Hi
Hope all well with you and yours, there seems to be a chink of light at the end of the Covid tunnel , but who knows what will happen when they start easing lockdown.
In any event, there will be no physical club meetings for the short to medium term and we have to give some thought as to what the future may look like. It may be that you have been using You Tube to access various turners and you will be aware that the quality of sound/picture / content varies enormously. It seems that some of the regular contribitors are rapidly running out of their pet projects to demonstrate. If you have any sites you want to recommend please let me know and I will share it in the next newsletter.
One I would strongly recommend is Colwin Way at Axminster Tools “SkillCentreAt Home”. Another which has been very highly recommended is Glenn Lucas which is on Zoom, cost about £8 for an evenings session.
This is our newsletter for Club Members and we can all learn from each other, so please can I have thoughts and ideas on what to make and then what you do with it when you have made it!
Are you turning to sell things at Craft Fairs, craft stall at Church Christmas Fair or just for friends and family? Alternatively are you making Objects D’art purely for your own satisfaction and it goes in the cupboard with numerous other masterpieces?
I am reminded of the comment that Mick Hanbury makes “I like what I make and make what I like” Which I think is a good maxim after all we turn for fun even if it is nice to get some reward for our work. The end purpose however does affect how I turn things, if it is for Church/Charity funds then I am probably looking to make something cheap and cheerful, probably with a glossy lacquer finish and the criteria is whether it will it sell and at what (small) price. However if it for critical review, perhaps by other Club members, then how the chucking point is removed and how well is it finished inside are major concerns, knowing that the first thing someone will do is pick it up and turn it over and then stick their fingers inside!
Allan Joicey sent me an article by Simon Keen on “Making a Judgement”which I have attached to this newsletter, does that strike any chords with you?
Alan Hedley has been in touch to offer to loan a Killinger Router Lathe if anyone fancies having a go at making Barley Twists or Flutes , something a bit different. The lathe is 1400 long and will make a baluster or similar 1100 long. Please make a small contribution to club funds in recompense. Interested? Then email through the club website and I will connect you with Alan. His workshop is in Jarrow NE32.
Hopefully you are keeping in touch with other members but as the lockdown continues your Club Officers thought we will try and set up a Zoom meeting which I will ask our Webmaster Carl to Chair. You will get an invite via email to join the Zoom meeting, dont worry if it is a new experience for you, Carl will send some instructions If you dont want to join the meeting then ignore the invite. We thought it worth a try!
I have attached various files such as picture of the router lathe, AWGB newsletter, The article by Simon Keen and neighbouring clubs nesletters
Stay safe, keep turning and look forward to talking to you soon.
Kind Regards
Andrew