,

Sydney Northern Beaches Woodturners Inc.Newsletter JULY 2015

Vol. 9 No 5 July 2015

President: Jack Butler Vice President: Graham Truelove Secretary: Barry Brown Treasurer: Derek Camiller

Newsletter Editors: Graham Truelove and Lloyd Ross

Newsletter email: lloydross@bigpond.com Photography: Paul Johnson-Walker

Correspondence: Attn Barry Brown 4 Friendship Place Beacon Hill NSW 2100

Workshop: Narrabeen RSL Club Nareen Pde Nth Narrabeen NSW 2101

Meetings: Tuesday & Friday 9:00am-12:00pm Saturday 9am – 3:00 pm

Monthly: 3rd Sunday of each month 10:00am-3:30pm

Web: www.snbwoodturners.com Email snbwoodturners@hotmail.com

This Months Demonstrator

Paul Cosgrave

Carving & Embellishing

Wood Turning Blanks Trend Timbers Woodturning Tools Timber Slabs 15 Railway Road North Pyrography Jet Tools Mulgrave, NSW 2756 Sharpening Tools Couger Phone: (02) 4577-5277 Fax: (02) 4577 6846 U-Beaut Chucks/Jaws Email: sales@trendtimbers.com.au Rustins Accessories Organ Oil

Do you have any questions, answers, tips, tricks, bright ideas, anything to do with turning, the club, or just want to have a good old fashioned whinge…this forum is for YOU! email: The Editor About-Turn Newsletter lloydross@bigpond.com

In this issue ;-

Continuing discussion on finishes – notes from Dick McCaughey attached.

PLEASE forward your tips and tricks to me. We can all learn from others experience, otherwise this column will disappear.

