Minutes of the March 15th board meeting were accepted as written. The Post Office Box rental renewal was turned over to treasurer for payment and is due 4/30/01.
Elizabeth Rohde distributed the financial Transaction Report for the period 3/1/01-4/12/01. The balance on 4/12 was $11,996.41. Total income for the period was $1,450.09 against expenses of $2,438.59. The president will begin working on the new budget. The board confirmed the unofficial policy of using one year's membership dues (currently about $7,000.00) as the treasury minimum before there is concern about the Guild's financial status.
Ken Bahr absent because of illness. Liz reported beef and other farm products are headed up in price this year and this will affect the holiday party cost. The board decided to retain the menu of last year, which will now cost $19.89 per head and the per person price of $20.00.
John Petrovic reported that several speakers for 2002 have been contacted. He will be contacting Garrett Hack soon. John asked if the announcements portion of the meetings was getting too long. Si Farmer pointed out few speakers are using all of their allotted time anyway. The board concluded the announcements were important for promotional reasons and the present format will be retained. Some discussion was held about providing a presentation outline to speakers in light of some of the recent poor or unprepared presenters. Bruce Bogust has shirts in sizes L, XL and XXL for major speakers.
The tool repair workshop will be cancelled because only one person has signed up. There are 23 signed up for the Gary Rogowski router workshop. There are approximately 30 signed up for each day with Jeff Jewitt. A larger room for Jewitt will apparently not be needed. Dick Yezek reported many members are confused about the format of Jewitt's two-day workshop. He also reported a need to review the form and set-up procedures for both Rogowski and Jewitt. The sound system will need to be located and made available for these two workshops.
Si Farmer distributed a list of comments from the 2001 renewals and asked the board members to review them for discussion at the next board meeting. He also distributed lists of program ideas and an updated volunteer list. The Senior Center is looking for a paid, part-time woodworker to serve as instructors for their woodshop. An ad will be placed in the newsletter.
Another discussion was held regarding name badges at meetings and non-members attending meetings without joining. Several ideas were floated, including permanent nametags and controlled access to the room. Several board members questioned the need and complications of implementing those. The next two meetings will be a good gauge of how big a problem the Guild really has. Membership forms were available at the last meeting, but none of the board members were aware they were supposed to get some. John asked for ideas on putting together the nominating committee for 2002 officers. Most board members have indicated already that they will run for reelection.
Rich Sitzes distributed a list of costs to rent a Santa suit for the holiday party. He will contact members on the volunteer list who have shown willingness to help with his area. The latest issue of Woodshop News did not include upcoming events for the Guild. He will send them another notice. John reported a green shirt will be sent to Michael Dunbar, who voices good things about our Guild.
The next board meeting will be held on Thursday, May 10th at the same location at 7:00 p.m.
Frank Rohde
The topic of our April meeting was metalworking for the woodworker. Bruce Bogust was the featured speaker. He gave us a brief history of iron and steel making, and spoke on the steels used in making woodworking tools, heat-treating, and forging.
Iron is made by heating iron ore with lime and coke. The lime and coke are added to drive off impurities from the iron ore as slag. Historically, early steel makers weren't able to heat the mass enough to drive off all the impurities so they ended up with a spongy mass of iron and impurities. They further heated and pounded (wrought) the iron to drive off more impurities, hence the name, wrought iron.
Steel is highly refined iron with most impurities driven off and alloying elements added. These elements give the steel desired properties. Carbon is the most common element added and is present as an element in all steels. The carbon content of steels will range from approximately .02% to 2%. To a point, the higher the carbon content, the better the steel will harden. Steels between .02% and .30% are low carbon steel and cannot be hardened easily in the home shop. Nails, angle iron and structural shapes are examples of low carbon steel. Plain high carbon steels with carbon content of .50% and over will generally harden well. Some springs and files are examples of plain high carbon steel.
Tool steels are a special class of hardenable steels used to make tools. They are produced in special furnaces and their quality is rigidly controlled. Alloying elements are added in precise quantities to give them desired properties. Tool steels are classified by the quench medium, water (W), oil (O), Air (A) or the properties they have such as hot work (H) or shock resistance (S). Plain high carbon steel, water and oil hardening tool steels are the steels the home craftsman will most often use for making woodworking tools. Heat-treating changes the properties of steel and the methods used include hardening, tempering and annealing.
