DESERT WOODCRAFTERS  AUGUST 2008 NEWSLETTER

Financial report by Earl Merritt, Treasurer: 

Beginning Balance: $1,201.36

Income: 84.00

Expenses: 125.00

Ending Balance: $1,160.36

Meeting Minutes – Desert Woodcrafters Association – August 2, 2008

Alan Crosby, President, called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. at the Raytheon Woodchippers clubhouse. 22 members and Ken Wright, guest of Mike Phillips - were in attendance.

No minutes were sent to the membership, hence no minutes were approved.

The 50/50 ($41.00) was won by Wayne Norman.

The Bring Back, Bob Erickson won the bring-back, a pen made by Alan Crosby.

Show & Tell - 13 members participated and Terry Glover won the drawing (25.00).

l Frank Pickett – Toy trucks.

l Alan Crosby – Saguaro rib and ironwood turned pens.

l Stan Ries – Ebony and rosewood turned bowl.

l Ivan Hanna – Toy trucks – father and son pickups, and a duck coin bank.

l Ken Tower – Bread box, unicorn.

l Paul Swane – Marble game board.

l Dennis Minikel – Turning in progress – square edged knuckle-knocker.

l Merle Watts – Turned vase, using a home-made jig to hold the piece for turning the inside.

l Clem McLay – Various small turned items made of scrap pieces glued together.

l Denise Omdahl - Turned pens.

l Bob Erickson – Turned bowls, toy vehicles.

l Terry Glover – Turned bowls.

l George Lewis – Scrolled mantle clock, sign,

Musings of the Secretary:

I attended the Art Show at Summerhaven on Sunday the 17^th of August. One of our members and a member of the turners’ club had tables there. There is another show coming up later this year. Hamburgers and hot dogs were sold by the fire department to help support their efforts. Looks like a good way to test the market for your crafts. See Ivan Hanna for details.

For Sale:

Bob Erickson gave Clem a tray from a cedar chest.

Mike Phillips has Forstner bits for sale – see him.

Announcements: There will be a woodworking show in Tucson November 7-9 at the Tucson Expo Center.

Woodcraft will have a class on making segmented bowls.

Old business:

Start your Christmas toys.

Herb Winkler read a thank you letter from Sandy Persells. She had donated scrap wood belonging to her recently deceased husband to Herb, he gave it to the club and Ken Tower made a beautiful toy pickup truck with some of it which he then gave to Sandy.

The meeting adjourned at 10:25.

Demo – Ken Tower showed us how to use a plate (biscuit) joiner which is basically a router with a sideways blade. Two adjustments are necessary – Height of cut (from top or bottom of work piece) which is determined by the thickness of work piece, and depth of cut, determined by size of biscuit. There are three common sizes of biscuits and which one you use is determined by the dimensions of the pieces you want to join. This method is a lot easier than doweling, which requires precise measurements. Biscuits can be used to create panels, 90 degree joints and as miters. Biscuits are stamped, compressed wood, so when you put glue on them they expand to fill the slot. Don't place biscuits near the end of a piece - at least 4 inches from the end is good; 3 inches if you're a good woodworker and don't leave too much to cut off. Then place the biscuits in between about 6 inches apart.

When you glue up panels, position the boards together as they will be joined, then use a pencil to make a triangle on the panel, covering all the joints. This ensures they don't get assembled incorrectly later on. And don't glue up panels with boards more than 5” wide. Observe end grains and place pieces with opposite grain together. Smiley next to frown – quarter sawn can go anywhere. This will minimize warping.

Remember to practice, practice, practice before you try joining those rare (and expensive) pieces of wood you’ve been saving.

NEXT MEETING SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2008 AT THE RAYTHEON WOODCHIPPERS CLUBHOUSE