Newsletter Editor: Keith Zimmerman   Website: CentralIllinoisWoodturners.com   March 2008   Volume 11, number 3

The March meeting of opened at 6:30 PM on March 10th, 2008, at Millworks in Bloomington. There 28 members and 6 visitors and guests present. We bid welcome to our newest members, Ronald Hardy and Ronald Pierce. We also welcome our visitors and guests and hope you enjoyed yourselves.

After a lengthy discussion and two motions, the club voted to purchase a new Jet 1642 lathe for use of the club. The new lathe will be purchased and stored at Woodcraft in Peoria and will be available for use at any club function. A mobile stand for the lathe will be purchased from Millsowrks in Bloomington.

Our barrel of Anchor seal (for sealing fresh cut wood) is down to 6 gallons. Terry checked with Roger Buss to order through Woodcraft and found the price to be about the same. If Terry orders it directly from the supplier, the shippers will load it into Terry's truck, which is easier for Terry. The club approved purchasing another barrel. Terry then announced he needs about 60 heavy gallon jugs so that he can empty the barrel and store the sealer out of the way. Types of jugs needed are orange juice, anti-freeze, etc. Milk jugs won't work well because they are too thin walled. Bring them to any meeting and give to Terry.

There were several left over lathe items from the Millwork's show February 22 & 23 Jerry Rhoads has them.

We need a volunteer to act as coordinator for the Top-o-thon in December. If you can help out, please let Jerry know.

Keith Zimmerman is asking for articles and photo contributors to the newsletter.

Billy Smith brought a turning safety shield. Easy to make and a "must have" at shows and demos to help prevent observer injuries, especially the young people right at eve level.

The Grundy Woodworkers Club is sponsoring a Dick Sing Woodturning seminar, to be held on April 20th, 10 am to 4 pm, at Prairie Millworks Shop, 3385 N Rte 47, Morris, IL. The price will be $30 per person, including lunch. The topics to be covered will be Spindle turning in the morning, and Advanced techniques in the afternoon. For further information, contact Terry Steinbach by email or call him at 815-942-8250.

The club will be donating one gallon of AnchorSeal to the 2008 Midwest Pen Turning Gathering on March 29. (see details of the event below)

     

2008 AAW Symposium will be in Richmond, VA, from June 20-22. The AAW website for further information is www.woodturner.org

The Spring edition of "American Woodturner" magazine, page 5, right sidebar, middle item, announced that our club qualifies as a "Star" club. In recognition, the club will be presented with a plaque at the national symposium in Richmond and will recieve a turning DVD set. Keith Zimmerman will represent our club at the National symposium and will accept the plaque. Other members that may be present are welcome to accompany Keith to accept the plaque.

This year's AAW Newsletter and Website contests have been announced. Keith Zimmerman will be entering our club in both contests. For the website contest, Dave Kraft and Dave Brown have volunteered to act as reviewer volunteers, who will evaluate the websites of up to ten other Chapter entries. Keith will be mailing in three volumes on the club's newsletter for judging. If judged a winner in either contest, there will be a plaque awarded at the national symposium.

The annual AAW Chapter Collaborative Challenge has also been announced. Several members have expressed a desire to enter the competition this year. Jerry Rhoads is coordinating the effort. After some discussion, it was decided that we would enter the fantasy category and our entry will be an old deteriating log with turned mushrooms from club members and a carved fairy, elf, or gnome, something that harkens to the fairy tales we all grew up with. We need someone to volunteer to carve the figure for the piece.

We decided that our mushrooms should be no larger than 4", not including a tenon up to 1" in length. The tenon should also be less than 1/2" in diameter. In order to get everything prepared for the symposium, we need all items turned in at the June 9th meeting. Keith Zimmerman and Roger Alexander will be delivering our piece to the national symposium in June. More information about the Challenge can be found here.

Jim Meizelis reviewed the AAW liability insurance policy. He compared the AAW coverage as being is similar to automobile liability coverage in that the AAW insurance covers the other guy while at an official, sanctioned club event. (For example, club demonstration, show, mentoring.) Jim emphasied that there needs to be a "paper trail" that the club is aware of the activity either in the club minutes or on the club website.

