DECEMBER 2017 New Officers Page 2 BOD Minutes Page 3 Cutting Pen Tubes Page 4 Show and Tell Page 8 Gallery Page 13 Pen Wood Page 18 Rich Waller s demonstration of baseball bats included many ins and outs of it s manufacture. Turning a baseball bat is more than a form of spindle turning.
Newly Elected Officers President Rich Thelen is retiring as head of the helm after 5 years of leading the Chippewa Valley Woodturners Guild. Since taking over from Founding Member Brian George, Rich with other group officers and members have increased membership through participation in many public events such as the Chippewa Valley Museum and the Learn to Turns at past Expos and the International Chainsaw Sculpture Competition. With Rich, Membership / Treasurer Keith Jones and Vice President Barry Grill are stepping down. Replacing Rich is Duane Walker. Replacing Barry is John Layde. Replacing Keith is Randy Patzke. Left To right: Keith Jones; John Layde; Barry Grill; Randy Patzke, Rich Thelen; and Duane Walker Duane Walker Comments: I'm not sure what I got into when I said that I, a somewhat new woodturner, would be willing to take a turn as a club officer. Well with your help and understanding we will make it happen. Now I know that Christmas is almost here and we are all busy with family plans but let's not forget what we can do for others. I know that my challenge of 25 bowls from each of you for the empty bowls project is big but I believe we can do it. Also don't forget that "SPECIAL" item for their auction. This is a big money maker for the food bank. Well 2018 is almost here and it looks like a great opportunity for all of us to grow in our turning ability. The acrylic workshop with Ron Bartz in January and the tool sharpening demo by Bob Eberhardt at our next meeting as well as his workshop on tool sharpening in February will get us started.
Board of Directors Meeting Items of Interest December 6, 2017 Present: President Rich Thelen; incoming President Duane Walker; Vice President Barry Grill; incoming Vice President John Layde; Treasurer / Membership Keith Jones; incoming Treasurer / Membership Randy Patzke; Program Director Mark Palma; Secretary John DeRyckere and Newsletter Editor Tom Leonard. Membership: Keith reports membership at 84 paid members. Acrylic workshop: Acrylic workshop being held by Ron Bartz on January 20 is filled with 10 students. Chippewa Valley Museum Event: On February 17 the group will be represented by Dennis Ciesielski and Barry Grill. It will be a demo and members can come and sell their goods. AAW Offer: A new offer from AAW is $20 for the first three months and if after 3 months temporary member can pay additional $40 - which is total of a year s dues. Shop Supplies: It was brought up that the grinder wheel needs replacement. Officers voted to approve replacement. Retiring Board Minutes: Board minutes to reflect appreciation for retiring board members. Extra Keys: It was brought up that 2 sets of keys was not sufficient since those with keys may be absent or detained. This is important so that members or perspective members do not have to stand outside if a major key holder is late or not coming. Vote approved to get 2 extra sets of keys with the approval of the building owner. Holders of the extra keys was not determined. Feed My People TV Promotion: John Layde will be on TV to promote the Feed My People Bowls Event. Date not noted. Seniors to Minneapolis: The Senior group that came to the shop for a woodturning demo is looking to take a trip to the AAW headquarters in Minneapolis to tour the Gallery. February Challenge: Turn a extra nice piece to put in the auction at the Feed My People Bowls Event.
CUTTING A PEN TUBE Tom Leonard Pen kits come with hardware that characterizes the pen type. It also comes with one or more brass tubes which establish the size of the turned blanks as well as being the point of attachment for the hardware. It is not unusual for blanks when being turned to go bad and the brass tube can be lost leaving you with a pen kit with nowhere to go. You can recover the brass tube in most cases by continuing the turning until all remaining blank is removed. The problem with this is the brass tube without the blank tube ends will be pressed due to the pressure of the bushing and will need to be filed off and not always very successfully. It would be easier to obtain additional brass tubes of the type for the kit. Usually two sets of these tubes run about $2.50 but shipping will bring it up to $8 to $10 (a good time to stock up to justify the shipping charge). Not all sizes are available. The alternative is to get tubes you commonly use in lengths of 10 inches. Then you cut to the size needed and thereby giving you a ready source and cheaper source of tubes. Cutting the tubes to size can also be problematical because of the tendency to leave uneven sharp edges that have to be filed. Searching the internet I found 3 ways (not all the possibilities) of cutting pen tubes. One showed a maker/seller of pens who uses a small electric tube cutter which is essentially a mini chop saw. Penn State Ind has one called a Mini Cut -Off Saw with 4 tube jigs (7mm, 8mm, 3/8, and 10mm) and sells it for $54.95. The cuts were jagged and had to be filed. The second and third examples were homemade solutions. One used a drill and jig to hold the long tube in place and cut the tube with a utility knife. The tube was chucked directly in the drill. Then placing the tube down in a hole the depth of the tube size needed and cutting the tube with a utility knife while the drill is running. The cuts were even and needed no filing. The last was similar but was accomplished on the lathe. A chucked dowel or a piece of wood is turned down like a dowel to the size of the tube. A length of tube is held by the dowel and taped to the dowel. The length needed is measured and with the lathe turning, a utility knife is used to cut the tube. The cut was even and did not need filing. A substitute for the dowel can be a closed end mandrel that sells at Craft Supplies USA ($14.95 each) if you have the correct size for the tube (10.5mm, 12.5mm, 25/64, 27/64 and 7mm). Chuck this mandrel on the lathe in a Jacobs chuck, lock in the tube, measure the size, turn on the lathe and touch a hobby/utility knife to the tube. I placed a hobby knife under the tube which is the way shown in the video. The cut was smooth and no filing needed.
