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Editor’s Remarks

W elcome back for another musical day with Burl. The Big Rock Candy Mountain, etc. etc.

Anyone not understanding this: a) is too young to know Burl b) has no idea about today’s theme c) has a musical taste that is too narrow d) all, or some, of the above. Take it from the top, Peter! Wild weather means many fallen trees. Fallen trees mean free wood. If you know of some that is awaiting a worse fate than your turning…. talk about it with other members and arrange to collect some. If you can’t make anything good from it, sneak the “modified” timber back onto the pile! Winter is com-ing anyway so you may be creating the best looking firewood around… and it is great to practice with. Thanks to all who contributed to this edition, espe-cially John Field, Alan Pentecost and Ken McEwen.

You can contact me on 9526 7930, 0409 311 830 or drop me a line chnews@iinet.net.au. Safe turning, Alan

Inside this month….

Item Page The Field Report ................................ 2 Show and Tell - Tools and Jigs.......... 3 Club Report: Ancient Region ............ 4 Committee Minutes ........................... 8 Dates to Remember ........................... 10 Function Calendar .............................. 11

An affiliated association of the Sydney Woodturners Guild Inc. “Cubby House”, Oyster Bay Oval Como Road, Oyster Bay NSW 2225. PO Box 128 Oyster Bay NSW 2225. Telephone (02) 9589 0648

The Southern Region Woodturners Inc. June 2007

The opinions expressed in Cubby House News should not be taken to reflect those of The Southern Region Woodturners Inc.

President’s Column

N egotiating the new lease with the council is continuing and my self and Fred Warr at-

tended a meeting with The Land Management offi-cer Denise Foes and The Building services man-ager Bob Connors on Tuesday June 5 to clarify some of the terms in the lease. Generally the meet-ing was reassuring but we found that there are es-tablishment costs associated with the lease of approx $929.00 in addition to an increase of rent. It was indicated at the meeting that the council’s budget for building maintenance has been under constraints in the last few years so we cannot an-ticipate that they will be able to finance repairs etc. As yet no decision has been made about annual fees however I would like to point out that at a fee$25.00 p/a this would be one of the cheapest or-ganizations that I know of, fees generally being in the order of $200.00 plus. However don’t panic we are not going to that level but a small increase in fees is probably inevitable. The term will be 5 years from 1 July 07 to 2012 which is the longest the Council will give. Unfortunately the working with wood show Friday 15 to Sunday 17 coincides with our maxi day but if you have not attended yet, you still have tomorrow. Keep on making shavings, El Supremo Ken McEwen .

These newsletters are available in full colour by e-mail. Please request this by e-mail (see above) to avoid any ad-dress errors. They are also available to download from the website: www.sydneywoodturners.com.au (then, follow the “Southern” region link).

If you have parked inside the Cubby gates, please place a sign with your name on the dash in case your car needs to be moved.

Will YOU be financial after 30 June? RENEW your membership in June to maintain

your number and use of the equipment. Non financial members

CANNOT use Club equipment.

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The Cubby House Christmas Party

Sunday, 4 November, 2007 This year it is a lunch...12:00 noon for 12:30pm

To be held at the

Sylvania Bowling Club Once finalised, the menu will be posted at The Cubby House. For additional details, special dietary requirements and tickets,

please contact Alan Shoebridge on 9522 0682.

The Field Report

Working Bee

T he Working Bee held on Mini-Thursday saw a large contingent of members, working both in-

side and outside of Cubby House. Outside members were on the on the roof inspecting where water had entered the kitchen and one of the Dens, while others on the ground cleaned and raked the whole area surrounding Cubby House. The damage post holding the security chain at the front entry was removed and a larger steel pipe was inserted inside the original post and welded into posi-tion. The removal and installation of this post created member participation, which resembled a Road Gang where there were five supervisors and one worker. The job was eventually completed with the aid of some quick set cement resulting in the reinstallation should overcome the idiot factor of a wilful damage re-occurrence. Inside, three of our lady members, donned gloves and scouring pads, removed all drinking cups from the Tea Room walls washed the walls and every cup. The kitchen cupboards received a similar work-out by the ladies. So next time those members who did not participate in the Working Bee visit Cubby House they will be pleasantly surprised by its cleanliness. Thanks to all those members who participated in the Working Bee. (See page 11 for a few photos...and some fun)

