Splinters December 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 12

Greetings

I trust all you elves and Santa’s helpers have been busy in the workshop. I’ve already received several Show & Tell pics that confirms that you have been. I saw Mickey Knowles the other day and he says he has a table full of projects but hasn’t sent them in. I suspect there may be a lot of folk like that too.

Let’s get started with Splinters!

News Regarding Our Club’s Future

Several folk on the Executive Committee will be having a Zoom meeting Tuesday evening to try out the interface. The plan is to hold a club meeting in January via Zoom.

December Show & Tell

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

Peter Hunter -created another nice CNC project. Peter says “This is a 16″ x 1″ tray I made from carbonated bamboo, which I just discovered is a grass, not a wood. My son-in-law just started a little craft brewery, and asked me to make him something to commemorate it. It is finished with Watco Butcher Block oil.

Chuck Taylor – definitely has some elf blood in his veins. This month he’s cranking out cutting boards made from maple, cherry and holly glue-up. Size is 10” wide X 15” long and 1” thick. The finish is Mahoney’s food-safe oil finish. I believe he said he was making about 15.

Gary Walker – sent me pictures of a really nice hutch he made for my family doctor (his wife 😊.) I believe he told me he did the stained-glass work too.

Richard Gulley – Last year I made ornaments with names of Jesus carved into them (cnc.) This year my wife realized we didn’t have a set! So, I made 8 more sets. I painted the text black and sprayed with semi gloss rattle can. Total of about 250 pieces.

I also finally fulfilled a promise to Jack Kincella and carved a “Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane” for his church. Carving time was 2 hours roughing, 9 hours finish cut, plus 2 hours cleanup and sanding.  Jack will do the finishing.

Jack Kincella – sent me this pic of a table we just completed. I helped with the joinery on the base. Jack did the assembly and finishing. The top has a story of its own. A lady commissioned Dean Lutes to construct a large live edge table and gave him the dimensions. When she saw the top, she didn’t think it was long enough. Dean made her a bigger top and this one languished in his shop for a long time. Jack seems to have a gift for hooking up one man’s excess with another man’s need. Now Jack’s friends, Ron and Fran have the table they’ve been wanting for a long time.

Jim Jolliffe – has been busy as well.

(Picture)
– Two cottonwood bark houses finished with satin lacquer
– Two cottonwood bark Santa’s finished with satin lawyer, acrylic paint and matte spray.
– One cottonwood bark elf and holly finished with satin lawyer, acrylic paint and matte spray.
– One basswood Santa finished with acrylic paint and then dipped in boiled linseed oil.

Seven Nativities were made from persimmon wood. The nativity scene and star were scroll sawn from the “thin” (3/8”) blank and the “thick” (5/8”) back blank was used as the base.  The star was chip carved to provide depth. Each set of three pieces will be finished by the client and then glued together to be used as a mantle or shelf mount in the client’s extended family households.

Jim’s last project is a carved pumpkin that missed the November newsletter.  I showed the picture to a lot of folk but somehow omitted it from the November newsletter.

Judy Bennett – sent me several pictures of her intarsia work. I love these. She makes great use of the wood’s color, grain and thickness to create very realistic scenes. (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5)

 Loyd Ackerman – says “I didn’t get a lot done in the shop this month.  I was able to finish the clock I started last month.  The piece uses a 3” movement with old fashioned face which appeals to me for some reason.  My original idea was to use a glaze over the lacquer finish but when the finish was done – a coat of sanding sealer plus 3 coats of satin lacquer – the color was sufficient so I didn’t glaze it. 

The face of the clock box is carved with a ring around the clock just using wingding fonts inside two rings.  The 3d carving at the bottom of the face board and in the crown are just clip-art from Vectric’s gallery.  All, of course, done on the CNC machine. 

The cherry applied half columns on the front of the side members are a split turning.  The finials, also cherry, are just a simple turning.

The back of the clock case is plywood.  Two brads embedded at the top of the insert hold the back in and the decorative brass machine screw at the bottom is threaded into the bottom member of the clock case.”

Tom Gillard – Tom relates another hike in the woods –

On the second weekend of November, Paul and I, along with 3 other friends, went on another backpacking adventure, this time to the South Cumberland Recreation Area in Beersheba Spring.  The weather was forecast to be wonderful for the majority of the weekend.   We had two main goals for this weekend:  1: have a good time with friends in the outdoors and 2: Take a side hike in search of the virgin forest that many years ago we had heard existed within the park. These trees are around 400 years old according to the Park service.  

We hiked into the area on a Friday and spent the night amongst the owls, coyotes and the possibility of a bear in the area.  We didn’t see or hear the bear. 

On Saturday morning we packed our day bags and set off up an unmarked and off trail portion of the park.  Once we left the trace of an old logging road the going got VERY rough.  We were walking on a boulder field which was covered with leaves, moss and ferns.  Needless to say, we had to really watch our step or we would go up to our knee between rocks.  We finally got into the area where the trees were located.  In our head we were expecting something like the Redwood forest, but these trees were spread out.  There wasn’t a lot of undergrowth, so the canopy must be pretty dense.  The trees listed in the chart below were the largest ones we saw. 