I tried using my band saw but because my band saw will only hold a 1/2 inch blade, the cut was very ragged. A smaller blade could have given a better cut but it was not an option for me. My band saw will not set a smaller blade on the flywheel. It supposed to run 1/4 and 1/8 blades and it did when it was new but lately these blades refuse to stay put when tightened down. It occurred to me that what might work on my band saw with a 1/2 inch blade would be giving the tube support when being cut similar to giving a blank support at the bottom where the drill bit exits the drilled blank. Simply drill a long blank with the diameter of the tube, measure the length and cut the blank with the tube inside. Some filing was needed. The methods which used a utility or hobby knife produced clean cuts with no filing needed. The methods using blades left jagged edges. The mini chop saw left irregular edges the same as my straight cut 1/2 inch band saw blade but with support the band saw left a less ragged edge than the mini chop saw. Method Using Closed End Mandrel Craft Supplies USA closed end Mandrel - Pin is inserted in slot Closed end mandrel chucked onto Jacobs Chuck Mandrel is inserted in pen tube and given a twist to tighten
Tightened pen tube is turned and hobby knife is pressed onto tube to cut Completed cut Method Using Band Saw Insert pen tube in blank drilled with appropriate drill size Pen tube is inserted to the end of the blank and tape used to keep tube from exiting
Blank is pressed against rip bar, tube is pressed against tape and held as blade cuts blank. Cut must be slow. If fast the tube will be more ragged. Completed cut Completed cut with cut tube removed
Dick Prouty with 3 sea urchins ornaments and a Celtic Knot ornament. Others items were a snowman ornament and a birdhouse ornament. Duane Walker with an inside out ornament with blown glass center. Seen in Gallery is a candle holder of Sumac in a wine bottle. John Layde with a basket weave ornament.
Fred Steffins with a jig for bait making and a glitter ornament. Seen in gallery is a bowl with glitter on page 17. Mark Palma with 4 acrylic ornaments, and a bobber ornament. Seen in Gallery is an angel ornament and a tree ornament. Not pictured is an ornament in the shape of a car engine piston.
Dan Goller with a Box Elder bowl and 7 angel ornaments.. Al Copas with 3 drilled out ornaments.
Tom Leonard with a closed end pen made of Canarywood, a pencil cup made of Ambrosia Maple, a Wrench pen made of Canarywood and a pen made of Yellow (Honey) Locust. Not seen was a Cherry bowl displayed in gallery on page 17.
Rich Waller with a Cherry ornament and an ornament made of Lilac wood which was a winner in the President s Challenge Not pictured is Bruce Lindholm with a Spectraply ornament and a bell ornament with a copper effect. These items can be seen on page 13.