Oyster Bay Public School Arts and Craft Festival 25, 26 & 27 May 2007

T he usual faces turned up on Friday morning at Cubby House to load the equipment for this Fes-

tival. The work party arrived on site at the school at 9 00am and were first on the scene to position tables, set up our display, all of which was completed by midday. The beautiful autumn sunny days drew large numbers of visitors to the school festival. The Woodturners demonstrating were busy throughout the weekend trying to keep up with the demands of various items for the young children. Thanks to Phil Newell who has been organising this event for many years and his loyal support team. Also, thanks to those members who visited the school and gave moral support to our group during the weekend.

Commission Work

D uring a committee meeting last year, it was de-cided that members who are interested or pre-

pared to make items for the public, should register their names so that any inquiries received at Southern Region can be directed to interested members. If you are interested in registering your name to do work for the public please obtain a Registration Form from the writer. Regards, John Field

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Show and Tell - Tools and Jigs (a very small selection)

Routing

Holding

Centre Steadies

Screw Cutting

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WOODWORK in ANCIENT EGYPT

Circa 3000 BC (from Archaic Egypt by W.B. Emery)

T he craft of the woodworker only effectively came into existence at the end of the Predy-

nastic period, when the manufacture of copper tools was well established. This being the case, it is astonishing that early in the First Dynasty, objects of the carpenters' and joiners' crafts give ample evi-dence of an advanced knowledge of working in wood. All the principles of jointing, such as both stump and through tenon tongued, rebate, half lap, and dovetail were known and used; moreover, elaborate carving and inlay of mixed woods with ivory and faience were a commonplace. Although their tools were few in number, they nevertheless fulfilled all. The essential functions of modern car-pentry, with the exception of the plane, which re-mained an unknown implement in Egypt until Ro-man times. It is interesting to note that the form of these tools remained, in general, the same through-out ancient Egypt's history and that the archaic woodworker's favourite tool, the adze, often used as a plane, is still the most important item of his modern descendant's equipment The adzes vary considerably in size: some have s copper blade 12 cm. in length attached to a wooden haft about 30 cm. long, while others have a blade 28 cm. long and a heavy haft 78 cm, in length. The blade is at-tached to the haft with a binding of cord or leather thongs. The saw also varies in size with a blade from 13 to 40 cm. in length. Only one edge is ser-rated, but not always along its entire length; the teeth, about I mm. long, begin a short distance from the shoulder and end before the tip is reached. The blade is socketed into a straight wooden handle. Unlike the modern tool, the saw was pulled and not pushed, so that the cutting edge of the teeth is set towards the handle. There was a considerable vari-ety of chisels ranging from a heavy type about 30 cm. long to small delicate engraving tools. The four main types are shown. Obviously the chisels fitted with rounded top handles were used for hand work and the fiat topped for light hammer work. Al-though no carpenters' hammers of the Archaic Pe-riod have as yet been found, it is probable that they were of the wooden club-like variety used in later times. Heavy stone have been found at Helwan, but these were probably used is masonry and not in woodwork. Copper awls or piercers of the type shown were used by both the carpenter and the

leather-worker. Although actual specimens have not been found, it would appear almost certain that the bow drill was used in the making of holes for wooden nails. It is uncertain if some method of turning was employed, for the accuracy of parts of wooden furniture, circular in section, is such that it sometimes appears to have been impossi-ble of achievement by hand-work alone. But in the absence of any evidence the question must be left unanswered at present. The bevelling and rounding of edges clearly show the marks of a knife used in the manner of a spoke-shave, and the application of a knife in this way may explain the extraordinary smoothness of flat surfaces which could not have been achieved en-tirely with stone rubbing. Although in jointing the tenon and mortice, rein-forced by a wooden peg, was nearly always used, in the case of bed, chair, and table legs we fre-quently find the survival of older methods, such as a binding with leather thongs, being still used even when the joint has already been made by the former method. While wooden pegs and dowels were favoured, the use of big copper nails was not unknown, as well as small copper tacks for at-taching leather upholstery and copper fittings such as the terminals on bed and chair rods. Inlay, whether of wood, ivory, or faience, was always fas-tened with glue.