We didn’t start measuring the height until later, but they were significant. We ate lunch on the edge of the creek that flows through the area before dropping under the rock bed and disappearing.  We spent about 7 hours hiking into the gorge and back to camp that day. 

We spent Saturday night listening to the coyotes again.  On Sunday we got packed up to leave just as the light rain started to fall.  Three hours later as we got to the top of the Great Stone Door the rain stopped.  We changed into dry clothes for the ride back to town.

It was a great weekend and we did get to see some large trees.

Some of the trees we saw:
 Red Oak  13 ft circum  49.7″ dia
Poplar     11’5″ circum  43.6 ” dia
Hemlock  11’2″ circum  42.7″ dia
Shagbark Hickory  8’0.5″ circum  30.7″ dia  9 Toms tall
Poplar  9’7″ circum  36.6″ dia    16 Pauls tall
Poplar  11’7″  circum  44.2″ dia  12 Toms tall

Conversion factors for tree height-
1 Tom = 6.0 ft    1 Paul = 0.9165 Tom

Internet Links of Interest

Several sent me some interesting links:

Larry Bowers – Sent me an email with several pictures of how some folk stack their firewood. They have too much free time on their hands!

Pete Miller – sent me an email regarding the Washington monument. This is not the exact article he sent me, but very similar. We need to be mindful that the constitution does not speak regarding separation of church and state. Rather, it intended to protect our religious liberty from the government. (Not the government from the church.) That aside, the history of the construction of the Washington monument is interesting and worth the read.

I saw an article on organizing your shop at Wood magazine.

TVW YouTube Channel

I have another sad story about this month’s video. Loyd Ackerman was kind enough to deliver a video to me so I could post it this month. I copied it to my computer and gave him back his usb drive. Now I can’t find the file – sigh. I’ll get it straightened out and posted.

Carver’s Corner

The Splinter Carvers continue to meet first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 am to 10:30 am (whether Jim’s there or not).  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

This month I have one for the men –

And one for the ladies –

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.

Splinters November 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 11

Greetings

In our Sweeping Up section, I’ve used lots of jokes about getting older. Since there are so many seniors in our group, I guess I’m picking low hanging fruit. But really, “old” is relative. I was talking to a lady in our church a couple weeks back. She’s 93 now and was telling me about how great it was when she was 65 and pushed mowed her own lawn. She still calls me one of the “young folk.”

When my father-in-law turned 80 he came over to the house and and told us of a sad discovery he had made – he was old. He didn’t know when he got old, but when he looked in the mirror that morning there was no denying it – he was old. He still felt young, but that guy in the mirror was old. I think he went down faster after that.

I still lead singing at church occasionally and sometimes we sing “Never Grow Old.” As I look out over the folk singing it’s easy to see that the words don’t mean much to the 30 and younger crowd. The 40s and 50s don’t really get it either. But as I watch the 60 and up crowd, there’s definitely a connection with “In a land where we’ll never grow old.”

I really don’t know what got me thinking along this line. Maybe because my back’s acting up a lot and arthritis has set up camp in both hands. But I guess there’s not much you can do to change the inevitable. You either get old or die young. So, if you’re getting into the Golden years and you still feel pretty good, I’d suggest you avoid mirrors. After all, what you don’t know won’t hurt you.

Let’s get started with Splinters!

From our Treasurer

The November Wood Club monthly meeting is when we normally start collecting membership dues for the coming year. This is one of the perks of being treasurer because I get to socialize with each of the Wood Club members for at least a few minutes.  I will confess to reviewing the photos on the membership roster before this meeting to better match a name and a face. Unfortunately, our next Wood Club meeting is likely still months away. You may recall that we decided earlier this year to apply any dues paid in 2020 to 2021 as well. So please do not worry about being delinquent. We will start collecting dues at our next Wood Club meeting.

News Regarding Our Club’s Future

The Executive Committee will be meeting soon (virtually or in person) to discuss when, where, and how the club can start meeting again. Currently we are looking at January to try and meet via Zoom (online) or maybe a limited number of attendees determined by the meeting location. Or maybe a combination of the two methods. Stay tuned for further announcements.

November Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” I never cease to be amazed at the quality of work our folk turn out. The pictures can be seen on the website Gallery and links are in the online newsletter.

Loyd Ackerman – Loyd send in 3 projects:

Work in progress:  The base material is maple and the trim is cherry.  The trim is a split spindle to dress the uprights, the finials, and the insert.  The finish will be lacquer with glazing to achieve the antique look. 

Segmented Vessel: I knew there was a reason for most of my segmented vessels being a closed form design.  An open mouth design like this means you have to finish both inside and out.  Outside is easy.  Inside, not so easy.

