John's Junket
Excuse me for just one second…..there, finished. I was taking a moment
to mark my calendar for May 3rd, 4th, and 5th , I sure don’t want to miss
this special Guild event. What? You haven’t marked your calendar yet? You’re
not sure what I’m so excited about? Well, that weekend represents an unique
opportunity for any woodworker, a chance to visit with and learn from one
of today’s premier and best known woodworkers, Garrett Hack.
On Friday, May 3rd, our regular program night will find Garrett sharing
the “power” of hand tools and their importance in any shop. Wait! Wait! I
know that this mere mention of “hand tools” have some of you ready to move
to the more exciting articles in the RIPSAW. Many members view this as a
black or white issue, either you use hand tools or you use power tools, and
it evokes images of a wacko hand tool purist trying to build fine furniture
using an axe and a rusty hand plane. This simply is not the case. Non-powered
tools don’t provide an alternate choice, they instead complement many powered
tools. In many cases they allow the user to easily perform tasks that would
be very difficult or very dangerous to do with a powered tool.
Garrett Hack has built a reputation on his ability to expertly combine
the strengths of both of these categories of tools and use them to his advantage.
Garrett is just as likely to choose a router as he is to choose a molding
plane or scratch stock when creating fine details in his projects.
That leads us into the Saturday, May 4th presentation. In this full day
workshop / seminar Garrett will discuss the
various kinds of ornamentation that can be used on woodworking projects
and different ways they can be created. Are you familiar with the simple
tool known as the scratch stock? Ever use one? Well, on Saturday each participant
will make at least one example of this very handy tool and then have the opportunity
to practice using it. You will be amazed at how something so simple can very
quickly produce impressive results.
On Sunday, May 5th Garrett leads us from the “straight” and narrow to
the world of curves. Have you ever wanted to add curved elements to your
projects? Curves look impressive, but creating them can seem awfully intimidating.
Do you cut them out of thick stock? What about laminations and that bastion
of black magic known as steam bending? And once you have created this cool,
curvaceous thing, how to you join it to the other parts? Garret will be addressing
all of these questions and more in this interactive workshop. Participants
will be able to see first hand how each of these techniques are accomplished
and have the opportunity to assist in the lamination and steam bending processes.
If you have been looking for ways to improve your woodworking skills and
want the opportunity to “pick the brain” of one of the most talented individuals
in woodworking, then look no further than this special visit by Garrett Hack.
Board Briefs
Jeff M Nebel
Secretary:
Minutes of the February 14th board meeting were accepted as written. The
Milwaukee mailbox rental will be due in April. The trade name/trademark
application
registration/renewal forms were returned for additional information and
corrections. The sign up for the Woods of the World book reached 20. Jeff
will place the order this week.
Treasurer:
Liz Rohde reported the treasury balance at $9,338.95 on 3/14/02. Ed Goldman
will audit the financial books for 2001. The board approved the treasurer’s
request to move the Guild’s checking account to a bank closer to her home
when the current supply of checks runs out. She will contact “Zorba’s” about
availability and pricing for the 2002 Holiday Party.
Programs:
Ken Bahr reported that although Garrett Hack is a nationally-known woodworking
author and speaker, a high percentage of the Guild’s membership seem to
be unaware of him. His upcoming program and workshop. will be highlighted
in the next newsletter
Workshop Registration:
Dick Yezek reported registration for the Michael Doerr workshop was going
well, but the Garrett Hack registration was slow.
Publicity:
Don Berger reported his frustration with getting the Guild’s activities
published in the local newspapers. He sent information to 13 local papers
and then found out CNI will not include the Guild’s meetings because they
are held in Milwaukee. Attempts will be made in getting information to the
local adult woodworking classes held at local high schools thru the technical
colleges. Don will pursue that angle.
Publications:
Si Farmer reported the last meeting of the committee had only the editor
and two associate editors present. This is a little too thin and so he will
start recruiting some additional help. He also circulated updated lists
of volunteers and comments gathered from the recent membership renewal forms.
He read a well-written letter from a member about forming special-interest
groups. The board discussed this and identified the main stumbling block,
as always, will be finding a leader for any group to be formed. A brief
discussion was also held about holding a guild meeting with the topic being
toys.
Membership:
Mary Anderson reported a current membership of 188. She has a list of
544 names of current and former members and offered to send out a promotional
letter to the former members. The board agreed. that it would be worthwhile
if only a few members rejoined.
New Business:
The next board meeting will be Thursday, April 11th in the library of Faith
UCC Church at 7:00 p.m.
Program
Previews of Coming Attractions: Michael Doerr in April & Garret
Hack in May
Some Guilds would be happy to have either of these two fine artisans visit
them once within the lifetime of their Guild. Thanks to the Program Committee
and our Guild Members, we will have the opportunity to experience both of
them in a two-month period.
Michael Doerr is a solo studio artisan designing and building wooden furniture.
Using mostly Northern hardwoods, he produces a variety of unique designs.
These pieces accommodate both residential and commercial needs.
There are a number of special characteristics that are trademarks of
his work. One characteristic is the importance of the selection of individual
pieces of wood to enhance the overall design. Another integral feature is
the flow of the unbroken line that continues throughout the majority of
his designs, creating a one-dimensional quality to the overall outline.
This dimensional aspect is profile can be viewed as if looking at a pencil
sketch.The line is very crisp and distinct. The technique of this is often
difficult to achieve when working with wood.
On completion of a piece, a hand-rubbed oil finish is applied throughout
the entire surface.
Michael has a national and international clientele. During the 1999 Philadelphia
Furniture Show, furniture historian, Oscar Fitzgerald saw his work and included
it in the Parson School of Design/Smithsonian Institute lecture series on
Contemporary American Crafts.