PRESIDENT S CHALLENGE Christmas Ornaments WINNER Inside Out Ornament
Winner Lilac Wood
Challenge Winners Rich Waller Ornament made from Lilac wood Duane Walker Inside out ornament with blown glass
Additional Gallery Turnings
PEN WOOD OF THE MONTH REDHEART Common Name(s): Redheart, Chakte Kok Scientific Name: Erythroxylum spp. and Simira spp. Distribution: Southern Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, 1-1.5 ft (.3-.5 m) trunk diameter Color/Appearance: Aptly named, in some instances freshly surfaced Redheart can be a very bright, watermelon red though color can vary in intensity and hue from board to board: anywhere from a light orange/pink, (similar to Pink Ivory), to a darker brownish red. In some cases, it can look quite similar to Bloodwood, though usually with a more visible and figured grain pattern. Redheart s vibrant color quickly fades to a reddish brown in direct sunlight, though this color change can be slowed (but usually not stopped entirely) by using a finish with UV inhibitors, and keeping the wood away from strong lighting. G r a i n / Texture: Grain is usually straight or irregular, with a fine, even texture. Low to medium natural luster. Endgrain: Diffuseporous; small to very small pores arranged predominantly in radial multiples of 2-5; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma varies by species: sometimes rare or absent, or vasicentric and weakly aliform (winged). Rot Resistance: Laboratory tests have shown Redheart to be moderately durable to attack by decay fungi. Workability: Redheart has good working characteristics, and planes, machines, and sands well. Turns, glues, and finishes well, though a brown color shift is to be expected. Odor: Redheart can have a distinct, rubber-like smell when being worked depending on species. Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with
Redheart. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Pricing/Availability: Sometimes available as narrow boards, but commonly available as turning squares. Tends to be on the medium to high side for an imported hardwood. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Common Uses: Turned objects, inlays, veneer, fine furniture, and small specialty wood items. Comments: Commonly called Chakte Kok (with a multitude of variant spellings), this species has been previously placed in the Sickingia genus. Another species that s also in the Rubiaceæ family is Cosmocalyx spectabilis, which is typically sold interchangeably as Chakte Kok. A third, botanically unrelated wood (Erythroxylaceæ family), which bears an uncanny similarity in nearly every respect to the two other species is Erythroxylum havanense, which is most commonly sold as Redheart. The scans show examples of what is labeled as Redheart (Erythroxylum spp.), while the mechanical data numbers reference the wood referred to as Chakte Kok (Simira genus). Related Species: None available. From the Wood Database (www.wood-datbase.com) The pen kit chosen for this wood is the Rhodium Apollo Infinity from Penn State ($11.95). This is one of four kits Penn State offers for exclusive closed end turning. These kits comes with instructions for making the pen only with a clip. Turning to include the clip is problematical and I chose to not use it.
Chakte kok Tree - Boards, logs and artistic creations
COMING EVENTS Meetings are first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. Open house Coffee and Chips - is the second Saturday of the month from 8 am to 12 pm Meeting Dates and Demonstrations January 3 - Bob Eberhardt - Sharpening February 7 - Ron Bartz - Handles March 7 - Tom Leonard - Closed End Pen Turning April 4 - John Layde - Basket Illusion May 2 - Barry Grill - Bowl Fluteless Gauge Open House-Coffee and Chips Dates January 13 February 10 March 10 April 14 May 12 Meetings and Coffee and Chips are held in the Eau Claire Insulation building at 1125 Starr Ave on the northeast side of Eau Claire, Wi. Newsletter Changes This issue will be number 36 for this newsletter editor and I am contemplating some changes in format. The newsletter in appearance is more suited to print style rather than on-line style. I have also considered giving the newsletter a name. As it stands now, it is the Chippewa Valley Woodturners Guild Newsletter. I did a survey of 18 woodturning groups to ascertain how many had names for their newsletters. Surprisingly only 4 of the 18 or 22% had a name referring to some aspect of woodturning. The four were: The Bayou Skew; As the Wood Turns; Gulf Coast Woodturner; and WAWA Turnings. Another surprise was that 33% had no newsletter at all. I couldn t ascertain what our neighbor Minnesota had. I know there was one. The Minnesota Woodturners web site has now blocked out non members on viewing anything but meeting and membership information and some gallery pictures. What s with that Minnesota? It was only one of two sites that I encountered that did this. The other 45% had newsletters but with no specific names. Does anyone have any suggestions for a name? If so send your suggestions to tl9597@charter.net.
Board of Directors for 2018 President Vice President Treasurer/ Membership Secretary Duane Walker 1-715-577-2248 elk.stir@gmail.com John Layde 715-834-9371 ouzo@charter.net Randy Patzke 1-651-845-6185 arpatzke@hotmail.com John DeRyckere 715.838.9480 jderyk@gmail.com Program Director Mark Palma 1-612.991.7733 marksworkshop@gmail.com At Large Director Joe Nycz 1-715-937-2803 nyczjoseph@live.com Non Board Positions Librarian Dennis Ciesielski 715.233.0236 daciesie@gmail.com Newsletter Editor Tom Leonard 715.831.9597 tl9597@charter.net Web Master Jerry Engedal 712.834.1022 joanandjerrye@gmail.com