A walnut tray with compound angles to tilt the sides.  14 X 10 X 2

Chuck Taylor – finished 35 Tangram puzzle games for children’s gifts. Ambrosia maple with satin lacquer finish and 2 small magnets installed to hold top lid in place.

Richard Gulley – presented a plaque to his new pastor for pastor appreciation day.

Vince Zacardi and Richard Gulley – have been assisting the Winchester American Legion Post 44 with their Cross and Flag Memorial project. We helped make the crosses that are on display now in the Winchester area. So far we’ve made a few less than 200, but hope to have 500 by next Memorial Day. Post 44 also sent the club a nice certificate for the work we’ve done.

Jack Kincella – doesn’t have a Show & Tell, just a Tell. Jack has convinced the Hoover Paint Store to give TVW members a 10% discount. They have 8 locations in the middle Tennessee area.

Paul Jalbert sent me a report of some of the things he’s been up to during Covid. He says, “I have processed one new member in and memorialized two deceased members out with Wood Club contributions. Also, I was asked by Horse Play in September to participate with them in a Channel 6 (Tullahoma) coverage of the recent improvements to the Horse Play facility. I promoted the Wood Club because that was the mechanism by which all of my bench and sign work there was made feasible. I have worked on several projects with other Wood Club members when asked to help.”

He’s currently working with his son to restore a 1915 Crescent 12-in jointer that he found on Craig’s list.

Internet Links of Interest

8 Ways to Make End-to-End Joints – From Wood magazine.

You’ll find more interesting links and tips at the end of this article.

TVW YouTube Channel

In a video from 2009, Doyle McConnell demonstrates how he created his “Fibonacci” sculpture. Starting with a closed vessel made with layers of Baltic birch plywood, he cuts the bowl into thin, curved cross sections. Those sections are then shifted and glued back together to create a unique form.

https://youtu.be/vCMtxBL5vkI

Carver’s Corner

The Splinter Carvers continue to meet first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 am to 10:30 am (whether Jim’s there or not).  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

Thanks to Tom Gillard for this first one. The second was found on Pinterest. Watch out for Splinters!

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.

Splinters October 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 10

Greetings

The “norm” for the monthly Greeting is usually light hearted. However, in keeping with the “norm” for 2020 (there is no norm,) I’d like to go in a different direction.

I’d like to ponder on how quickly the abnormal can become normal, and what we can do to prevent that from happening.

We haven’t had a club meeting in about 8 months. During that same time, folk have been quarantined in their homes, prevented from going to work/church (but not Walmart.) We been advised to wear masks and stay 3’, then 6’, now as much as 12’ apart. I’m not going to speak on whether any of that (other than church attendance) is right or wrong. A lot of that depends on who you are and where you are. But I would like to offer some suggestions for abating the isolation that is being foisted on us.

Take whatever opportunity you might have to work together in small groups. Jack Kincella and I have worked together on a couple projects. I know that Vince Zacardi, Paul Jalbert, Henry Davis, Jim Jolliffe, Dean Lutes, Matt Brothers, Bill Ward and probably many others have worked together in different combinations on several different projects. The carvers are meeting twice a month at Jim’s shop. So, reach out to your fellow woodworkers. If you know of any that are still quarantined, send them an email or give them a call.

When you get out into the public, be kind to people. Cashiers, waiters, and waitresses are having an especially hard time as tempers grow short. Use the powerful words “Thank you” a lot and smile (or draw a smile on your mask 😊.) 

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid19/Riots/Supreme Court Appt/Election” Show & Tell! We will meet again. Don’t lose hope.
• Summer/Fall Events – Cancelled

From our Treasurer

Due to the cancellation of so many Wood Club meetings and activities in 2020, the Wood Club Executive Committee has decided that dues paid for the year 2020 will also cover the year 2021. New members are still welcome to join ($10 individual and $15 family). Also, there is no rush to pay dues. This can wait until the next monthly Wood Club meeting.

October Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” I never cease to be amazed at the quality of work our folk turn out. 

Chuck Taylor – finished 2 sets of “handmade” ABC blocks, 48 blocks and 96 letter/numbers in each set. Blocks are Bradford pear and have light coat of sanding sealer. Boxes are maple and finished with satin lacquer.

Clay Cooper – submitted pictures of a Poplar Slab and the buffet it turned into.  

David Duesterhaus – made a bookcase from a Woodsmith plan using cherry plywood and cherry wood and finished with tung oil.
Thanks to Vince Zaccardi and Paul Jalbert for getting him the last few pieces of cherry when he ran a few pieces short.

Jack Kincella – Jack and Richard Gulley built a large white oak dining table (9.5’ long X 45” wide) with a live edge (some real, some simulated.) The wood came from Dean Lutes and most of the sub-assembly was done at Dean’s shop. Assembly was done at Jack’s shop and, of course, Jack did the finishing. The customer was very pleased with the finished product.

