TENNESSEE VALLEY WOODWORKERS MAY 1989 SPLINTER S

Mid—May is drawing close yet those April showers do persist. This May Mist certainly has been a blessing. In Washington State, we called it Oregon Mist [mist Oregon hit Washington]. A year ago we were well into another droughtful summer. We trust this year a drought is doubtful.

Speaking of Mid—May, next Tuesday is the Third Tuesday in May. Time for our next Tennessee Valley Woodworkers meeting.. .May 16 at 7:00 PM at the Duck River Electric Building in Decherd.

Our program promises to be another winner! Rick Duncan and Richard Gulley have made tentative arrangements to have Mat Mazurt the Norton sandpaper and abrasive representative put on the program. He has promised to leave his wife, Sandy, at home. She has a very abrasive personality. I’m sure this will be another excellent program. See you Tuesday

HIGHLITES OF APRIL MEETING

Bill Knight came up with an excellent suggestion. He knows a man who rents and drives a Greyhound bus for excursions. He thought we might be interested in renting this like to go to the Atlanta show or other trips. I say great and let me out at Lenox Square, please. We were all glad to see Chuck Williams and he thanked us for our card. Tom Gillard showed a stave bowl he had turned and then told us it was his first one. It looked like more than beginners luck, Tom. Bill Chew had turned some Sourwood and it sure looked fine. Tom Cowan had a walnut tea table and let us all in on a little secret that Mr. Reese, one of our new members, has a lot of hidden talents. Richard Gulley showed an oak bowl and reported that the lathe saga continues. We will know when Richard finished that lathe. We’ll be able to hear the clickity clickity all the way in Belvidere.

The crowd grew quiet in an attempt to pick up as many hints as possible as Rick Duncan stepped up to the podium to talk about wood finishing. If you appreciate finishing, then you missed a fine program.

UPDATE ON MEMBERS

We have news that Winfield Bennet is in the intensive care unit at St. Thomas in Nashville. Take care, Winfield, and come home soon. Bill Chew has been in the hospital but we hear reports that he is at home now. Hope to see you Tuesday night, Bill.

Tom Cowan is going to be a participant in the Praters Mill Country Fair. This show is held in May and October every year. It’s and art and crafts events near Dalton, Georgia. It has all the fun and entertainment of a country fair, too. Lots of entertainment and demonstrations. I think they have about 200 entries so take your walking shoes.

Rick Duncan is in the Philippines doing some consulting work in the wood industry. We will enjoy hearing about that trip when he returns.

Bill and Evelyn Knight were in a show on Signal Mountain two weeks ago and won a certificate for their quality of work. Bill says it was in the old hotel up there and they had a good crowd.

Tom and I journeyed to Centennial Park for the Tennessee Artisans show last Saturday. The best of show award went to a Michael Foster of Rogersville. He turned a vessel that went for an asking price of $3700. We also saw our friends Paul Pitts, and John Jordan. Green turning is becoming very popular, folks

SPOTLIGHT ! ! !

In the past we have included a brief interview with members in our newsletter. It serves as an opportunity to get to know our fellow woodworkers just a little bit better. With our recent addition of new members, we’ve inc~uded an interview with our Vice President and Program chairman, Richard Gulley.

Richard and his family, including a very patient wife and two wonderful daughters, live in Decherd. Richard is one of those “Home Town Boys” born and raised in Decherd. When it comes to woodworking. Richard’s favorite wood is probably cherry. He has a preference for turning bowls. Most of us are familiar with Richard’s true love, making dough bowls from Buckeye——the drier —

—the better. He mentioned a dream or maybe a nightmare about a dough bowl the size of a casket.

Building a hope chest of different hand tools is another interest. “They’re fun to have and look at and feel and play with”——a man after my own heart. Richard makes regular pilgrimages to Readmore Books in Tullahoma to buy his favorite magazine “Fine Woodworking”.

Current projects include the homemade lathe.. .thus far it’s a smooth machine. The tail stock is now under progress. Richard receives only occasional assistance from his daughters -- primarily sanding. Sounds like a problem with attention span or lack of appreciation for 600 paper. Tung oils and waxes are Richard’s preference in finishes with some recent success using polyurethane applied with a rag. Thanks for the interview, Richard. Well try to put the spotlight on other woodworkers in the upcoming months. I think I hear a faint clickity, clickity/

COMING EVENTS

July Meeting is PICNIC time. Let’s get some discussions going next meeting. We’ve entertained thoughts of having it at Falls Mill this year. Our third annual contest is also open for discussion.

May 17 & 18 a Wednesday and Thursday is a Woodworking and tool Fair and Sale at Birmingham Saw works. This may be aimed toward the professional but the number, tool free, is 1-800-289-SAWS for more details.

June through October -- Ledford Mill will feature monthly tool exhibits. Each month will focus on different had tools, and collectors items. June features 18th century carved and dated tools. Sounds very interesting.

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