John's Junket

 

Board Briefs

Reflections

Holiday Party

Liz Rohde

    Another year has flown by and it was time for our Holiday Party. And as usual it was a great success, due to many of our members.
    We started the evening at 5:30 pm with good conversation and arranging toys. At 6:30 we served ourselves to a wonderful meal. If anyone went hungry it was their fault.
    After our feast, WWG President John Petrovic thanked all the guild members who volunteered their time. Certificates were also handed out to guild members who gave workshops.
    The new (many of which are the old board members) Board  Members were introduced.
    Then I got the honor to present the Woodworker of the Year Award to John Petrovic. John has always given 100% to the Guild. If some thing had to be done John would always offer. Personally speaking, John has been an inspiration to me. He encourages people to venture into all areas of woodworking. He has offered his services as President again for the year 2002 and I have no doubt he will do a wonderful job again.
    There is another person that I think needs a special thanks.  Ron Hinderman, our Toymeister. Ron talked, threatened and begged when need be to get toys built for the 9 shelters in our area. As of last count we made 758 toys. (I have to say that again) The Guild made 758 toys. Ron would acquire wood from here and there.

Program

Guild Calendar

Programs / Workshop  2002 Schedule


January 9, Wed.       Hardwood Lumber Grading
    John McAlpin
January 12, Sat.       Progressive Workshop Tour
    Walt Hadcock et al.
February 6,  Wed.    Choosing Saw Blades
    Tom Langston
March 6,   Wed.       Scroll Sawing
    Al Caldiero
March 16, Sat.       Workshop
    Sharpening of Planes, Irons, Chisels
    Walt Hadcock and John Petrovic
April 6, Fri.             Chair Design and Fabrication
    Michael Doerr
April 7,  Sat.            Workshop
    Chair Design and Fabrication
    Michael Doerr
May 3,  Fri.             Integrating Hand Tools Into Your Shop
    Garrett Hack
May 4, Saturday      Workshop
    Design Details. Where to use them and how to make them .
    Garrett Hack
May 5, Sunday        Workshop
    How to Create Curved Elements in your Woodworking
    Garret Hack
May 11, Saturday    Workshop
    Marquetry
    Pete Kolettis
June 5 ,  Wed.          Chain Saw Carving
    Bob Younger
July 10,   Wed.         Show and Tell
August 7,  Wed.       Technical Aspects of Wood Veneering
    Margaret Fisher
September 4,  Wed.  Clock making and Restoration
    Howard Young
September 14, Sat.   Workshop
    Hand Plane Restoration and Tuning
    Walt Hadcock
October 2,Wed.       Spruce Goose Presentation
    Patrick Packard
October 12, Sat.      Workshop
    Build a Mantle Clock
    Jerry Claussen
November 6, Wed.   Modern Boat Building Techniques
    Mark Bronkalla
November 16, Sat.   Workshop
    Pen Turning
    Liz Rohde
December Holiday Party

Raffle

 

Special Features

Toy Drive

Ron Hinderman

    Another successful toy effort has come to fruition. You have been a part of a year-long effort to make toys for the boys and girls in battered family shelters. We thank you!
    This successful venture was the result of the efforts of many companies, many groups and many many individuals. We were fortunate to get free wood supplies and toy parts from numerous individuals and companies. Noteworthy among them are: Matt Bohlmann - Sylvan Studio; George Henderson; John McAlpin - Hanson & Leja Lumber Co., Inc.; Allen Kelling; Jerry Tackes; Rich Sitzes - A. Fillinger, Inc.; Chris Kraemer - WoodCraft; and Norm Lewman - Rockler.
    Many Guild members made toys solo (that is by themselves, in their own shop), others joined forces in workshops to pool their talents and efforts. Noteworthy among those who conducted workshops are Klaus Zunker and his bride, Jean, Liz and Frank Rohde, Gail and Hank Yun, and Hankıs sister, Christina Yun. Of course, yours truly, too!
    Many of the Guild members produced toys on a production basis....turning out many of the same item...and they were all nice!  The total number of toys, as of press time, is a whopping 758! Special thank to each person who participated in this worthy effort.  And the kids thank you too!