Copper chisels, bodkins and needles from the tomb of Zer at Sakkara

Continues on page 6 ...

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Faces in the Mob

Thanks to Alan Pentecost for additional photographs for this page

If someone has a mo-ment, I need a hand to untangle the cord ...

I stand before you today to confess ………I have a vice ...

No …. I think that needs to go around this way … hang on ... no this way … OK, try it that way...

I probably shouldn’t have done that….

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Types of First Dynasty Chisels

Adze

Construction details of a wooden bed

WOODWORK in ANCIENT EGYPT

(continued from page 4)

Type of first Dynasty saw

Type of First Dynasty awl

Maxi-day activities. Theme was “Hand Tools”. Illustration from an

early edition of Cubby Pyramid News

Maxi-day lunch queue (from an early edition of Cubby Pyramid News)

Special Warning and a Request Please remove all caps , corks, etc. from bottles before putting them in the garbage bins as leav-ing them on can cause the bottle to violently shat-ter if bumped (due to pressure build up). Several workers have suffered serious eye injuries when a capped bottle has broken, one worker perma-nently losing the sight in one eye.

Dangerous!

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Training

S outhern Region has woodturning classes for our students and members, both of which must

be financial members of the Guild, with students over 14 years of age. Both day and evening lessons are held at Cubby House. Day lessons are 3 days at 6 hours, while the eve-ning lessons are 6 nights at 3 hours. The minimum number of members is 5. Cost is $100 total per member and includes loan of tools, hand out notes, timber and of course a loan of our trainer. It is preferable to have your own face shield for the lessons. If you are interested in this training course, discuss with Pat Thorpe at The Cubby House or by tele-phone on 9524 2504.

Regards, John Field Cubby House Clothing

Cubby House Summer T Shirts ........$32.00 (with name and badge)

As above with long sleeves...............$35.00

Cubby House Polar Fleece Jumpers .$37.00 (with badge, no name, ½ zip)

As above but with full zip.................$40.00

Polar Fleece Vests.............................$31.00 (with badge, no name)

Cubby House Patch Badges..............$6.50 (same as used on Polar Fleeces)

Club Caps (with Cubby emblem) .....$14.00 Club Caps..........................................$18.00 (with Cubby emblem and name)

Contact Michael Bryant at the Cubby House or ring 9520 8885

Memorise the clues.....now start looking at members a different way…...good luck!

Welfare

D o you know of a sick member or anyone who is unable to

attend our meetings, please telephone Gunter Horstmann on 9521 2096 and advise him of the details.

Meanwhile, back in the 1500s…. Houses had thatched roofs; thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm so dogs, cats and other small animals (mice and bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof….hence the saying, “it’s raining cats and dogs”. Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or “upper crust”.

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SOUTHERN REGION WOODTURNERS INC.

COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY 12 June 2007

Ken McEwan opened the meeting at 9:30am Present: Ken McEwan, Michael Bryant, Fred Warr, Val Lipping, John Field, Ken Phillips, Phil Newell, Keith Warnock, Les Fisher, Alan Shoebridge, Pat Thorpe, Barry Belford, Trevor Nicholson, Jim Govan, Gunter Horstmann, Bernie Richardson, Warren Rankin. Apologies: Bruce Leadbeatter, Jan Westerhof, Trevor Simpson, Alan Faulds, Alan Cox, Ted Macquart. Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting on 14 May 2007 were read to the meeting. Moved Gunter Horstmann, seconded John Field that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted as read. Carried. Business arising from the minutes: Jim Govan requested that the minutes reflect that the Triton Group requested permission to borrow a table for the WWW Show and did not just take a table. Treasurer’s report: Moved Val Lipping, seconded Trevor Nicholson that the Treasurers report be ac-cepted. Carried. Correspondence: Incoming - Thank you letter and certificate from Oyster Bay Public School. Newsletter from Tamworth Woodturners. Letter from Joe Shanahan, Tamworth Woodturners. Outgoing - Promotional material for Craft Show to Open Road and The Australian Woodworker. Letter to Dulux Australia seeking donation of paint for Friendship Day activities Maintenance: Equipment - Nil. Building - Jan Westerhof has repaired leaks in roof at front of building Social: Stephen Hughes has been invited to demonstrate on Feb 22-24 2008. Pat Thorpe has arranged for a small party to visit Lindsay Dunn’s workshop in Armidale on the last weekend in September. Publicity: June maxi day host is Peter King and the theme is burl items. July maxi day host is Bernie Richardson and the theme is “Kids Stuff”. Dulux have donated 10 litres of paint for toy making. Oyster Bay School Arts & Crafts festival was a success. John Field is compiling a register for commission work references. Library: All books have now been catalogued and numbered. DVDs are now available to be screened in main hall during mini days. Cleaning: Will be done on Thursday this week due to WWW Show. Kitchen: Catering for 100 at Maxi day – Cold meats. Phil Newell to stand in for Val Lipping at maxi day Newsletter: OK Training: Pat Thorpe advised completion of course for 3 people. Welfare: Nil. Craft Show: John Field has forwarded advertising for Craft Show to Open Road and The Australian Woodworker. Raffles: Bob Bayles will replace Norm, if required, for the next maxi day. Guild: Barry Belford advised that the following motions put to the Special General Meeting of the Guild on 26 May 2007 were accepted and passed: “That the Guild support the RAS craft competitions for 2008 by donating $75 prize money for the category of “Turning Platters or Bowls” and $75 for the category of “Mostly Woodturning” and the Guild encourage all affiliated associations to urge their members to enter work in these competitions”.

continued over page ...

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Friendship Day, 27 May 2007

T he May Friendly Day saw some toys coming to fruition with cricket bats well underway and waiting for some kind and generous person to turn some bails and stumps.

Positions Vacant: Woodturners, to participate in making some bails, stumps and dolls at our Friendly Days, please contact the writer if you are able to assist. Some racing cars and locomotives received their first coat of primer. Positions Vacant:, Anyone who can use a roller or paintbrush at our Friendly Days, please contact the writer if you can assist. BYO gear.

Next Friendly Day: Tuesday, 26th June 2007.

See you amongst the shavings, John Field

“That the Guild set up a small sub-committee to evaluate the WWW Show and commence early planning for the 2008 show”. Warren Rankin advised that he would submit an article to By Hand and Eye on behalf of Southern Wood-turners. Volunteers are being called for an organising committee for Woodturn 2008. Warren Rankin asked the meeting for ideas of what the duties of the Guild Education Officer should be. Af-ter discussion, it was agreed that it should be an overseer role covering: Setting guidelines and curriculum for training Safety – correct use of tools and equipment as well as ancillary functions such as grinding, sharpening etc. The Guild has supplied us with certificates of currency for insurance. General Business: Moved Barry Belford, seconded Les Fisher that a letter be sent to George Hatfield inviting him to be affili-ated to Southern Region Woodturners Inc. Carried. Ken McEwan to send letter to George. Moved Pat Thorpe, seconded Fred Warr that Sid Stephens’ membership application be accepted. Carried Ken McEwan to gather information to be included on new membership application and renewal forms. John Field presented a Draft Safety Guidelines document to the meeting. Copies to be distributed to com-mittee members for review and discussion at July workshop committee meeting. Fred Warr has approached Carbatec to accept our raffle vouchers and will follow up. The lease document was discussed. Ken McEwan and Fred Warr have met with Council to clarify details and reported back to the meeting. Moved Pat Thorpe, seconded Warren Rankin that the lease be accepted and signed. Carried Triton Group: Jim Govan raised the Tritons Groups concerns regarding roof leaks, subsidence cracks in external wall and interior painting and re-lining being carried out by Council before the lease is signed. Ken McEwan re-ported that as a result of the meeting with Council, noted above, it appears that Council is not responsible for carrying out this work. Jim reported that the Triton Group have some timber available for members. Jim requested that, as previously agreed, Triton Group matters be reported as a separate item in our minutes rather than under General Business.