Lloyd

Trees For All Tree Surgeon Owen Crick

All Aspects

of Tree Work

Fully Insured

Mob: 0414 402 813 treesfor all@optusnet.com.au

Wood-eze WOODTURNING SUPPLIES

for all Woodturning Requirements

-----------------------------------

Teknatool & GPW Chucks

Lathe Accessories

Arbortec Products

P & N Chisels

Razortip Pyrography Products

Pen Parts/Clocks Craft Supplies

Reseller: Carba-Tec/GPW

Leigh & Yvonne Ferguson 130 The Promenade

Sans Souci NSW 2219 Ph: (02) 9593-4692 Mob: 0412 901 991

wood-eze@optusnet.com.au

Annual General Meeting Sunday - 19 th July 2015 My how time flies, another AGM means another year has gone by. President Jack Butler opened the meeting at 10.30 am with 27 members present and commenced by thanking all for attending. He then made mention of Southern and Hornsby woodturning groups resigning from the Guild. Southern changing their name to Cubby House Turners & Woodies Inc., and Hornsby joining the Mens Shed in their area. Jack then referred to the Markets, Fairs, Shows and Charity functions that we attended throughout the year. Making special mention of the Riding for the Disabled organisation, who incidentally were extremely grateful for our support and donations. They have asked and invited us to be a part of the next fundraising day. I am sure that we will be only too happy to be part of such a worthy cause. Jack spoke of last year’s Christmas Party. The general consensus was that it was an excellent venue. I guess the next step now is to get cracking and book the same place for this year. I will advise as soon as we have a date. Jack spoke on the Life Membership honour bestowed upon Aaron Ehrlich by our Club. A more worthy recipient you would not find. Aaron has spent years and years not only teaching and demonstrating at our club but he has visited to demonstrate at every club that has been associated with the Guild. He thanked everyone who gives their time to help with the functions that we attend making special mention of Gordon McKenzie, Gordon Scott and Gary Cox for their part arranging and taking part in the majority of these days. All of our demonstrators------ We have had very interesting demonstrations lately, all our own people taking on special challenges. All were great, well worth watching and very interesting. The building committee----- for all the hard work and effort that they have put into the arduous task of putting everything together for this exciting project that we are attempting. Lloyd ---Designing the building, drawing up plans, meetings, re electrical requirements and locations, same for sewer and water lines, special council requirements, quotes and these days a massive undertaking, submitting the DA. Barry and Paul----the time consuming and onerous job, applying for grants Paul, Tim and Rob---- Council, fundraising and special fundraising day at the RPAYC. All a lot of work but much appreciated. Peter Clouston---- for the work that he has put into producing a very detailed Marketing Plan. The time and effort put into this document is very much appreciated. Ted---- workshop manager, maintenance manager and timber procurer. Lionel---- electrical. Marj and Lionel------ catering And just in case anyone was missed – thanks to everyone. Secretary Paul Cosgrave then gave the Secretaries report. Paul spoke on the Membership advising that at end of June we had 83 members signed up. He spoke on the Fundraising situation explaining the various ways this is being undertaken. Giving special thanks to Rob for his assistance in this matter. He explained the donation situation which was later amended to include donation of toys and donations to the Riding for the Disabled. He spoke on the DA being underway and the quotes being sought. He also thanked Peter Clouston for the time and effort that he had put into the Marketing plan that he put together for us. Acting Treasurer Rupert Linn then gave a slide presentation detailing a very informative and favourable treasurer’s report. The report was tabled and will be put on the notice board for general viewing. Jack then asked Peter Clouston if he would like to speak on the Marketing report that he had so generously given his time to produce. Peter said he would only speak briefly explaining that it was all in the report for all to see but that he had included his idea of what our Mission Statement could be, goals, strategic methods that we could look at, research survey, business plan, where the Club could be going, what the Club could be looking for and the direction in which the Club could be looking at going. Jack thanked Peter and then invited Lloyd Ross to act as Returning Officer to officiate in the election of a new committee for the coming twelve months.

All committee positions were then declared vacant. The following people were nominated for and accepted the positions. There was no need for a vote. President Jack Butler Deputy President Graham Truelove Secretary Barry Brown Treasurer Derek Camiller Guild Reps John Cottle, Alex Bendelli, Gordon Scott. The following positions were filled by “Volunteers” Public Officer Lloyd Ross Event Organisers Gordon Scott, Garry Cox, Gordon McKenzie. Publicity TBA Store Manager Meg Webster. Workshop Committee Ted Goodman, Barry Brown, Tony Vidler, Paddy DeKlerk, Owen Holden Website manager Lloyd Ross Newsletter Editors Graham Truelove and Lloyd Ross Photography and video Paul Johnson-Walker, Rupert Linn Membership Alan Meek Librarian Marj Butler Catering Marj Butler, Lionel Hirning, Gary Cox First Aid Paul Cosgrave, Peter Clouston Building Project Team Lloyd Ross, Jack Butler, Tim MacGregor, Graham Truelove, Paul Cosgrave, Owen Holden, Barry Brown. There being no further business before the meeting the AGM was closed.

Show & Tell S & T plays a major role in our monthly meeting agenda. Everyone is always interested in the work that is shown on the day and it often gives us ideas to have a go at something that maybe we had not thought of. We have been concentrating mainly on the Challenge projects of late but don’t forget it is always good to get a few extra things to show and talk about.

Today Meg Webster ran the Show and Tell. The challenge was to turn something unusual

John Redding - sculpture Forlorn Refugees

Jim Vatiliotis Hand carved “pretzel” and offset turned candlesticks

and egg cups

Reminder that Membership fees for 2015 / 2016 of $50 are now overdue and if you have not paid you are not covered by the clubs insurance.

June McKimmie:- Tasmanian Blackwood Bowl and beads from Forest Oak. Organoil finish

Jack Butler:-Hollow Vessel – Jacaranda insert, Mackay Cedar outside hand carved with hacksaw blade. Rustins finish

Tim MacGregor:- Bowls from Camphor and Angophora finished with 5 layers of Shellawax. Tim found a use for a wine bottle stopper- mounted it in a pine base and uses it to hold a ball of string.

Paddy De Klerk showed 5 Bowls/vases turned from Grass Tree, He warned of the need to wear a mask due to the large amount of dust not chips generated when turning it. Also shown was a very nice lidded box from Ebony. Thanks Paddy for donating these items to the club.