Jim Jolliffe – “Scottish Bark House with Tree and Thistle” – Planned for the “Piping On The Green” celebration held annually at The Celtic Cup Coffee House the first weekend in April.  Sprayed with 2 coats of satin lacquer and highlight painted with acrylic wash.  Final spray with matte lacquer. ( Pic 1, 2, 3, 4)

Loyd Ackerman – The end table project for my granddaughter is a mix of woods that I had on-hand.  The top, shelf, and aprons are of mahogany but the legs are a mix.  Having only enough walnut for two, the other two were made from poplar and stained with aniline dye to match the color of the walnut legs.  The legs were carved on the CNC with a vine model.
– The next project is a beanbag toss game for my grandchildren.  It’s assembled from dimensioned lumber from Lowes and has several coats of sealer and paint.  All holes were filled with wood putty sealed with shellac and sanded.  Three coat of water base enamel finish.
– My step-son had low coffee table and asked me if I could make longer legs for it.  Just a rough work table so this is how it turned out.
– Continuing my Huntsville Country Club logo theme evolved into a set of coasters for my son who is their chef.  The project required carving part of the job and then removing the workpiece painting steps and returning it to the CNC to finish the carving.  The trick was re-aligning it perfectly between mountings.

Noel Johnson – Noel says “It has been a while since I’ve been able to attend meetings and then COVID, but I’m still turning! Here are a couple from last week; lidded butternut and a piece of Osage Orange from the wood pile. Best wishes to all.”

Richard Gulley – I carved a cross, using the CNC, into a crematory urn box for the husband of one of our members, Teri Smith. I counted it an honor

Sam Clark – Sam says “I ordered some pen kits last week and I thought I would try something new.   My 1st serria pen using Olive wood burl. I’ve been been saving this wood for years.  Time to use it…I’m not getting any younger. 😃

Pete Miller – Here are 4 cutting boards in the shape of Tennessee. The wood is Ambrosia Maple and the finish is mineral oil.
The wood was on sale at Woodcraft and the temptation was to great so I got 1 6’board that was 6” wide and 1/2 board that was about 10” wide. They had a cheese cutter in the shape of TN so I traced it for my pattern. I think they look pretty good.

Peter Hunter – Peter sent in a couple picture of a Thanksgiving tray he carved on his CNC. I like it!

Tony Murphy – A pair of Craftsman-style sideboards made from white oak and poplar, finished with stains and Tried and True varnish. Dovetails are hand-cut, joints are drawbored.

An Unusual Tree

Tom Gillard sent me this info. See the pictures in the online newsletter.
During the days of October 2 – 6, Paul Jalbert, Mike Glennon, John Petty, and myself were backpacking in The Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Northern Middle TN. (near Jamestown).  On this trip we were hiking in a dense second growth forest of many varieties of trees.  The one that stood out was the Bigleaf Magnolia (M. macrophylla).  We saw many small examples but were amazed at the size of a few others.  Many of the larger examples sprouted from a single root system with many trunks.  They were 9” in diameter and about 15-20’ tall.  This is within the cover of the deep forest amongst the large Oak trees without much sunlight, so this is pretty good. The leaves of these trees are huge.  When the leaves fall in the Fall the white undersides make the ground look like a major catastrophe has occurred at their base. 

Internet Links of Interest

Pete Miller sent me this link to a glossary of woodworking terms.  https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/woodworking-glossary/

Several wax recipes can be found at the top of this lumberjock thread – https://www.lumberjocks.com/alba/blog/18172#comment-781470

5 Need to Know Nailer Tips
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tools/power/pneumatic-nailing?did=570727-20201015&utm_campaign=wood-online_newsletter&utm_source=woodmagazine.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=101520&cid=570727&mid=42773514534

TVW YouTube Channel

Well, I redid my computer desk setup and now I can’t find my backups of the TVW video files. As soon as I locate them, I’ll post a new old video.

Carver’s Corner

The Splinter Carvers continue to meet first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 am to 10:30 am (whether Jim’s there or not).  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!

Jim reports that he and Steve Shores visited the Leiper’s Fork Carving Club during an outdoor and socially distanced sale of Ol Don Burgdorf’s carving books, videos, hand carving, power carving and wood stock over the past several weeks.

Sweeping Up

This month I have a couple signs for you –

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.

Splinters September 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 09

Greetings

This may be as late as I’ve ever started on a newsletter. The third Tuesday came quick this month, but I won’t use that for an excuse. More of a case of “Can’t Want To”. We’ll blame it on Covid19. Lately everybody else seems to be whipping that horse.

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid19/and Riots” Show & Tell! We will meet again. Don’t lose hope.
• Summer/Fall Events – will be rescheduled in the fall.

Noteworthy

It is with sadness that we inform you of the death of Bob Leonard, one of our long-time TVW members.
Bob will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.

From our Treasurer

Due to the cancellation of so many Wood Club meetings and activities in 2020, the Wood Club Executive Committee has decided that dues paid for the year 2020 will also cover the year 2021. New members are still welcome to join ($10 individual and $15 family). Also, there is no rush to pay dues. This can wait until the next monthly Wood Club meeting.

September 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.