     

March 15 - Linconland Woodturners Club is having a Shitake Mushroom Workshop at Camp Cilca just north of Springfield. Reservations are required. Cost of the workshop is $20.00 and includes: the instruction, one mushroom log and a sack lunch. Additional logs may be available at $20.00 each. You may pre-register by calling either Dan Schmoker at 217-529-0061 or John Anderson at 217-546-6740, or you may register at camp Cilca between 8:30 and 9:00AM on the day of the workshop.

March 29 - 2008 Midwest Penturning Gathering
Greg Cozad stopped in to discuss this event. This will be the second year for this gathering. Last year was a great time. There were around 50+ people from 6 states that attended. There will be demos, show and tell, pen blanks for swap and sale, and door prizes. The show is "free" but the group is asking participants to bring pen blanks as admission. This year's MPG will be on March 29th, from 9 am - 5 pm. The location will be at the Carpenter's Hall, 402 S Duncan, Champaign, IL (Just south of the corner of Duncan and Springfield (Rt. 10).) The website is: http://s3.excoboard.com/exco/forum.php?forumid=16068

April 5 - John Katzke of the Illinois Walnut Council is having a mushroom innoculation clinic at Wildlife Prairie Park. the cost is $20.00 for the class and first log and $15.00 each additional log. Pre-registration is required for the event.

July 6 - "Art in the Park" weekend at Wildlife Prairie Park. Roger Buss from Woodcraft would like our club to be represented at the booth to demonstrate. We can also sell our work at the event.

July 25, 26, 27, 2008 - Chicago Woodturners is sponsoring a symposium at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL 60060, North Chicago Suburbs. The website is: http://www.chicagowoodturners.com/. A link to the flyer with more details is: http://www.chicagowoodturners.com/symposium/flyer.pdf

Baby Fold (Normal) - John Katzke reports that the Baby Fold in Normal is asking for donations of ornaments for Christmas trees the organization sells to raise money. Each tree is "pre-decorated" then raffled off. Please keep the Christmas spirit alive all year by making two or three ornaments that are 2" -5" tall and weigh under 4 oz. Bring them to the Peoria Woodcraft store and they will be on display throughout the year.

Details of the requested ornaments are as follows:
• Each ornament tagged w/ makers name, wood types used, and value.
• Have them marked " Baby Fold/John Katzke"
• Deliver after March 15, so John has time to set up display area.
• Price them appropriately so that the Baby Fold has an idea of their value

     

This month's tool raffles were won by, Greg Dzurisin, Bill Paullo, Hod Bailey, and Billy Smith. Dave Kraft and Keith Zimmerman were this month's President's Challenge raffle winners. The winners of the Show-n-tell raffle were Jim Meizelis and Bill Patton.

This month we had the following items shown in the Show-n-tell. This month's challenge was to turn a vase and flowers from wood. Dave Kraft showed us a lock box he built for the club lathe and his vase and flowers. Keith Zimmerman showed his vase and flowers. Jim Meizelis showed his vase and flowers, a platter, and then showed and discussed his first attempt at insetting a dowel into the walls of a blank. Dwight Crane showed some pieces he made that were influenced by the "Basic Black" article in "American Woodturner". He also showed us an egg-shaped piece he is working on made from mable burl inset into colored epoxy. Bill Patton showed us a wonderful flower shaped vessel that rocked on it's side. Dick Coers had some ornaments decorated on his rose machine, some beautiful pens, and his vase and flowers. Keith Adams graced us with several wonderful pieces, including his vase and flowers, a stained walnut vessel, and a tall plywood vase. Bob Adam showed up his vase and flowers and a beautiful little finial box. Last but not least, Joe Landon showed us the third and fourth bowls he has ever done. He is well on his way. Click here to see photos of our members showing and discussing their pieces.

Keith Zimmerman demonstrated steps in turning small hollow forms. Keith had a great handout for future reference. See the CIW website for a copy. Click here to go to the handout for Keith's demo.