Tony Vidler:- Two Walking sticks. Tas Oak & Merbau with a Jarrah tip

Bob Condon:- Candle sticks from Merbau and a Jewellery box from Aust Red Cedar

Garry Cox fed up with salt and pepper on the kitchen bench made a holder for his grinders

Meg Webster :- Offset turned egg timer and two crochet hooks

Graham Truelove :- A lolly dispenser. Now that was unusual.

John Cottle :- nicely turned silky Oak platter

Rupert Linn :- Two Flamingos banksia and variety of timbers, Lidded tooth pick holder and three Pepper Grinders from WA Banksia nuts.

John Bellamy : Candle holder with a burl base and a Vase from laminated strips both finished with sprayed on lacquer.

Paul Johnson-Walker :- A bowl on a stand with a Christmas tree handle, a pen from a small tree branch and his Danish Vedel Bird.

Demonstration:

Today’s Demonstrator was Paul Cosgrave and his topic was Embellishing and Decorating turned works. Paul’s aim is to put some personal expression into his work by using carving and piercing etc. In this talk/demo he showed the equipment he uses.

1. A Dremmel electrically powered, many bits, burs, drills available at Bunnings.

2. An Air powered tool of the type used for dental lab work, spins at around 400,000rpm

3. A “Pencil Grinder” – mini air grinder, 55,000 to 58,000 rpm 90 psi this is slower but has more torque. Is tool of choice but needs a good air compressor as it uses lots of air.

Alex Bendelli:- A beautiful burl bowl which was supported on Perspex rod legs to give the appearance that it was floating and so that the bottom of it would not be damaged, finished with sprayed on lacquer mixture of cabothane, penetrol & turps. Alex showed a prototype tapered walking stick with a routed twist over part of the length that he had been commissioned to make from expensive exotic African timbers. He described how he had made a slide for the router and a modified face plate to hold the end so he could get the twist correct.

Dick McCaughey :- Arthur Vedel’s Telescope The story is attached. Dick you have a great way with words and managed to get most of the regulars involved in the story.

Paul Cosgrave :- Some fine examples of carving and embellishing work to add another dimension to your turned work. The top platter has a carved centre piece that resembles the root of a piece of kelp with simulated raindrops bouncing off water. The lighter bowl is jacaranda carved to a shape inspired by the root patterns in dried kelp found on the beach.

Next Meeting is Sunday 16th August 2015. Put it in your diary. Don’t forget also that the Challenge is to turn something that is embellished, pierced or carved

To get started you need ideas and inspiration to form patterns. Paul gets a lot of his ideas from driftwood and items washed up on the beach. The natural world offers many ideas in form, shape, texture, colour and structure. Your ideas should then be drawn on paper and refined until you are happy and satisfied that you can make it. Then draw the pattern in pencil onto your timber and then make changes if necessary. Paul then went into a description of other equipment he uses. Eye protection is necessary as is dust protection and dust extraction. A good respirator is necessary and other items include a head lamp and magnifier. There are a large number of burs, drills sanders & grinders available to smooth out corners and edges. Paul purchases some of his on line from Rio Grande Jewellery Supplies at www.riogrande.com/home When cutting you need a steady hand and take it slowly, don’t force the tool. Paul finished off with a small demonstration using the dremmel. A very interesting talk and demonstration Paul and an encouragement to the rest of us to have a go. So the challenge for the August meeting is to have a go and embellish, pierce or carve or otherwise decorate a turned piece. And for the men – remember Fathers Day is coming up – put in your requests for tools NOW NEXT MONTH THE CHALLENGE IS TO - turn something that is embellished, pierced or carved Reminder that Membership fees for 2015 / 2016 of $50 are now overdue and if you have not paid you are not covered by the clubs insurance. Happy Turning Graham and Lloyd