Gary Runyon – a few projects I’ve finished lately:

-Threaded Acorn boxes in Cherry and dogwood (pic1, pic2)
–CD Storage boxes for the shop, ambrosia maple, finger jointed
-Tape looms and accessories for weaving tape in cherry

Gary Bennett – Salt & pepper grinders: Cherry using tung oil.
Kitchen bowl/basket: Walnut, maple open segments, using Deft spray lacquer. 
Steady rest: Oak, scrap plywood, bolts and inline skate wheels, brushed on polyurethane.

Logan Hickerson – Recently finished a wine bottle coaster of cherry wood with beeswax finish. There is a cork liner. The carved images are of scarlet oak leaves.

Loyd Ackerman – The end table (24 X 16 X 20) is a work in progress. The top, a shelf [not shown in picture], and aprons are mahogany.
Two of the legs are walnut. The other two are poplar dyed with dark walnut aniline dye. I settled for poplar since I didn’t have enough walnut. I plan to use Watco dark walnut wiping varnish to continue the color match. After several days, when the Watco is dry, I’ll use lacquer satin for the final finish.
Logo of the Huntsville Country Club – 11 X 11 X 0.5
CNC carved through black lacquer.
Coasters with same logo 3/8″ X 3 1/2″ 4 copies
A second iteration of the coasters will be carved through the black lacquer layer – if my new program works

Sam Clark – some bird houses Sam’s been working on recently.   He dyed the tops to match the birds.
Also, I’ve been making some corn hole games for family and friends. (pic1, pic2)

Internet Links of Interest

How do you sign your projects? Here’s some ideas from Wood Magazine.

Pete Miller sent this link for 5 methods of transferring images onto wood.  Pretty easy.
https://youtu.be/xHOWUR8vTvo

Here’s an interesting site for you woodturners –
https://www.aswoodturns.com/

TVW YouTube Channel

In this month’s video, Loyd Ackerman demonstrates his method of bending thin laminations using a vacuum press.

Carver’s Corner

The carvers are meeting again. Jim says , weather permitting, they can support carving both inside and outside.  

The carvers continue to 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!

News from the Leiper’s Fork Carvers –

“Our good friend and Club member Don Burgdorf passed away last spring.  His wife Sandie asked if we could help sort and sell some of his woodcarving tools and accessories accumulated over a lifetime of teaching and woodcarving.  Of course we were happy to assist.  We travelled to their home in Hohenwald and returned with three pickup truck loads of items.

We will be selling this unique collection over 5 Saturdays, beginning Sep 19, outdoors (weather permitting), behind the Leatherwood Studio in Leipers Fork where the Club meets.  The sale schedule is as follows:

Sep 19 – Books and videos
Sep 25 – Hand tools and accessories
Oct 3 – Power tools and accessories
Oct 10 – Wood, roughouts and carvings
Oct 17 – Misc and leftover items”

The Splinters Carvers are planning a convoy to the sale. Contact Jim Jolliffe for more information.

Sweeping Up

 Thanks to Pete Miller for sending enough funnies for a couple months.

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.

Splinters August 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 08

Greetings

This newsletter will probably get to you a little late. Seems like there’s been more life to live than there’s been time to live it in – if that makes sense.

I saw my friend and fellow club member Zeke Davis a couple Sundays ago. He asked about the club. I reported we weren’t meeting but I was publishing the newsletter and posting videos. He said he didn’t use email of have internet. Did I mention that Zeke was one of my smarter friends? Anyhow, I got his address and told him I’d mail him a newsletter this month. If you know anyone else that might need a hard copy mailed to them, let me know.

Noteworthy

Mrs. Julia Vinson Roan, 79, passed away unexpectedly Saturday August 8, 2020 at the Unity Medical Center in Manchester. She was the wife of Collins Roan, former club member, who also passed a short time back.

 Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid19/and Riots” Show & Tell! We will meet again. Don’t lose hope.
• Summer/Fall Events – will be rescheduled in the fall.

TVW YouTube Channel

In this month’s video, Henry Davis is given a tour of Gary Runyon’s shop. Gary is our current vice-president and is an accomplished woodworker and metalworker.

https://youtu.be/XF19Vjm76bY

August Show & Tell

Jim Jolliffe carved a cottonwood bark house for donation to the Breaking Parkinson’s Golf Tournament and silent auction.  It was finished with Satin Deft spray. (Pic1, Pic2, Pic3)

Loyd Ackerman – sent in a picture of the completed Butler Tray from last month with hinges installed. Loyd says he’s not terribly pleased with the wood figure but that’s what he had. Finish is satin lacquer.

The table is for the couch. The bottom plate slides under the couch and the top then provides a place for your drinks and snacks cantilevered over the couch. Tabletop is 12 x 18 inches. Spacing between bottom plate and apron under the top plate is 23 ½”. The material is cherry. Top joint at the cantilever pivot is glued with epoxy. Finish will be satin lacquer. (Pic1, Pic2)

News from Falls Mill & Museum
John & Janie Lovett sent in this update.

