Board Briefs
Jeff Nebel
Secretary:
Jeff Nebel reported that registration of the Guild’s trade name and trademark
with the state has been completed. The mailbox has been renewed. Recent bulk
book purchase program has been completed with all monies turned over to the
treasurer.
Treasurer:
Liz Rohde reported a net income of $407.70 for May. The treasury balance
on 6/13/02 was $8,375.01.
Programs:
Ken Bahr reported that only a couple of programs have been finalized for
2003. The committee has been working hard making contacts, but results have
been frustrating; potential speakers not interested, too busy, phone call
not returned, etc.
Workshop:
No report. Committee not represented at the meeting. Fourteen members have
indicated a willingness to serve on this committee. Because of the importance
of this committee, leadership of same will be on the agenda of the next Board
meeting.
Exhibits / Publicity:
Don Berger made contact with Sharon Lynn Wilson Art Center in Brookfield
regarding a possible exhibition. The next Woodworking Show in Milwaukee will
be in the new building at State Fair Park and the Guild will be invited back.
Publications:
Si Farmer reported that assignments had been accepted by the members for
the summer months so that no meetings will be held in July or August. Brian
Halligan has updated the web site.
Membership:
It was reported that Mary Anderson has sent letters of inquiry to former
members but has not received any responses to date.
Toy Program:
Chairman, Ron Hinderman was unable to attend. It was suggested by various
Board members that the success of the toy program should not be measured
in numbers only. New records or high totals are not requisite for success.
Fun and camaraderie are integral parts of the effort also.
New Business:
Lenard and Irene Mumm have indicated a desire to retire from the video taping
function that they have so reliably performed for so many years. A discussion
followed about (1) What is the utilization of the video tapes of the Guild
meetings? (2) Should we continue taping any programs, other than big-name
speakers? (3) An inventory of the Guild1s audio equipment is needed and (4)
The Guild needs a lavelier mike and pick-up for the camcorder to improve
the audio at future off-site events.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, July 18, 7:00 pm.
Program
Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild
General Membership Meeting
The July meeting will highlight the Guild members who will present the program.
This is the one evening in the Guild Calendar when everyone is an expert.
Have you encountered a new method of doing an old job? Perhaps you are putting
a common tool to an uncommon task? Or maybe you have an item of which you
are especially proud and would like to share sone of the construction details
with your friends. Or perhaps you have encountered some problem and would
like input from others to help you solve it.
Well, we would love to hear all about it. Don’t forget to mark Show and
Tell on your calendar; your fellow members are anxious to find out what you
know.
If you have not yet indicated a desire to be a participate in the program,
but wish to do so, please give Ken Bahr a call and have him put you on the
list. Guild activities
July 10, Wednesday, 6:15 - 9:00 pm
Event: Regular Guild Membership Meeting
Topic: Show and Tell
Presenters: Guild Members
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee
August 7, Wednesday, 6:15 - 9:00 pm
Event: Regular Guild Membership Meeting
Topic: Technical Aspects of Wood Veneering
Presenter: Margaret Fisher, August H. Wulf Co.
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet Street, Milwaukee
Raffle
Alan Clapp
Mark Bronkalla was the winner of the router bit set last month.
The July 10th raffle prize will encourage you to take on that summer outdoor
project. The prize is a Ryobi 14.4V cordless saw and drill. The kit includes
2 batteries, charger and carrying case. The 5-1/2” circular saw has a 1-1/2”
cutting depth. The 3/8” variable speed reversible drill has a clutch and a
keyless chuck. Get ready to have some fun.
Reflections
Chain Saw Carving
Dick Butula
Our June 5 meeting program was a very interesting and entertaining presentation
on chain saw carving by Bob Younger. What distinguishes Youngers work from
other carvers is that he adds his woodworking skills into the final product.
Younger is a registered nurse by profession, but enjoyed working with wood
more and decided to go into his own business in 1992. Because he was spending
too much time on his woodworking projects to get them just right, he wasn’t
making the profit he felt they deserved. After seeing some chain saw carvings
Younger felt that he could do that too. When he tried it, he enjoyed it so
much that carving became his passion and business.
Concluding his brief introduction we all went outside for a demonstration
of his skills. By the way, thanks to the Program Committee member that was
in charge of the weather. We had rain all day, but it stopped in the late
afternoon and the sun was shining for the presentation. Using an 18-inch diameter,
3-inch thick log Younger made a relief carving of an eagle’s head and inscribed
it with USA #1. He gave the carving to Alex and Brian, the sons of Ken Rasch,
only after making them promise that they would be good for the rest of the
week.
After returning inside Younger emphasized, as he did outside, the importance
of safety. For protection he wears a special type of leather chaps that has
nylon strips embedded that will jam the saw if he should happen to touch it.
Earmuffs, a hard hat and safety glasses are also part of the protective
gear. Echo is the brand of chain saws Younger prefers, but felt that other
brands work just as well. For detail work he has a special carving bar on
a 12-inch saw, which he used to make the eagle head. The end of the bar has
the diameter of a dime. Other bars come with the diameter of a quarter. He
also makes some other modifications to the saw, like taking off some of the
safety devices for better maneuverability, and he likes his chain a little
bit looser than normal. Because they are a little quieter, electric saws are
also in his tool arsenal, but they don't have as much power.
When the sawing is completed, he then uses a grinder with 80 grit sandpaper
to smooth out the rough spots. Younger then applies a finish of 50/50 boiled
linseed oil and paint thinner, using as many coats as the wood will absorb.