Woodworker of the Year is John Petrovic


    The Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild honored one of their members at the Annual December Holiday Season Dinner Party at the Woodworker of the Year.  Of course, the award is not given for the contributions of one individual for the period of one calendar year, but rather for the contributions that have been made over a period of years.
    John Petrovic has been a distingished and active member for many years. His philosophy has been to give back to the Guild for benefits-received from the Guild². And he has done that admirably.
    He served for many years as an active member of the Program Committee (and still helps out with it). John has conducted numerous workshops. He conducted two workshops at his studio on the Cherry Bow Front Table, one on Windsor Chairs at the Wisconsin Lutheran College, others on Plane Restoration, Sharpening, and Spokeshave Construction at other locations. He gave a program presentations on Wood Movement and participated in Show and Tell presentations.
    John has been our President for several years. Where others have "burned out'John has thrived. He has been an excellent leader and a stabilizing influence on the Guild.
    We are honored to have John Petrovic as a member, as our President, and as the recipient of the Woodworker of the Year Award.
   Congratulations and thanx John, from the membership of the Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild!
 

Letter of Thanks

December 12, 2001

Dear WWG members,
    It's hard to express to you in words how much your tributes to Randy mean to me, as well as Gretchen, our daughter, and Randyıs folks. First of all, thank you for your generous
donation to the International Myeloma Foundation. This foundation serves multiple myeloma patients and their families in every conceivable way, including research. Randy was diagnosed on a Friday morning, and we had a very helpful packet of information in our mail box on Monday. Both of us believed that they are getting much closer to a cure for this disease‹your support may prevent other families from going through experiences like ours.
    Secondly, Randy would be so touched by your creating an Annual Randy Johnson Memorial Seminar. He loved woodworking and he loved teaching woodworking and he loved bringing experts to Milwaukee to share their particular passions for woodworking. I hope that this annual seminar will enhance your knowledge and appreciation of some aspect of woodworking and I thank your Board of Directors for
creating this memorial to Randy.
    Thirdly, I want to thank each of you, and especially Si Farmer, that were in the process of creating and submitting materials for a special RIPSAW in honor of Randy. He would have loved such a Randy edition! Si sent me the things that some of you had submitted and I particularly want to thank Bob Poull and Irene Mumm for their sharing.
    Randy fought the myeloma with a fierce determination, with courage and with grace. He knew when it was time to stop fighting as well, when the disease was going to have the upper hand no matter what he did. We just didnıt expect that his death would follow so quickly his decision to stop treatment, but I believe his timing was his and that he was ready.  He found much-needed rest from a terrible cancer and I believe he was spared many difficult days ahead. I feel a hole the size of Texas in my heart, but know that hole will fill in time with memories of a great friendship and love.
    Randy loved woodworking so much‹even when he was no longer able to create sawdust, he was devouring books about woodworking and was actually in the process of writing a paper on Windsor chairs that he hoped to share with you guys.  Mike Callihan and I hope some day to get some sort of version ready to share, but that is down the road.
    Thank you for all of your letters, e-mails, cards, and calls during the last four years.  I canıt tell you how much the love and support of those around us helped both of us to deal with this disease. I wish for each of you the love and joy that Randy experienced from his involvement in woodworking and his affiliation with the Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild.

With love and gratitude,
Ellen Johnson

Woodworking Tips

Jerry Tackes

    All reviews for circle saw blades that I have seen rate the Forrest blade as #1, and I can personally attest that it is the best blade that I have ever used. Perhaps less known is their sharpening and blade repair service. They even sharpen non-Forrest  carbide blades as well as carbide router bits.
    To improve the performance of the band saw, use a sharpening stone to round over the back edges of the blade. This is accomplished while the saw is running using the table to guide the stone. While youıre at it, apply the stone to both sides of the blade just behind the teeth to smooth down the weld. Smoothing the weld will result in a smoother cut. The rounding of the blade back will aid in cutting a tighter radius and make it easier to back out of the saw cut if necessary.
    For better performance of your radial arm saw or chop saw do not use a table saw blade but use a blade designed for these tools. The hook angle or tooth shape is different than that for a table saw.
    To make a zero clearance table insert, remove the regular metal insert and fasten it to a piece of wood or plywood that is slightly thinner than the regular insert with double sticky carpet  tape. Cut the plywood about 1/8 inch proud of the insert and using a flush trim router bit on a router table with the bearing riding on the metal insert, route the wood to the size of the insert. Use masking tape on the bottom side of the wood insert to level the insert top with the table top. When level, start the saw and slowly raise the blade through the insert. Use a piece of scrap to hold down the insert during this operation.
    Cutting a rabbit across the grain on plywood almost always results in tearout along the edge that forms the shoulder.  One way to eliminate the tearout  is to score the edge before
cutting.  The problem is locating the score line exactly where the edge of the rabbet will be. Solve this problem by cutting an identical rabbet in a strip of scrap.  The strip is then used as a guide for the knife when scoring the plywood.  After the rabbit is cut in the strip, fit the strip over the end of the
plywood to guide a sharp knife while making a scoring cut. Then cut the rabbit. The edge will be clean without any torn fibers.