“We are making very good progress on the one-room log schoolhouse we began in January. It is now under roof and John is constructing the front porch. We have most of the furnishings, including a circa 1885 pump organ donated last year and restored by Bryan Thornton of Short Mountain Music Works. The organ was missing the music stand, and we found the image in an old company catalog. John made a full-size drawing and contacted Tom McGill to see if he was interested in making the stand. Tom agreed and got in touch with Darren and Riley Earle (we need an up-to-date picture of Riley.) They supplied the walnut, and Riley traced the image and cut the stand with his scroll saw. Tom completed the project with a sliding shelf that allowed adjustment of the stand. I have attached a photo of the organ and closeup of the stand.”

Internet Links of Interest

Try these shop-tested tips from Wood Magazine for hassle-free tablesaw operation.

Carver’s Corner

The carvers are meeting again. Jim says , weather permitting, they can support carving both inside and outside.  

The carver’s continue to 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

 Thanks to Pete Miller for sending enough funnies for a couple months.

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 .

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.

Splinters July 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 07

Greetings

The Executive Committee would like your opinion on reopening our club meetings. Would you attend an August meeting if it was held? What precautions do you think we should take to assure a safe meeting? Contact Exec Committee members with your input. They will be meeting to formulate a reopening plan. Now let’s get started with this month’s Splinters!

Looking Back

• Nothing to look back to?

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworkers Club meeting. The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid19/and Riots” Show & Tell! Don’t miss it!!
• Summer/Fall Events – will be rescheduled in late summer – early fall.

 TVW YouTube Channel

In this month’s video, Tom Cowan is given a tour of the Marugg Company in Tracy City, TN by owners Andy Weaver and Dean Lutes.
https://youtu.be/MPol0sfsPKM

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 – Chuck made the following items for a benefit auction. They are all made from a 100-year-old oak floor joist from the Ivy Bluff church building when they rebuilt the auditorium in 2018-2019. Finish is satin lacquer.
1. Small mantle clock with walnut base and rim around clock insert
2. Desk clock with walnut rim around clock insert
3. Desk clock
4. Platter
5. Display (Showing one of five signed click pens)

Gary Runyan – Gary’s latest projects are finger jointed storage boxes in cherry, black walnut, and white oak, 9 boxes total. Finished in Minwax Antique Oil.

Loyd Ackerman – A box for Loyd’s granddaughter’s 8th Birthday present. The top has a carousel horse carved with the CNC. The inside flocking is done with green water-based enamel and green flocking fibers. Finish is satin lacquer from rattle can – 4 coats
These two segmented vessels are much smaller than his past versions – about 6” tall.  Loyd says “I wasn’t crazy about how the shape of the first vase, so I reordered the ring order to come up with the shape of the second vase. Each vase has 11 rings with 12 segments. Material is maple and walnut. The finish on both vases is gloss lacquer from rattle cans – four or five coats – polished with Beal system.
Butler Tray in progress – Red maple with brass hinges [when finished]. This is a lesson in how not to approach a new project.  The embedded hinges require a mortise that just fits and I learned that not all end mills – and CNC machines – are all that accurate.  It took some experimentation before finding a setting that worked without gaps. 

James Rice – Martha, Jim’s wife, says “Jim made me an island for our small kitchen.  He made it out of pine to my specifications, as I like the variations in the wood. It has five drawers and he still needs to make the two doors that cover the pull-out shelves. (Pics 1, 2, 3, 4)
He stained with Minwax Golden Oak. He used three coats of Varathane Satin to finish the oak top and sides.
Although the wood was not his first choice, he made it to please me.  You know, happy wife . . . . 

 Richard Gulley – A friend and I, along with the pastor, installed the barn door at the Cowan Church of the Nazarene a couple weeks ago. It was well received.
The DIY CNC is coming along. I installed a sheet of ¾ MDF and inset T tracks. Then I glued ¾ MDF strips between the tracks for a spoil board. I’ll level the bed with a 2” mill, then cut a 2” grid using a 60-degree V bit.

Internet Links of Interest

This month I have three turning links for you and a skill building tip for quick setup finger joints.

Dyed Shavings and Total Boat Resin Vase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ozhDg5Czc

Negative Rake Scrapers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOSUGg_-Tz0

SHEAR SCRAPING by Reed Gray aka Robo Hippy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeOhPqOsORs

Quick setup for table saw finger joints
https://www.woodcademy.com/skillbuilding/2020/7/5/instant-setup-box-joint-jigs

Carver’s Corner

The carvers are meeting again. Jim says, weather permitting, they can support carving both inside and 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

Pinterest is a bottomless well for almost everything – especially humor.

     In honor of Covid19 –                             For  folk that work with pallets

 finally, a July 4th tribute …

That’s all for this month. Watch out for

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 .

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.

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.