But not so many that the paint he uses won’t take. He is still trying to perfect
his finishing technique to eliminate future cracking of the final product
Younger had a finished bear with him. It was about three feet tall and painted.
Most of his business, about 90 percent, is making bears. They are the simplest
to carve, which he then demonstrated step by step to show how he goes about
making them, starting with the head. Do not remove too much at first, he cautioned,
since you can always go back to take off more. Most bears require from one
to two hours to carve. This is followed up with the grinder and final finishing.
Each bear is different and Younger designs them individually as he is carving.
His other carvings include such items as bowls, cowboys and even the base
for a cannon.
The logs he uses are bought from a friend, and then they are aged for about
one year. They are stored with the bark on, unless some worms get in and start
chewing into the wood.
Younger uses many of the concepts of hand carving but he only uses a chain
saw. Many of his ideas are from articles in hand carving books. Pine and spruce
are his materials of choice because they are less susceptible to splitting.
He again stressed the danger of doing chain saw carving. Even he has had
an accident. He hit something metal in a piece he was working on and the saw
kicked back and hit him in the right shoulder. The scar is still a reminder
for him to be careful.
Younger sells much of his work at fairs and shows, but he also has a shop
in Mukwonago called Younger’s Woodery. It is south of county highway ES and
83. If anyone has questions his phone number is (262) 363-4877.
Garret Hack Workshops Design Details and Curved Elements
Si Farmer
The writer was not present at the May 5 & 6 workshops given by Garret
Hack, but gleaned significant information from the videos that Lenard and
Irene Mumm taped for the Guild.
There seemed to be a modicum of interaction between presenter and audience.
Garret mentioned at the outset that he is not a proponent of a lot jigs, but
does use patterns extensively. It might be said that many of the procedures
that he does with hand tools could just as easily be done with power tools
in a fraction of the time, with the same result. (It all depends upon whether
or not you are a purist.).
Garret spoke of the use of the chamfer to break the edges, with several
shapes suggested. He uses the chamfer on the outside and inside of table
edges; on legs he might vary (taper) the width of the chamfer to add ornamentation.
He recommended he use of the plane, drawknife, adjustable spokeshave and
even the chisel to make the chamfer. In making a curved chamfer, he used a
curved card template to measure his progress.
He spent a goodly amount of time discussing scratch stock. He makes his
own scratch tools, which he demonstrated to the audience. These tools do
all allow for low cost ornamentation but are labor-intensive in use. He even
demonstrated string inlay using a scratch tool. He showed how to rip, plane
and glue in a thin holly strip which were subsequently planed and scraped
to complete the string inlay. The same result could have been accomplished
with a small laminate cutter router and a 1/16 inch straight bit.
On Sunday, he discussed curved elements, giving primary emphasis on laminations,
steam bendings and cutting solid wood stock on a band saw. (I was surprised
that he did not touch upon lathe work or carving.) He compared and contrasted
the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Laminations can be done with any wood and be done to a greater thickness
than steam bending. Of the three curved elements discusses, laminations results
in the strongest product. If one is familiar with the process and has the
proper equipment it can be done about as quickly as steam bending. Aesthetically
it is comparable to steam bending inasmuch as there is continuity of grain
pattern. One drawback to laminations is that it can be done only in two dimensions,
whereas steam bending or sawing solid wood on a bandsaw can be done in 3-D.
Both laminating and steam bending results in a stable product.
President John Petrovic demonstrated steam bending of a band onto a form.
It looked like a part for a Windsor Chair. Steam bending is best done with
fresh/green or at least air dried wood. Kiln dried lumber can be steam bent
to a certain extent also.
Next to laminations, this type of product is next strongest. It can be done
speedily also, if you have he equipment and experience. In steam bending,
one must have everything ready because one has less than one minute from the
time the wood is removed from the steam chamber to bending it onto the form
and securing it.
Garret said that when wood is heated to 200 degrees or higher (F°) for 45
minutes to an hour, lignin, the glue that hold the wood together, softens
and permits the loose fibers to bend around a form. Upon cooling, it will
reset in the new form.
Bentley Clark made a short presentation on the concept of cold-bending of
compressed wood. Although this procedure can lead to a product comparable
to steam bending, the initial outlay for hydraulic presses could be a deterrent
to the basement / garage woodworker.
Cutting curved elements is solid wood with a band saw results in the weakest
product of these three unless cut from a curved portion of a tree, in which
the grain pattern is the same as the cut pattern. It is quicker to make than
either the laminations or steam bending but may result in weird grain patterns
unless the wood is rather homogeneous.
Special Features
Lie-Nielsen Special Order
Jeff Nebel has contacted Lie-Nielsen about a special discount order for
the Guild. He was told that we could get a 15% discount price on a purchase
of a 20-item order.
All items must be paid for in advance, to prevent the Guild or Jeff advancing
payment. Lie-Nielsen is a small company and if items are not in stock, a delayed
delivery may result (as happened some years ago when we ordered).
Jeff will have a sign-up sheet at the next Guild meeting. An order would
be placed shortly after the August meeting, if conditions are met.
Classified
For Sale
Metal Cyclone, small 5 ft, with 2 hp Dayton Model 4C108 B bower with controls
for wood chips pickup. $450.00
Wood: two lots of approximately 600 bd ft per lot. Maple, Ash, Oak. 5 yrs
dry inside. $1.00 bd ft.
Dale Lagerman