Hardening is a matter of raising the temperature of the steel above a temperature where molecular changes take place (the critical temperature), and then rapidly cooling the steel to near room temperature. The hardening temperature varies with the steel and can range from roughly 1400° to 1850° F for steels normally encountered. Quenching is the term for rapidly cooling the steel. Water, oil or air is used as the quench medium depending on the steel. Changes in the molecular structure because of this rapid cooling result in hard but brittle steel.
Hardening introduces high stresses into the metal and makes the tool subject to fracture. To relieve these stresses and make the tool usable, we use a process called tempering or stress relieving. This process softens the tool slightly but increases its toughness. Tempering is accomplished by bringing the hardened steel to tempering temperature and allowing it to cool. This temperature is generally in the range of 300° to 500° F. As the temperature increases, the hardness goes down. If the temperature is taken too high the tool will become softer than desired and may not do its job. This is what happens when the cutting edge of a chisel or plane iron is turned blue as it's being ground.
Hardened steel cannot be cut in the home shop by any process other than grinding. If the craftsman needs to drill, tap, or cut hardened steel with a hacksaw or file the steel must first be softened.
Annealing is the process used to soften hardened steel. This process changes the molecular structure back to its soft state. Steel is annealed by taking the steel above its critical temperature and allowing it to cool very slowly. The slower the rate of cooling, the softer the steel will become. It's recommended that tools to be re-hardened be annealed first.
Forging is heating steel to a semi-plastic state where it can be formed with a hammer or bent to a desired shape. This is often followed by a combination of annealing, hardening, tempering and grinding to finish making a tool.
Our thanks to Bruce for giving us a very good overview of a difficult
subject.
Gary has been designing and building furniture for the past quarter century and his work has been shown in galleries nationwide and in five Taunton Press Design Books. He has been a teacher for more than two decades and
currently teaches at his own school, The Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, Oregon. Gary is currently a contributing editor at Fine Woodworking. Some of his more recent articles in Fine Woodworking are Versatile Plywood Drawers, From Rough to Finish, Jigs for the Drill Press, Tenoning Strategies, Routers for Router Tables, A Small Elegant Box, and A Classic Bookcase in the Craftsman Style. Gary is currently working on An Illustrated Guide to Joinery for the Taunton Press.
This May evening's program will cover router uses and techniques. This program will be on Friday, May 4th..
Gary will also conduct a Saturday workshop on Routers at Jay's Shop in Kenosha. Registration is unlimited. Fees are $25 for members, and $50 for non-members. You may still sign-up at the Friday May 4th meeting!
If you are a woodworker who uses routers, or who plans to use routers, or just want to know what they do, and how they do it, then you should be at these events!
Jeff Jewitt is well known for his finishing knowledge and expertise. He is a practicing finisher! He is also a prolific writer and publisher. I just grabbed a handful of Fine Woodworking magazines and came up with these recent topics: Stripping Finishes the Right Way, A No-Brainer Varnish Technique; What Woodworkers Need to Know About Light, Think Finish First, Real World Finishes, Paste Wood Fillers, A low-Cost Spray Booth, Pop the Curl in Curley Maple, Putting a Finish on Small Objects is no Little Task,How to Match a Finish, and just as I was putting this newsletter together, the most recent edition of Fine Woodworking arrived and guess what, Jeff published another article entitled How to Fix Damages Finishes. Everyone should have a copy of his book, Hand-Applied Finishes (1997) by Taunton Press.
He spends a good deal of his time visiting various woodworking organizations. This will mark Jeff's second visit with our Guild (The first was in the spring of 1997). At this evening's program, Friday, June 1st, 2001, he will be sharing his tips on unlocking the power of tints an dyes and how their use can help you achieve just the color your are looking for on your next woodworking project.
On the following Saturday and Sunday, he will conduct a two-day long seminar/demonstration on Six Finishes in Two Days. Whether you are a novice finisher or a veteran looking for something different to try, this workshop is guaranteed to keep you captivated from start to 'finish'. Even if you attended the 1997 seminar, I'll guarantee you that you will be exposed to techniques and information that was not available in 1997.