Splinters May 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 05

Greetings

I believe folk are starting to wander out more. I was at Home Depot yesterday and it was packed. My wife and I stopped by DQ for lunch and there were two other food trucks set up in the parking lot and doing a fair business. Sadly, another thing I noticed was that folk seemed wary of one another. I saw fewer smiles and acts of kindness, more sideways glances – less eye contact. I pray that’s only temporary.

Looking Back

• Who have you seen? – When meetings were cancelled, I thought I’d see fewer woodworkers. But I’ve had the pleasure of working with Vince Z and Jack K. I saw Joe F – we both cooked a meal for the wives at Raphaels. He had been working on his lathe and needed a set of e-ring pliers to reassemble. He stopped by the next day and borrowed mine. Meg Garrett picked up a truck load of cedar shavings. Teri Smith and her husband stopped by and did a quick shop tour. Finally, I’ve been to Dean Lutes’ shop and helped him clean out his wood scraps. Can’t keep woodworkers down.

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworker’s program! The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid 19” Show & Tell! Don’t miss it!!
• May 16 – The carver’s trip to Franklin has been cancelled. Hopefully, just postponed.
• May 16 – Annual Picnic – This word from John & Janie Lovett at Fall’s Mill:
  “Please let the members know that Falls Mill is open only on Saturdays during May and large groups are still prohibited. Even though we love to have you for the picnic each year, it will have to wait a while. Perhaps in the fall?”

TVW YouTube Channel

Another video has been added to our YouTube channel. This time I chose Jim VanCleave demonstrating string inlay. Jim is greatly missed by those who knew him.

May Corona Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” 

Rowland (Buzz) Bussler – Finished this serving tray just in time for my daughter’s birthday May 2. Walnut, Purple Heart and Wormy Pecan with Yellow Heart accent strips. Used Minwax spray Polyurethane for the finish. Also End Grain Cutting Board. Cherry, Walnut and Maple. 10 X 13 X 1.5 in. Mineral Oil soak and rubbed with Howard’s Butcher Block Conditioner. (Pic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Chuck Taylor photos of a project that I have completed (actually made 2).   Memory boxes (cherry, finished with satin lacquer) (Pics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Dave Duesterhaus Finished my chess board for some oriental pieces I purchased at a Murfreesboro woodworker’s estate sale. The board is made of white oak and mahogany and finished with water-based polyurethane.

Gerry Janesek built two Potty Chairs. – One is Ambrosia Maple (on the right.) The other is Cherry (on the left.) Built them for family members.

John Lovett sent a pic of his latest wood working project. Rebuilding a one room log school house. He is working on the 5th run of logs now. There are 7 layers in total plus the plate logs. Slow work, lots of precision cuts needed for the notches.

Loyd Ackerman sent pics of several new bowls. 
Segmented bowl – Cherry and Maple; 7 rings of 16 segments plus bottom plug and bottom disk — 114 pieces finished with Lacquer and wax
Box Elder Bowl – 9” diameter; finished with Lacquer and wax.
Red Maple Bowl – 11” diameter; finished with Lacquer and wax
Loyd also sent pics last month that I failed to include. Two segmented vessels (1, 2) and a picture of the jig used to create the segments.

Franklyn (Pete) Miller – It’s spring and Pete has turned to gardening. He’s also burning things up lately. (Pics 1, 2) And, evidently, he would rather be fishing than gardening.

Steve Shores – Here is a table (1, 2) I built a couple months ago, it is 4’x8’ cherry top with turned maple legs, no stain just clear finish. The cabinet (1, 2)was made for my daughter’s vinyl machine and heat press, it has two fold-up wings and 2” draws for storage, lacquer finish. Finally, a couple cottonwood bark carvings (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with a lacquer finish

Vince Zaccardi – Pic1 – One of these bowls is maple and the other one is tamarind. They were finished with pre-catalyzed lacquer. Pic2 -This is an oak bowl and it is finished with pre-catalyzed lacquer. Pic3 – These two bowls are dogwood and they were also finished with pre-catalyzed lacquer.

Internet Links of Interest

I hope I’m not repeating some of these links. But if you’re like me, after thirty days everything is new again!

Wood Magazine has some good tips on glue ups.

The Build Something website has a plethora of free woodworking plans .

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!

The field trip to Vic Hood’s Shop has been cancelled. Jim will let us know when it is rescheduled.

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.

Splinters April 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 04

Greetings

I guess it’s true that you don’t really appreciate what you have until it’s gone. I really miss the monthly meetings with fellow woodworkers. I miss talking face to face with friends and shaking hands. I miss going out to eat with the best wife I ever had. Toilet Paper – (no need to say more!)

Actually, most woodworkers will probably agree that “social distancing” hasn’t changed their lives that much. Eat, go to the shop, eat again, go to the shop, etc. Maybe even wear a mask if you’re sanding or spraying. All in all, a great life!

Time to make some sawdust –

Looking Back

• How long – has it been since you’ve been to any kind of meeting? I have at least three monthly meetings, one weekly meeting, plus church three times a week. Cancellation of all those have left a large whole in my life. The one I miss most is church.

