SPLINTERS

Tennessee Valley Woodworkers                                                   April 1988

 

 

 

Well, I hope that you all survived April Fools Day without any lost fingers. One time I lost a foot -- of walnut -- ”measure twice and cut once”.

 

 

MOSTLY MOISTURE AT APRIL MEETING

 

And we are not talking of April Showers! Have you ever watched a “prized project” tear itself apart with the changing of the seasons? The underlying forces at work involve such mysteries as moisture content and relative humidity. Rick Bishop has graciously consented to help us unravel some of these mysteries with a little help from brother Phil. Rick and Phil Bishop will be presenting a program about drying wood at our April meeting

 

7:00 PM TUESDAY, APRIL 19, AT DUCK RIVER BUILDING

ACROSS FROM WENDY’S

 

 

Come and see if it really is possible to “fool Mother Nature”. If You have any examples of problems associated with drying, split table tops, etc., you’re encouraged to share them with us at Show and Tell.

 

Don’t forget that Show and Tell is now a regular part of our monthly program. Everyone is invited to bring projects, tools, failure, or anything of interest. I would imagine we might even have some projects inspired by Spring——birdhouses or even some outdoor furniture. Susan is already talking about how she likes those Adirondack chairs that are in all the woodworking magazines these days.

 

 

 

MANY MORE MEMBERS AND VISITORS AT MEETINGS

 

Thanks to all of you members that have invited neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, we have many new members. Welcome to all of you. We are glad to have you come and share our mutual interest in woodworking. Please feel free to participate with your ideas, your friends and neighbors, and most of all Show and Tell. Here is a recent list of new members and visitors. If I have neglected anyone be sure to let my secretary know.

         

NEW MEMBERS

MR. & MRS. BUD BROOMAL       
BILL CHEW       
TIM MONEY       
JOHN SHOE4ER        

JOHN TROXLER

VISITORS

MR. & MRS. EVERETT WHITE

KENNY SMITH

MR. TYLER

PHILLIP TUCKER

 

ITEMS FROM LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

 

 

Following approval of a contract by the Coffee County Industrial Board. a manufacturer of wooden executive office furniture could begin as early as next fall. This article was in the March 30th issue of the TENNESSEAN. The company, to be known as G. Davidson Gallery, Ltd. will purchase a vacant industrial plant in Manchester and equip it for approximately $12 million. Work on renovation should begin within the next three to seven weeks and should be in full production by next Fall.

 

This plant could make for future interesting tours, or even jobs for our members. Most office furniture is built with particle board these days. Since the article said “executive wooden furniture”, maybe they’ll have some good scraps.

 

SOURCES

 

If you’re looking for a ready and inexpensive source for a hard work surface, keep reading. You’re about to hear “the rest of the story”. This material makes an excellent glueing area. It can be used for a router top surface. I’m planning on using one for a larger table on my bandsaw. It’s uses are bounded only by the limits of one’s imagination. Various colors and sizes are usually available all at one low price (about $3.00 for a 29” X 36” piece). If you’re not sure by now... come to the April 19th meeting.

 

NEWS AND NOTES

 

Bill Knight recently enjoyed another week of turning training, over at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg. I’m sure he will be able to tell us more about it at the meeting.

 

Tom Cowan has signed up for the turning seminar in Srnithville on June 4th and 5th. They will have room for only 60 students, divided into groups of 20 each with 4 instructors rotating through each group. It is intended to cover the full spectrum of turning——bowls, spindles, ect.

 

 

Tom has also just completed a replica of General Jackson’s Civil War desk. He will be taking it to Virginia for a Civil War reenactment.

 

We’ve missed a few fellow woodworker’s smiling faces lately at our meetings.

          Ray Cole    It must be love!
          Terry Penn Working long and late hours!

Joe Pawlick -- Church group meeting on Tuesday.

Congratulations on your new position at UTSI

 

Did anyone make it to the Atlanta Show? Rumor has it that there weren’t as many exhibitors this year.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT

 

This month our spotlight shines North toward Santa’s Shop. Ted Baldwin, AKA, Santa, is a fellow woodworker and toymaker from Tullahoma. Ted and Mrs. Santa are probably best known for their annual open house at Christmas in Santa’s Shop. When I asked Ted where he was originally from, he confessed that he is a gypsy. Born in Missouri (SHOW ME) Ted’s family moved to Indiana. Then Ted moved around following work in Illinois, Virginia, and eventually Tennessee to work at AEDC.

 

Ted finishes his toys with four thin coats of lacquer, spraying outside to avoid the fumes. His favorite tools include a 12 inch Craftsman bandsaw. . . Ted mentioned occasional vibration problems... does anybody have any suggestions? Another tool that Ted is proud of is his belt sander. Ted uses an old bandsaw that he’s rigged with home-made belts. This works well for sanding curves and edges on all of those toys. He buys belt stock by the roll, then cuts an inch extra length——strips the abrasive off the ends using water.

Carpenters glue and a little clamping finishes the job for a lot less money

 

When it comes to a favorite wood, it all depends. For his toys, White Pine from the lumber yard, 3/4 inch stock is Number 2 shelving, 6/4 stock is a better grade. When, it comes to personal projects, Ted prefers Cherry and Walnut. Now there’s a man after my own heart. Ted recently completed a bathroom vanity in Cherry. Even the top for a “drop—in” sink was done in cherry - with a polyurethane finish.

 

Ted’s shop started out to be 12 X 12 and ended up 24 X 24 with Mrs. Santa’s encouragement. Of course, Ted planned on using half of it for the car, but we all know better. Keeping a schedule of 8 to 10 craft shows with his toys keeps him in sawdust. Favorite shows include: May show in Centennial Park and the Meriweather Lewis festival at Hohenwald in the Fall. Ted is currently subscribing to WOODSMITH & WOOD magazines. He likes to switch subscriptions like I do.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to get to know you a little better Ted.

We’re proud to have you as a member.