Michael’s work has been featured in Woodshop News and Door County Magazine
in an article entitled Making Furniture One Piece at a Time.
The editor has been informed that there is still spaces open for the
Saturday Demonstration/Seminar and you can still sign up at the April 5th
meeting. This will be one of the best $25 you have spent
.
Garret Hack will be visiting us for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in
May. The only negative aspect of Garret’s visit is that while he will be
visiting us from Vermont, I will be attending my granddaughters wedding
in Connecticut. I had been looking forward this visit for some time. My
contacts in CT speak very highly of his woodworking knowledge and the ability
to convey this to the audience. I will be trying to pick your brain about
Garret’s visit upon my return. (Ed.)
His education lists a degree in civil engineering and architecture. He
was drawn to woodworking because he prefers the ‘micro over the macro’.
His designs draw heavily on Federal, Hepplewhite and Shaker influences.
This seasoned woodworker (30-plus years) will address the Friday evening
Guild meeting on the topic of Integrating Hand Tools Into Your Shop. He
uses both power and hand tools in his shop that he has operated since 1973.
He will share with you which should be used, and when. If you don’t learn
something from his presentation, I’ll see if I can find you a fresh copy
of Woodworking for Dummies.
The Saturday and Sunday workshops will focus on Design Details -Where
to Use Them, and How to Make Them and the Sunday workshop focuses on How to
Create Curved Elements in Your Woodworking.
If you are working with wood, and aren’t an expert, these sessions will
prove very beneficial to you in your woodworking endeavors.
Guild Calendar
April 5, Friday, 6:15 - 9:30 pm
Guild Membership Meeting
Program: Chair Design and Fabrication
Presenter: Michael Doerr
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
April 6, Saturday
Event: Demonstration Seminar
Topic: Chair Design and Fabrication
Presenter: Michael Doerr
Location: Sylvan Studio
Time: 9 am - Noon
Raffle
Alan Clapp
Norbert Lochowitz and Henry Yun were the winners of the March raffle.
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware will be providing the raffle prizes
during the Friday April 5th meeting. The main prize is a wet-dry vac twelve
foot extension hose and accessory kit. There will also be a consolation prize
for the wining ticket holder to select.
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware is located at 845 North Mayfair Road
Milwaukee, WI 774-1882, or the
general Rockler web site may be accessed at
http://www.rockler.com.
Reflections
Scroll Sawing
Kurt Moses
We had Al Caldiero at our meeting in March to talk about scroll sawing.
He gave a rather short talk on how he got into scrolling and the rest of the
period was given to questions.
Al was formerly a welder of decorative iron used in homes, and yards and
institutions. One morning he walked into a Sears store where a demonstration
was given on scrolling and there was no one else around and he asked questions
for an hour and became fascinated with the subject. In a few weeks, his house
was loaded with pictures made on the scrollsaw.
When talking to Al, you find out he is also an artist and not just a craftsman.
He makes his own plans and changes commercial patterns. His pictures are works
of art. He is self taught and has been in the business for about 5 years,
and he has made a good commercial success. Now he makes pieces which are
four feet long, approximately 14 to 16 inches wide and they look like nothing
we ever saw that was made on a scrol lsaw.
One piece on display was a wooded scene with wolves and trees which was
just beautiful.. It was made of wood about 2 inches thick. Al also writes
articles for magazines and teaches scroll sawing. He is a very real example
of a hobby becoming a vocation. Some of his pieces cost several thousand dollars.
He now uses a DeWalt scroll saw with a 20 inch throat. To make these
big pieces, his saw is fitted with rollers on each side which help him move
the piece. The rollers are elevated slightly above the saw table. After much
experimentation, he said the best blade for his work was a spiral blade which
cuts in all directions. It takes a lot strength and practice to use a spiral
blade so that it does not get away from you. He suggests that when you first
start doing this work, it is best to cut out triangles, circles, and straight
lines, and when you can do that, try a pattern.
He has an extensive exhaust system which keeps the work free of dust.
There are also lights above and below the table. Of course, with the spiral
blade he does not have to turn the work, only moves it from side to side.
He explained in detail how to thread the saw blade (from the bottom of the
piece) and emphasized to keep the wood straight or else the blade will break.
Al works a long time at his project and goes through 30 to 40 blades a day.
He buys various size blades by the gross, several gross at a time.
Also the wood he uses must have some character. It should an unusual color,
some knots, grain or anything that distinguishes it from the ordinary. The
wood is first sanded to make it flat and smooth so that it would lie flat
on the saw table. After scrolling, it is sanded again to eliminate any rough
spots caused be the saw blade. And it is then finished and Al talked about
the difficulty of getting finish into all the crevasses. From the way he talks,
you can tell Al really loves his work. He kept saying that he has the best
job in the world.
Al was given a big hand when he finished. He should be applauded because
he came to see us one day after his grandmother died.
Special Features
Thanks
...Thank you for your recent in-kind gift of wooden toys, dolls and stuffed
animals valued at $2,500 to Sister House.
Your support of The Women’s Center allows us to continue providing important
programs at no cost to families in need. With your continued support, or mission
of providing safety, shelter and support will make a positive impact on lives
of countless people throughout our area.
Again, we sincerely appreciate your support of our work and look forward
to a continued partnership with you as we strive to make every home a safe
home and each community in our area a more peaceful place to live, learn and
work.
In accordance with tax law, The Women’s Center has provided no products
of services for your donation.
Marie F Kingsbury, Exec. Director
The Women’s Center, Waukesha, WI