Splinters June 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 06

Greetings

I don’t know what else the world can throw at us before we can return to “normal.” I really hope we can get back together in July. But unless we get a temporary meeting place, that depends on when UTSI opens up to outside meetings. Whenever we meet again, we urge you all to evaluate your own risk tolerance. Wear a mask if that makes you feel safer. If you’re really concerned or you have underlying health conditions, you might want to stay home a while longer. Personally, I’m ready to meet again. But that’s just my opinion.

Looking Back

• Splinters Newsletter – I hope you’ve enjoyed the newsletter while we’ve been quarantined. I’ve tried to put a little more meat in the pot and maybe a little extra dessert. I also hope you’ve taken advantage of the club videos we’ve posted on YouTube. A lot of good memories there. We have been very fortunate to have talented people in the club to present (and create) these very informative programs.

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid 19/and Riots” Show & Tell! Don’t miss it!!
• Annual Picnic – The picnic will be rescheduled to sometime in the fall.

Long Time Member Passes

We were saddened to hear of Sharron Wright’s passing. She was a lady of many interests and a joy to be around. My favorite Sharron story is from a club picnic several years ago. Her late husband Newt (who had recently retired) and I had gone to check out the desserts. Sharron asked my wife if I was intending to retire. She strongly urged against it. Sharron said “You get twice as much husband and half as much pay!”

TVW YouTube Channel

Another video has been added to our YouTube channel. This time I chose Tom Cowan demonstrating hand cut half-blind dovetails.
https://youtu.be/78IB7KQe51c

June Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” The pictures can be seen on the website Gallery and links are in the online newsletter.

Chuck Taylor completed two small memory boxes for graduation gifts. Figured maple with cherry tops and satin lacquer finish.

Denis Urbanczik sent pics of a few of the latest projects he’s been working on – a cane bench (Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), small computer desk on wheels (Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and a sculpture stand (Pic 1, 2, 3).

Gary Runyan – Gary sent me pictures over two months ago of some of the things he’s been working on. After losing the pics a couple times, I finally got them in the newsletter– a blending board (Pic 1, 2), tansu storage boxes, and threaded needle boxes.

Little Free Libraries – Several months ago, the club’s Executive Committee agreed to help the Franklin County Library by constructing Little Free Library boxes. We allocated $200 to buy materials. Vince Zaccardi, Paul Jalbert and Richard Gulley met with the library folk and developed a plan. We met at Richard’s shop to cut out all the parts and develop jigs and assembly procedures. Then came Covid 19. The project was put on hold so the boxes could be delivered shortly after assembly. A couple weeks ago Vince, Paul, Richard, Larry Wendland, Jim Jolliffe, and Henry Davis met at Henry’s shop to assemble the boxes. A couple days later they were delivered to the FC Library. A total of 17 boxes were delivered plus the early prototype that went to Paul’s neighborhood. Thanks to generous gifts by the Friends of the Library and Huntland Interact Club, our club’s cost was less than $200. LFL 1, 2

Loyd Ackerman says “I’m mostly learning CNC skills this month. I carved a carousel horse for the top of a box for my great granddaughter’s birthday. Pirating Richard’s idea of making key tags using raised letters in V-carve on CNC.  Harder than I thought.  Cleaning up V-carve letters takes longer than the CNC runs.  Names on one side and initials on the other. I decided to try V-carve on Corian and had better success.  No fuzz to clean up so it went faster than its wood cousins.”

Richard Gulley – I’m almost finished with an 84” X 76” wide sliding barn style door for the Cowan Church of the Nazarene (Pic 1, 2, 3). I’ve also been working on a new (to me) CNC. It’s a DIY machine that needed a little tender loving care. It has a 5’ X 5’ bed and is built really heavy duty. Right now I’m replacing the rack and pinion Z axis with a ball screw unit. I still have to tune the Z axis motor and replacing the bed with added T tracks.

Internet Links of Interest

I think I mentioned last month that a club member had been getting my sawdust to compost. I did a little searching and found this link –
https://www.wwgoa.com/article/7-ways-upcycle-sawdust/#
What do y’all do with your sawdust? Let me know and I’ll report back next month.

Carver’s Corner

Jim tells me the carvers are going to resume their carving sessions. There are usually less than 10 attending and as weather improves, they plan to move outside.

The carver’s meet first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 am to 10:30 am.  The shop is located at 201 Jolliffe Acres Ln, Tullahoma. Tools and wood are available at the meetings, just bring yourself and try your hand at carving!

Sweeping Up

I saw these funnies on Pinterest and thought you might enjoy them –

That’s all for this month. Watch out for SPLINTERS!

Submissions to the newsletter are more than welcomed. Send funnies, tips, or other content that may be of interest and you may see it in a future edition of SPLINTERS.

Newsletter Information

Splinters is a publication of the Tennessee Valley Woodworkers. For submissions, email editor, Richard Gulley (rgulley@utsi.edu .)

Membership Information

If you change your phone number, email address, etc.; please notify Chuck Taylor, membership chairman (931-728-7086 or taylor_cw@charter.net. This will allow the membership listing on the web site to reflect current and up-to-date information of all our club members.