The Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club will sponsor a “Wood Finishing Seminar” on Saturday, April 24, 2004.  The presenter will be Jerry TerHark from Springfield, MO.  Jerry has many years experience as a professional wood finisher and re-finisher and is a very dynamic presenter.

The seminar will be held at the Church of Christ at Forrest Mill in their Annex building behind the church.  The facility is located on TN-55 approximately 2 miles northeast of I-24 exit 111, outside of Manchester, TN.  Going toward McMinnville, the building will be on your right.

Registration will be from 8:00 to 8:30 AM.  Coffee and pastries will be served.  The program will begin at 8:30 AM and will end around 4 PM.  There will a break mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and lunch will be served on-site from noon to 1:00 PM.  Beverages will be served at the breaks and a BBQ lunch will be catered.  The cost of refreshments and lunch are included in the price of the seminar.

Early registration will be available until April 20 by sending a check and the registration form to Henry Davis at 247 Delight Lane, Tullahoma, TN, 37388 or by paying with check or cash to Henry Davis, Doyle McConnell, Tom Cowan, Larry Bowers, Maurice or Ruth Ryan, or Loyd Ackerman along with this registration form.  Forms are available on the website (click HERE) or from any of the above individuals.

The fee for early registration is $35.  Late registration and cost at the door will be $40.

Let's make welcome Dennis and Barbara Headberg, their woodworking interest are in turning and furniture.  Dennis and Barbara reside in Tullahoma and Mary Ellen told them about the club.

Bob Ligon came all the way from Franklin to join us.  Long drive, so we appreciate your interest in the club.

Jim and Ellen Steadman from Winchester also joined us.  Jim had been a guest in December, and is interested in doing small projects.

And a special welcome back to Clair Weaver who rejoined after being away a few years.  It's always good to see old friend back amoung us.  For you that don't know, Clair is from Winchester.
 

That's it for this month.
                                                                    Henry

Ken Gould brought a lathe tool that he forged from a truck spring and added a walnut handle.

Karen Kerce showed two bowls. One was turned from ambrosia maple and one was a “trash to treasures” small cherry bowl that she salvaged and repaired.

Winfield Bennett brought a set of carved walnut dolphins and “twisted design” walking stick.  Most of the carving was done with his pocketknife and the finish was paste wax.

Don Powers displayed two Chittam wood bowls that he had turned.

Chuck Taylor brought a walnut memory box with an inlay of ambrosia maple on the top.

Kenneth Clark showed a picture of a cherry china cabinet that he had made and finished with Minwax clear gloss.

Andy Weaver brought a weed pot turned from stove wood with burnt décor. He also brought a pen/pencil set and a key ring.

Bob Lowrance displayed two birdhouses, featuring carved fronts.

Jim VanCleave showed a jewelry box of cherry with a walnut inlay on the top. Also, a blanket bench from walnut with inlay of Elmer’s plastic wood (natural) filler.

Harry May showed a “Wood spirit” carving from spalled sycamore and a black walnut 3 tiered desert server.

Ross Roepke brought a curly maple breadboard with a mineral oil finish.  He also had plans for a Martin birdhouse, using 1 sheet of plywood, for interested members. Also, he brought a box of turning blocks to give away.

 No matter what type of woodworking you enjoy, it's always
 fun to watch power tool guru Norm Abram build amazing pieces
 of furniture in 30 minutes... well sometimes it's an hour.
 But we all watch to see what new machinery or tools he's
 added to the New Yankee Workshop.

 PBS has just announced the 2004 program lineup and they're
 teasing us with the possibility that Norm may go Neanderthal
 and build a traditional Windsor chair! While it doesn't
 exactly say he'll use just hand tools, the show's Web site
 (http://www.newyankee.com/2004.shtml) does say he'll be
 honing some of his skills and that the Windsor chair was
 the most difficult project he tackled this season.

 Norm works with Bill Wallick, of Wrightsville, Pa., a
 skilled craftsman who turns out hundreds of these complex
 chairs each year. And for the first time on The New Yankee
 Workshop, Norm will work alongside a fellow woodworker.
 Watch for Bill to teach Norm how to carve a seat, turn the
 legs, fit the steam bent maple "crest" rail and add the
 delicate but strong spindles.

 I know I'll be watching to see if Norm finds a way to apply
 power tools to a traditional Windsor chair. The show is
 scheduled to be a two-parter that will air on consecutive
 Saturdays (Feb. 21 and 28). Check your local PBS affiliate
 for complete listing in your area.

Few Westerners think of bamboo as anything but a houseplant, garden accent, or snack for a panda. But throughout much of the world, bamboo provides durable building material. Soon, more of us in the United States may find bamboo right under our feet, literally, as bamboo flooring is a hot new trend.

Surprisingly, bamboo isn’t even wood—it’s grass, and an amazing grass at that. These prolific, tree-like plants (hundreds of varieties exist) grow incredibly fast. Plants reach harvesting size (around 20') in 3–5 years, then regrow after cutting.

Bamboo flooring, above, consists of stalks (called culms) cut into strips, planed to about 3/16" thick, and glued into planks. In the “horizontal” style, strips about 1" wide are laminated in two-or three layers. In “vertical” planks, the strips are face-glued, which exposes the culms’ edges. Planks join using tongues and grooves.

The result is a beautiful, even-toned floor without knots or wild grain. Instead, just thin, straight lines remain, interrupted only by subtle markings at the culm joints.

More surprising than bamboo’s looks is its strength. A bamboo floor provides 50 percent more dimensional stability than red oak, and rivals maple in hardness.

Bamboo has a light hue, but takes on a caramel tone when the stalks are heated and “carbonized.” The color runs throughout, eliminating the need for stain.

Not all flooring retailers stock bamboo, but it is getting more common. Pricing compares to maple, at $5–$7 per square foot, uninstalled.

As bamboo gains popularity, look for more products made from these versatile plants, such as door panels, veneered plywood, and even laminated “boards” for furniture.
 

Written by David Stone with Peter J. Stephano
Photographs: Marty Baldwin
 
 

• A set of 5 Crown HSS small scale turning tools. 3/8" skew, scraper, gouge,
and parting tool and a 1/8" gouge. These are meant for very small turnings
such as pens, letter openers, etc. They're used but not much. Look at page
11 of the Craft Supplies Woodturners 2003/2004 Catalog under Bonnie Kline's
photo. $40 for the set.
 
• Reliant 1/2 HP mortising machine with bits $150. My sister's husband has had

to quit woodworking and she's selling his mortising machine. I hasn't been used much.
 
• Table with steel base stand. Top is MDF 20 x 27 inches. Originally came with

a 12" Planer. $20.
 

Dont forget to check the forum page for more items that are FOR SALE

The Tormek Super Grind System and accessories can be seen on page 90 of the January 2004 "Woodcrafts" Catalog.
                                                                                                                                                     click above

During the past few months we’ve seen quite a few new faces as our gaggle of members has increased. It’s difficult for us to remember names and faces, let’s not become a club of strangers. Introduce yourself – shake a hand. Another personal reminder, keep us informed of the health and well being of our members and their families.

WOW ! How true ! This little notice appeared in the Feb. 1989 newsletter. That’s 14 years ago and our membership stood at 36. We hope that all our members have been made welcome as our ranks increased. Remember to do your part to meet and greet our new members.