From Dick McCaughey Thanks Owen for your tips on pot life of varnish in last months newsletter. I would like to add my observations to your findings. I am a firm believer in the qualities of Feast Watson’s Marine varnish as I used it nearly ten years ago on the restoration of the interior timber work on a boat I own. The finish is as good today as it was when first applied. However I am not having the same success when using it on the small items I have turned. I am new to wood turning and have had no experience with other finishes. Feast Watson Marine Varnish full gloss became my preferred coating. The smallest can I can buy is 500mls. A typical coating for a turned item requires about 10ml. After opening the 500ml can the lid becomes unserviceable after about 10 removals. The removal of the lid has been done with all care to preserve the shape so that it will reseal properly. To overcome this problem I sourced two screw top jars of 250ml each and decanted a new can of varnish into them. The problem I am having at present is that when the contents in the jar fell to about 70% the varnish forms a skin overnight. The finish on my turned items no longer has the full gloss and now appear to have “thick and thin” coating. When I read your article and noted you have experienced the problems I am having, I thought I would add my experiences. To put you in the picture, I have thrown out the original 500ml can when I decanted the varnish so I am unable to check its production date. Before decanting I stirred the new pot for five minutes to reverse any settling of the ingredients. I searched the internet for screw top jars of about 100mls or less without success unless I bought them in lots of 1000. I wipe the rim of the jar clean before I replace the lid to maintain an airtight seal. However this has not stopped the varnish from “skinning” overnight. I leave 24 hours between each coat. I remove this skin and again stir with a flat blade for three minutes before using. Another variable I am keeping an eye on is air temperature. I normally re coat my items at the end of the day when the heat of the day has gone. I thought the cold weather was having an effect on the varnish. The varnish has become “thick” and I thought this was a cause of the poor finish, so I added ten drops of mineral turps to thin it down. I am at present coating four items with the thinned varnish in the hope of getting a finish similar to that of when the varnish was first opened. Stay tuned, and I will exchange notes with Owen and pass on the results in next month’s newsletter.

Stop Press: As the newsletter was being completed we learnt of the death of Lou Brown one of the stalwart members of the club. It was only a bit over two weeks ago he was treating us to one of his stories at morning tea. Lou was in hospital with pneumonia and suffered a heart attack on last Tuesday. He was 90 years old. There will be a Memorial Service for Lou at the War Vets Chapel on Thursday 30th July at 2pm.

Events Diary.

Bunnings BBQ for 2015

Sunday Meetings

General

Raffle Winners

Best Wishes

Birthdays

New Members

In July :- Tom Bartie, Derek Camiller, Paddy deKlerk, Andrew Ireland, Tim MacGregor, Peter Newton, John Redding, Tony Vidler and Kim Warby Happy Birthday to you all.

Our best wishes for recovery go to

The next Bunnings date will be 14th August Followed by , 11th Sept, 26th Sept, 5th Oct. Please advise Gordon Scott of your participation and if you would prefer morning or afternoon shift.

Ted Goodman wants wooden handled carpenter’s chisels. Made by Berg Sweden and stamped with a shark. If you have any then phone Ted on 9982-2259 and put the bite on him.

The RAFFLE this month was won by Ted Goodman who received a $40.00 voucher on the club store, and second prize of a section of grass tree kindly donated by Paddy deKlerk went to

See the calendar. Next is Sunday 16th August .

The club has a bench drill, 6in bench grinder and an electric planer for sale. Make your offers to Derek. Ken Cooper has a 14in Hafco band saw for sale at $250 and Guiliano Sammuri also has a band saw for sale.

Welcome to We hope you enjoy your time with us

RPAYC Speakers Corner Friday 18th September 2015

The Art of Wood A presentation by the Sydney Northern Beaches

Woodturners Speaker: Mr Graham Truelove.