Inasmuch as this three-session extravaganza is included in your $ 35
membership fee for 2001, you would be cheating yourself if you passed up
this opportunity to experience Jeff Jewitt. Unless you like 'naked' wood,
you should avail yourself of this opportunity. If you know everything about
finishing already, please see me at one of the Guild meetings. I want your
autograph!
Date: Friday, May 4, 2001 (Note day/date change)
Event: Regular Monthly Guild Meeting Program
Topic: Routers
Presenter: Gary Rogowski, Portland, Oregon
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee
Time: 6:15 - 9:29 PM
Sponsor: E. Jay Hollingsworth
262 / 889-2600
FEE: None. First time guests welcome.
This evening's program will cover router uses and techniques. This program will be on Friday. Gary will also conduct a weekend workshop on router joinery. See the details below.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2001 (Note day/date change)
Event: Workshop / Seminar
Topic: Router Joinery
Presenter: Gary Rogowski
Location: Jay's Shop (Registrants will get map)
Time: 9 am 4 pm
Enrollment: Unlimited
Fee: Members $ 25; Non-members $ 50.
May 12: Saturday, 9 - 11 am
Event: Tour
Topic: The Birdhouse Workshop
Presenter: Jackie Schwitzer
Location: Greendale Birdhouse Workshop, 5608 So. Broad Street, Greendale (W66, 1 block south of Grange Avenue
Comment: Limited to 25 participants.
Date: Friday, June 1, 2001 (Note day change)
Event: Regular Monthly Guild Meeting Program
Topic: Secrets to Using Dyes and Tints
Presenter: Jeff Jewitt, Cleveland, Ohio
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee
Time: 6:15 - 9:29 PM
First time guests welcome.
Date: Saturday & Sunday, June 2 & 3rd, 2001.
Event: Workshop / Seminar
Topic: Six Finishes in Two Days
Presenter: Jeff Jewitt, Cleveland Ohio
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Ability Level: All skill levels
Member Fee: Free
Non-Member Fee: $40.
Comments:
The room that has been reserved will hold only 60 people! If you plan to attend these sessions, please
register with Dick or Kathie Yezek at the May meeting. . If the enrollment exceeds 60 we will have to make a decision of limiting the enrollment to 60 - or moving the show to another, but bigger room.
(Note! We need several weeks notice to change our reservation with the Washington Park Senior Center!)
Tour: Saturday, May 12, 9 -11 am
Guild members will tour this Village of Greendale Volunteer Woodworking Workshop which was inspired by Roy Reiman, founder of Reiman Publications. Volunteers produce birdhouses and trellises that are sold in Greendale gift shops, the sales of which support local charities. The tour will include a discussion of The Birdhouse Workshops most popular designs.
The presenter will be Jackie Schwitzer. This tour is for members only and there is no charge. Due to the size of the facility, this tour is limited to 25 participants.
Please sign up at the May 4th meeting or contact Bob Jahncke (or email
at bobjahncke@aol.com).
1. Tuesday, 6 - 9 pm, Basic Scroll Sawing with Rich Radtke.
2. Wednesday, 6 - 9 pm, Relief Carving 101. Introduction with Christopher Thomas
3,10, 17;, 24, 31 & June 7, Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm. Power Carve a Cardinal with Roger Wilson.
5, Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm.Turning 101: Introduction to Lathe Work with Hand Bardenhagen.
