March 11, 2017

March 11, 2017 LIWA Meeting Notes:

Les’ Business Remarks:

Ted Sokkolowski – not available for demos due to craft show schedule and DVD productions.

He will let us know when he can resume demonstrations.

The AA W is offering a 50% dues reduction from April through June 30, 2017 for the first year of a new membership. All members not belonging to the AA W are urged to enroll.

March 15 teach-in at BOCES is all set, barring our upcoming Nor’easter. Participating members should bring along all the tools, equipment etc. that they will need for teaching. Members should include at least six 6” bowl blanks for the students to turn.

Joe Demaio’s Treasurer’s Report – $ 3,205

President Les Hoffman presented an engraved platter to longtime LIWA Member Joel Rakower. This platter, turned and signed by Master Demonstrator Nick Cook, is one small way of thanking Joel for his 20+ years of involvement as the LIWA’s outside guest Demonstrator Program Chairman. In addition to providing transportation, room and board and entertainment to the numerous guest turners and most importantly, Joel selected guest turners that provided diverse, interesting and informative demonstrations.

Les praised Joel for his continuing dedication to the LIWA providing the membership with many of his own demonstrations. Joel also served on clubs for years as a LIWA Board Member and Club Accountant. Joel’s energetic involvement was instrumental in making the club a success over the years. Thank You Joel from the entire membership

Guest Demonstrator – Dennis Fuge

– lived in South Africa, Europe and now resides in Penna

– In “Turning a Platter” don’t be afraid to fail

Dennis uses three primary cuts when he turns a platter:

Bevel Rubbing Cut
Non-Bevel Rubbing Cut (scraping cut)
Shear Scraping Cut – cabinet scraper can also be used to achieve a very smooth finish

Recommends base sizes for bowls to be 35% or less of bowl diameter

Base sizes for platters should be 50-70% of dia.

Plate base sizes should be 80 – 90%

When drying wet turned wood, place piece in a paper bag and then second bag over the first to allow moisture to evaporate from first bag.

Enhancing a turned platter

Ebonizing (rusty nails and white vinegar) left for several days will darken many woods such as oak and cherry.

Applying black gesso to insure a smooth finish when incorporating caring following the gesso application. Ryobi carver is an efficient and reliable tool to use.

Epoxy resin

mixing 2 part epoxy resin (he likes “West” epoxy products for this purpose)

creates a “dam” with masking tape to hold the resin when filling cracks and voids. He then pours the resin from the other side. This may require several pourings to reach the full depth of the void.

Pewter

He melted pewter ingots in a pan and demonstrated filling voids. When applying peter, a dovetail shape should undercut to insure the pewter holds into the wood.

Used powered minerals and metal held by adding thin CA glue in stages until the void was slightly “proud” of the hole.

Demonstrated crushed egg shells set in Titebond Glue (Red bottle) First remove the inner skin from the egg before applying to the wood surface. Pat crushed egg shell pieces lightly with dampened paper towels after the shell set to remove any excess glue. This eggshell application will be slightly proud of the word surface.

Colored joint compound can be also used to augment a ring or other embellishment. Let compound dry for 24 hours. Sand 220 thru 600 grit. Seal wood prior to adding compound to prevent bleeding. Then wax over the compound.

Dennis passed around many platters exemplifying his various techniques shown to the group.