The Telescope by Dick McCaughey This telescope is a true replica of the original used by Arthur Vedel. Arthur Vedel was the Time Keeper for the Narrabeen to Manly Tramways from 1925 until 1939. Arthur’s work place was at the Narrabeen Tram shed, where he had his own small office which commanded a view of the tram line and with the use of his telescope he could see all the way back to Collaroy. Arthur's job was to keep the trams running to a timetable. His small office was equipped with a large Government clock on the wall and he was seated on a high stool made from beautiful Oregon which he polished each day with the seat of his pants. From his position by an open window Arthur could easily identify the arriving tram and its driver far down the track using his telescope. The day started with the 7.15am tram always arriving early. Arthur knew all the drivers and their conductors due to the number of years he had been the time keeper at the Narrabeen Terminus. The 7.15am was always driven with gusto by John Bellamy. His conductor, Gary Cox, had a difficult task hanging on whilst he walked along the running board to collect fares. Arthur also knew the regular passengers and would give them a greeting each day with a wave of the telescope. They included Mr and Mrs Butler, Mr Goodwin, Mr Love, Mr Scott, Mr McKenzie and many others. Arthur was confident John Bellamy and Gary Cox would get them to Manly wharf in time to catch their ferry to work in the city. Arthur's day would settle into a routine and he was able to set his clock by the arrival of the 12.30pm driven by Meg Webster with June McKimmie as conductor.. Meg was the first female driver on the Narrabeen run and was punctual down to the second. The after school run created some problems for Arthur as the young school boys, Bob Condon and Rupert Linn would usually try to avoid paying their fare. But Arthur was onto them using his telescope and would see them jump off before the terminus at the Narrabeen St stop. This fare evasion caused heartache for Joe Reaney who would be securely locked inside the Cashiers office all day counting the days takings. The 5.30pm was always running late. Its driver Graham Truelove would undoubtedly have been helping someone who needed assistance onto his tram thus causing the delay. Also keen to see the 5.30pm arrive at the Terminus was the engineer John Cottle who would be ready with his oil can to service any part of the tram that needed lubrication. John was always keen to get his job done and get home as he always had Guild Meetings to attend. During Arthur's quiet times during the day he would idly watch the bird life on Narrabeen Lake using his telescope as he had a commanding view of the Lake from his beloved stool. One day Arthur spotted a bird with a long beak which could rotate its head through 360 degrees. He had not seen a bird like this before and so reported it to the Bird Spotters League. And so the years passed. Arthur retired when the tram line closed in 1939 and the service was taken over by the Toyota Coaster Bus Company operated by Lloyd Ross. Arthur was presented with his trusty telescope in recognition of his years of long service. It was Arthur’s wish that on his passing his beloved telescope would be beside him in his coffin. The tramway dismantled its operation and the remains of Athur’s office were sent to Kimbriki tip. There one day, Arthur’s beloved stool was spotted and was saved from becoming land fill. The polished Oregon remains were turned into a telescope as a momento to Athur Vedel and it is here today on display. Many years later the Bird Lovers League named the bird Arthur had been first to identify with the use of his telescope on Narrabeen Lake as the Vedel Bird.

SNBW.

Speakers Corner Luncheon at the RPAYC.

Graham Truelove will be giving a talk on the art of woodturning and

Jack Butler will give a demonstration after a two course lunch.

On Friday 18 Sept 2015

At the RPAYC 16 Mitala St Newport 12 for 12.30.

SNBW members are welcome to join in for lunch at $33.00 PH.

Please confirm your attendance and payment to Rupert Lin by Friday 11

September.

A display of Club items for sale will help us raise funds for our building fund. Come along and enjoy a great lunch and help promote our club to the RPAYC

members.

RPAYC Speakers Corner Friday 18th September 2015

The Art of Wood A presentation by the Sydney Northern Beaches Woodturners

Speaker: Mr Graham Truelove. During the luncheon a presentation will be given on:

1) The short history of woodturning and the Sydney Northern Beaches Woodturners 2) The skills required to be a turner 3) The equipment and tools required 4) Materials, supplies and woods 5) The passing on of skills to preserve the art of woodturning 6) How you can become a turner, membership of SNBW The talk will be accompanied by a multi-media presentation A display of turned items will be on display and for sale Following the luncheon a woodturning demonstration will be conducted at the west end of Halyards by Master Turner, Mr Jack Butler, of the SNBW group.