The meeting closed at 11:30am

… continued from page 8

Get along to the Mini-days and make some toys, or assist with their assembly.

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Dates to remember ...

Guilio Marcolongo

22 June - Central Coast WoodturnersA 23 June - Southern HighlandsB

24 June - Western Blue MountainsC 25 June - Western Blue MountainsC

22 to 24 June are demonstrations and 25 June is a workshop limited to 8 places.

For bookings: A:4388 267 Ron B:4684 3146 Bill C:9638 6995 Anna

October Changes - Maxi-day

Our Annual Craft Fair will be held during the third weekend in October (20th and 21st) and the Maxi-day will move to the

fourth Saturday (27th)

Christmas Party (Date Change) Date: 4 November 2007 - Sunday Venue; Sylvania Bowling Club

Time: Lunch 12.30pm Contact: Alan Shoebridge, 9522 0682

Answers - Thinking Caps Can Now Be Off…. A. 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, ? What number replaces the ques-tion mark? Answer: 20 (add 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4) B. Which number is the odd one out? 9678 4572 5261 5133 3527 6895 7768 Answer: 3527: in the others the sum of the first two numbers is equal to the sum of the second two numbers, for example 5+2 = 6+1 C. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals and relate to them in the same way. GRAM (energy, weight, scales) KNOT (water, rope, speed) Answer: weight, speed D. Which is the odd one out? heptagon, triangle, hexagon, cube, pentagon Answer: cube: it is a three-dimensional figure. The rest are all two dimensional figures. E. able, rot, son, king Which word below shares a common feature with all the words above? line, sit, take, hope, night Answer: take: all words can be prefixed with PAR to form another word – parable, parrot, parson, parking, partake

Create Your Own Captions! - Share them at Show & Tell

Function Calendar

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R esulting from Workshop Committee Meetings, Cubby House members are invited to attend the following

functions. Should you wish to attend any of the extra functions listed, please telephone the respective contact person/s. Visitors and other Guild members most welcome to join us! Just phone the President regarding attendance and ca-tering.

President, Ken McEwen: 9528 7571

The Committee meets from 9:30am on the days shown as “Workshop”. All members are welcome, however, there is no turning on that day. If you have something to contribute, please come along. June 21, 2007 – Thursday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toy Day. Contact: President.

June 26, 2007 – Tuesday Friendship-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Toy Making Day. Contact: John Field, 9525 4653.

July 4, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toys Day. Contact: President.

July 11, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Night Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning Nite. Contact: President. July 16, 2007 - Workshop Venue: Cubby House - Contact: President. July 21, 2007 – Saturday Maxi-Day Venue: Cubby House Host: Bernie Richardson Theme: Kid’s Things Contact: President.

July 24, 2007 – Tuesday Friendship-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Toy Making Day. Contact: John Field, 9525 4653.

July 26, 2007 – Thursday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toys Day. Contact: President.

August 1, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toys Day. Contact: President.

August 8, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Night Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning Nite. Contact: President.

August 13, 2007 - Workshop Venue: Cubby House - Contact: President.

August 18, 2007 – Saturday Maxi-Day (AGM & Election of Officers) Venue: Cubby House Host: David Johnson Theme: Miniatures

August 23, 2007 – Thursday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toys Day. Contact: President.

August 28, 2007 – Tuesday Friendship-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Toy Making Day. Contact: John Field, 9525 4653.

September 5, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Day Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning & Toys Day. Contact: President.

September 10, 2007 - Workshop Venue: Cubby House - Contact: President.

September 12, 2007 – Wednesday Mini-Night Venue: Cubby House Theme: Hands-On Turning Nite. Contact: President.

September 15, 2007 – Saturday Maxi-Day Venue: Cubby House Host: Adriane Dyt Theme Annual Ladies Day Contact: President.

Regards Mal Function