood to give Tom a call and place your order for our
very own, collector quality, low fat, no chloresteral, EPA approved, Tennessee
Valley Woodworker hats and cards
INSTRUCTIONS
ABOUT INSTRUCTIONS
In
the article about beginning woodworkers we published last month was a quick
quip about conflicting “helpful” information of the kind we all have received
as we grow our woodworking hobby. It reminded me of many similar situations we
have all found ourselves in when we tackle a new job or try out a new hobby. I
recently found myself installing a new dishwasher for my parents. When I went
to hook up the water I found all soldered connections. At one hardware store I
was given instructions on how to sweat on the new pipes, at another I was told
to use compression fittings, still another suggested flexible plastic pipe, and
the place that had all the pieces I needed offered only grunts as instructions.
Similarly when I first took up gardening and planted my first fruit trees, the conflicting information was more plentiful than produce! Plant at this time, prune this way was very clear in one “tome” and was completely contradicted in another authoritative book. What does all this have to do with woodworking? I seem to have run into a lot of conflicting information lately and I’m sure that other newcomers to our hobby have also. Since I’ve messed up more than my fair share of projects, I almost feel like an authority.
First,
do the instructions really conflict or are they solving one problem while you
really have another? Second, since you didn’t have the proper material, did you make some “small” substitutions?
Third, was the author carried away with his/her
own brilliance? I can usually figure which of
these reasons fit my failure just about the time I’m feeding my project into
the fireplace.
Enough
of the problem — oh sage, how about solutions!! How’s this for starters, pick
the process and stick with that one until you’re finished. If you decide
to try Homer Formbys famous paint removal process, don’t get in the middle of
stripping the paint and then opt for a straight formeldihyde solution — if
you’re making a table saw jig don’t modify it before you finish the original
design ( you may make the same mistake the author made when he developed it)!
What I found for fruit trees seems to work in woodworking — find one approach,
technique, or process that seems logical to you then stick with it until you
finish. One way of attacking a problem will probably work, combining four or
five together probably will result in some expensive firewood. On the other
hand, when you’ve successfully completed the new approach, you may have added
another trick or two to your repetoir.
THERE’S
A CHILL IN THE AIR
What a time to get in a plug for the second annual Toys For Tots project. For those who weren’t with us last year, our club donated over a hundred handmade, wooden toys to both the Tullahoma and Winchester Christmas programs. We ask each member to make up any kind of toy they wish, decorate it as desired with “kid proof” materials and bring them to a collection point, usually the December meeting. We will publish some plans in later issues for simple, yet functional toys. Just had an idea, I wonder if we could expand this to toys for the kids who find themselves in the local hospitals on Christmas? Any comments, let us hear them at the September meeting. And speaking of the September meeting, go mark your calendar now — the meeting is on the 15th, a bit early but the calendar says the third Tuesday of the month is early — must be because of the alignment of the moon, mars, and checkbook balance — or something like that!!
WE
STAR AT THE DECHARD FESTIVAL
Our next club event will be the Decherd Arts and Crafts Festival, Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 to 6:00 and Sunday the
20th from 12:00 to 5:00. We’ll do
the basic set—up Friday evening. So far we have 6 members signed up to sell
their crafts and two gracious volunteers to watch over the booths. Lots more
room for club member displays and what a bargain. Instead of paying for a booth
by yourself, the club has rented booths and you only need to pay a small
portion of the booth
rental. What a way to add a few $ to the wallet by just displaying your handicrafts. For those who do sell, you are requested to: price your wares and make up a list of wares and prices in case a price tag gets lost. We’ll have a short meeting
after
our Tuesday, the 15th meeting for those who are interested in participating in
the festival. Henry Davis has agreed to bring some Club price tags for us to
use at the festival. If you need more info, give Jack Townsend a call, he’s a
real Arts & Crafts wizzard—he’s also in the Estill Springs phone book if
you need his number!
SEPTEMBER
MEETING
Tom Baskin has ordered a video from Fine Woodworking “Small Shop Tips And Techniques”. It sounds just like what we need as we head into our winter woodworking spree. Be sure not to miss this meeting, bring a friend, family, or anyone who might even be slightly interested in woodworking. Tom Cowan assured me that there are many more chairs available in the meeting room.
TENNESSEE VALLEY WOODWORKERS
NEXT MEETING
______
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 7:00 PM
DREMC
BUILDING, MEETING ROOM
DECHERD
0