September 2006 | |
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NEXT MEETING6p Wed September 20
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum
Demonstration: The meeting has been scheduled so that we can view one of the boat building classes sponsored by the Museum, and also have a private tour of the museum, which will be closed to the general public. |
BOATS FOR KIDS -- NEXT MONTH!
In this undated newspaper clipping from the Guild archives, George Olson shows the patience required to make toy boats for the very young. The caption reads "Ethen Vuskovich, 2, of Hammond, helps direct George Olson of the St. Tammany Woodworker's Guild in the building of his toy boat Saturday." Olson, a long time member of the Guild, is in the midst of a move to Baton Rouge, but we hope he will be able to participate in this year's Show as he has for so many years. |
Highlights of August Meeting
BUSINESS
Joe Perret presided over the meeting held at Harland Johnson's workshop August 29, 2006. Total attendance was 17, including one returning member, Gordon McFarland, and two guests: John Kelly and Perret's son Jon Perret.
Dick Gahn reported on Boat Show preparations -- boxes of boat hull blanks were available in his truck for anyone who had not picked some up; he posted a signup sheet for the Saturday and Sunday boat-building sessions, and for the benefit of new members he explained the process. A checklist of useful items to bring to the show is attached. This list will be repeated next month before the show, so if any members have suggestions for improving it, please contact the secretary.
Wayne Thompson reported that he was unsuccessful in arranging a field trip to a flooring manufacturing plant in Vicksburg, MS. The plant management has changed and is not receptive to the idea.
Perret announced that the Madisonville Maritime Museum Director has agreed to host next month's meeting on Wednesday, September 20th at 6 pm. The day and time were chosen so we can see the current boat building class in action. Twelve boats of widely varying styles are under construction, and we will also be given a private tour of the museum.
Don Saucier gave a woodworking tip on how NOT to preserve a half full container of Gorilla Glue. Following a tip he had read, he stored the glue bottle inverted in a can of water, the theory being that the water would exclude air and keep the glue from drying out. When he revisited the can a week later, he found the "sculpture" shown in the photos on the right.
Saucier also told of the pleasure he gets from beachcombing for interesting samples of driftwood. He showed two paintings (photo below) he had done using pieces of driftwood as the "canvas." He also has used larger pieces as backing and framing for larger paintings.
Dick Gahn (photo, right, with Wayne Thompson) brought the finished mahogany workpiece that he had made at the last meeting to show the quality of the biscuit joints and the true and square nature of the piece, which could be used as a small table top.
Harland Johnson brought a mystery object (photo, right) that he had acquired at an antique shop in Quebec two weeks ago. The object was a replica of an antique baby rattle, and poses an interesting challenge for a woodturner. Two members successfully guessed its identity.
Joe Perret brought a Delta 15" scroll saw that was giving him problems with excessive blade breakage. After showing it in action (photo shows Jerry Markowitz trying it out with Perret watching) and answering questions, Perret concluded that the blade tensioning needed to be increased, and a firmer base was definitely required.
Johnson asked for help with a new 9" bench plane which he could not get to perform properly. McFarland identified the immediate problem -- the blade was in upside down! But even with it in the proper position, it could not be adjusted because the blade seemed to be the wrong size for the adjusting knobs. In the photo on the left, Paul Robin and Johnson watch McFarland adjusting the plane.
Following the meeting several members toured Johnson's bottle collection room which adjoins his workshop.
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Gahn also demonstrated the use of two jigs he had made -- one for cutting out boat hulls, and the other for predrilling the holes for outrigger dowels.
Gordon McFarland (standing, in photo on left), who recently attended the
In lieu of a formal demonstration, members had been asked to bring mystery objects and also problem tools for assistance from the group.
2006 Calendar of Events |
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| DATE | HOST LOCATION | EVENT |
|---|---|---|
| January 31 | Dick Gahn | Regular meeting -- no demo -- discussion of future events |
| February 28 | No meeting | Mardi Gras |
| March 28 | Dick Gahn | Regular meeting - demo by Gahn of wood turning "from the inside out" |
| April 25 | Dick Gahn | Regular meeting - demo of workng with Sitka spruce burl |
| May 6 | Dick Gahn | Annual Cochon de Lait -- family event |
| May 23 | Harland Johnson | Regular meeting - demo by Tony Saragusa of pen turning |
| June 27 | Carroll Miller | Regular meeting - demo by Joe Perret of plywood scarfing |
| July 25 | Dick Gahn | Regular meeting - demo by Dick Gahn of biscuit joining |
| August 29 | Harland Johnson | Regular meeting - group problem solving and stump the experts |
| Wednesday, Sept 20 | Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum (Madisonville) | Combined Meeting and Field Trip -- museum tour and observation of boat-building class |
| October 17 | Gerald Gibson | Regular meeting - demo by Gerald Gibson TBA |
| October 21 and 22 | Madisonville | Wooden Boat Festival (setup 9a-11a Fri October 20) |
| November 28 | Harland Johnson | Regular meeting -- demo TBA; election of officers for 2007 |
| December 2 (tentative) | Tchefuncte Country Club | Christmas Banquet |
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Guild ContactsPresident - Joe Perret - jmp2915@yahoo.comtVice President - Brian Rowan -briangrowan@yahoo.com Secretary - Harland Johnson - harlandj@gmail.com Treasurer - Bob Christman - bobxman@bellsouth.net |