6 Sunday, 6 - 9 pm; Kids Scroll Saw with Rich Radtke
7 & 14, Mondays, Full Figure Carving: Wizard Companion with Greg Young
8 Tuesday, 6 - 9 pm, Basic Router Techniques with Jim Miller.
9 Wednesday, 6 - 9 pm, Band Saw Intro & Puzzle Box with Kevin Clarkowski.
12 Saturday, 9 am - 6 pm, Scroll Saw Cougar & Cub with Al Caldiero.
14 Monday, 6 - 9 pm, Shop Tricks, Basic Layouts & Patterns with Christopher Thomas.
15 Tuesday, 6 - 9 pm, Advance Bowl Turning with Jerry Veenendaal.
16 Wednesday, 6 - 9 pm, Sharpening Hand Tools with Waterstones with Kevin Clarkowski.
19 Saturday 9 am - 6 pm and Sunday 20 9 am - 5 pm, Intarsia / Hot Air Balloon with Rich Radtke.
21 Monday, 6 - 9 pm, Introduction to Marquetry with Pete Kolettis.
22 Tuesday, 6 - 9 pm, Advanced Router Techniques with Jim Miller
23 Wednesday, 6 - 9 pm, Workshop Trio: Planer, Joiner & Table Saw with Rich Radtke.
29 Tuesday, 6 - 9 pm, Router Jigs 101 with Jim Miller
30 Wednesday, 6 - 9 pm, Hand Tool of the Month: Hand Plane Techniques with Christopher Thomas.
Please call WoodCraft at 414/607-6164 for class sizes and fees.
The Board is pleased to announce that we have a new librarian in the person of Kelli Miller. Kelli visited us at our last meeting and agreed to become or librarian. Her role is to make the library completely functional and give the best service to the entire Guild membership. She cannot do this alone! She will be assisted by Guild Members Jergen Barber, Wayne Conrad, Jerry Kashmerick, Kurt Moses, Rudolph Opderbeck, Dave Reckhouse and Neal Widder.
As a Guild, you have a gold-mine of fine books and videos from which to choose - and we are adding new selections constantly. If we are to serve the entire membership, then we must all play by the rules. The rules listed below have been printed in two prior issues of the R.I.P.S.A.W. However, some of our members have joined since the rules were last published, and are reprinted here, so that we may all follow them.
1. Only Guild Members who have a membership card, or has his/her membership name label with name and number on it are eligible to withdraw items from the library. Kelli Miller, our new Guild Librarian, will instruct you as to the specific procedure to follow in obtaining library items.
2. No more than a total of three (3) items may be currently withdraw from the library.
3. All items must be returned at the next regularly scheduled membership meeting.
4. If members do not return library withdrawals at the next meeting, a reminder will be sent by mail.
5. If members do not return library withdrawals by the second meeting (that's two months), you name and items that you have taken from the library, and have not returned, will be published in the Guild's newsletter, the R.I.P.S.A.W.
6. If members do not return library withdrawals by the third meeting (that's 3 months), you will be sent a bill covering all expenses that will be incurred to obtain a replacement copy of the item(s).
Note! If you are unable to attend the next meeting to return the library item, call one of your fellow members about taking it to the Guild meeting for you.
Please follow the above simple guidelines and give your fellow members
an opportunity to get some of their favorite books and videos.
We have a total of 187 members as of 4/11/01. The following, these are members who have joined since January 1, 2001. Please welcome to the Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild the following new members:
766 - Ed Davis
758 - Barry Dowe
759 - James Senske
748 - Tom Fisherkeller
761 - Karen Frankie
757 - Mark Holzbauer
767 - Bob Jacobs
760 - John Johnson
749 - Brian Lynch
756 - John McAlpin
765 - John Mooney
755 - Paul Seymour
751 - Tom Theiding
We have received a request from Ann Kopf, the director of the Washington Park Senior Center for a knowledgeable woodworker to oversee the woodshop at the Senior Center two days a week. This is a paid position. The hours are from 9 am till 2:30pm. There is another person that will staff the woodshop the other three days. The two days that you will work is negotiable.
The responsibilities are to insure a safe environment for the woodshop, and be a resource to the people working in the woodshop. The applicant should be one who has a good knowledge of the craft, be safety conscious, and be willing to give a needed comment, if requested.
If you are interested, and for more information, please contact Ann
Kopf at 414/933-2332.
(Reporting on a recent letter in the Waukesha Freeman.)
Dear Dr. Gott,
My father, a life-long woodworker, was recently diagnosed with nasal cancer. Inasmuch as this is an unusual malignancy, could his occupation be the blame?
Dear Reader,
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recently has reported that wood dust is a cause of nasal cancer, especially the dust produced by sanding furniture. This dust is now considered to be a carcinogen, and woodworkers should take special precautions, such as using masks, to avoid inhaling it.
(The editor will check out this article and publisher a review of it
in a later edition of the R.I.P.S.A.W.)