Coming Events

• One fine day– we’ll have a Tennessee Valley Woodworker’s program! The program will include a Super “I Survived Covid 19” Show & Tell! Don’t miss it!!
• May 16 – Carver’s trip to Franklin (Plan is to be back before the picnic.) More details below.
• May 16 – Annual Picnic

Membership Dues

Paul Jalbert will let us all know where we stand when we meet again.

TVW YouTube Channel

Two new videos have been added to our YouTube channel. First, Henry Davis tells us how he sharpens and uses hand scrapers.
https://youtu.be/-B26Bg87MW8

In the next video, Tom Cowan interviews Walter Clement at his shop in Old Salem. Walter has an extensive collection of antique machinery.
https://youtu.be/-twpQNn6k1A

Tips, Tricks, and Other Ideas

Doyle McConnell sent in this link. Another way to hold a bowl while finishing the foot:
http://www.davidreedsmith.com/Articles/BlueBowlReversing/blue_bowl_reversing.htm

Jack Kincella says he’s been re-educating himself on a couple of restoration and finishing processes he studied during my apprenticeship.
Instead of using canned shellac that is so generic, for a lot less money you can order flakes and mix your own. the benefits are great for finish flexibility and the startup cost is about $75.00 for everything. There is great article in Fine Woodworking Nov/Dec 2003 issue for those looking to get knowledge as well as a list of suppliers. The best supplier I found was shellac.net – phone 707-391-4042. You can order as little as ¼ lb size as well as filters and denatured alcohol.

**The other process is FRENCH POLISHING using SHELLAC OR PUMICE/ROTTENSTONE. This is a process primarily for flat surfaces that you want a semi or high gloss hand rubbed finish and requires more time and energy but he results are really great.

If you have questions about any of the products, or how to use them, Jack says to call him at 931-759-6808.

Mary (Meg) Garrett is looking for sawdust suitable for composting. – No walnut, pressure treated, chemicals.

BTW, I’ll be having a LOT of cedar shavings. I’m making 900-1000 bd/ft of paneling for a mountain cabin. Probably won’t compost, but will make great bedding.

April Corona Show & Tell

Several folks have sent me pictures of what they’ve been working on while “Sheltered in Place.” 

Chuck Taylor sent photos of things that he has been up to. Items are made from holly, harvested from the front yard of the oldest member at church. She passed away last year and these items were for her family. The three pieces are: A small holly bowl finished with gloss lacquer. A potpourri dish: holly with interesting grain for holly. Finish” gloss lacquer. And he made two small lidded boxes, same material and same finish.

The following items were made for a school benefit auction in West Tennessee: A small box, figured maple with cherry top. Satin finish; A salt & pepper mill, pecan with oil/wax finish. A set of Leyland cypress bowls. Oil/wax finish. For good measure, a 6” apple vase. Finish – gloss lacquer.
Great work Chuck!

Doyle McConnell sent me a picture of a beautiful wedding bowl and another salt and pepper mill for a bride-to-be. Doyle also has an idea to get a Longworth chuck to hold a little better.

Gary Walker sent in picture of two twin beds made for their grandsons. The beds are convertible between bunk beds or twin beds. Headboards and footboards form a built-in ladder.  He used 1x poplar for posts, 2×6 for horizontals and ash for bed rails.

Jim Jolliffe sent pictures of doors he made to protect the magazines and books from TVWW Emeritus Member Phil Bishop’s shop.   Jim says “The carvers bought his shelving unit and the books.  I have added my magazines and books to the shelves as well.  I’ve been wanting to put these doors on for years….”

The rails and styles are made from Red Oak and the panel inserts are Luan plywood (primed on the inside).  I used a Kreg jig to connect the the rails and stiles.  I cut a 1/4”w x 3/16”d dado to accept the panels. The two left side doors are bi-fold doors connected with two hinges.  The doors have 3/8” rabbets to sit inside the book case openings and to lighten the doors. The finish is Danish Oil natural color.

Kenn Burgess has been working on 5 bark houses in the round. They are a little difficult to visualize since they are in the round. They average about 5 inches in height and 2 to 3 inches in width and depth. They are finished with Min-Wax floor wax.

Matt Brothers says “For some crazy reason I decided to build all of our cabinetry for our new house. All 43 of them. All the carcasses are done and 14 of the face frames. All that’s left is 29 more face frames, doors, drawers, assembly, finishing and installation. Someone please shoot me.”

Franklyn (Pete) Miller says “It’s gardening season so I turned the handles for the garden tool kit from WoodCraft. The wood is TN cedar and has 3 coats of outdoor polyurethane finish.”

Richard Gulley made a two sided street sign for his daughter’s new house. It’s made of 1.5”x13” cedar and will be partiallt painted and sealed with an exterior UV finish. He’s also been doing some shop maintenance. He made new push sticks for the table saw and new hold down clamps for the CNC. The clamps were milled from ½” HDPE and use 5/16” Tbolts and knobs made on the CNC. Finally. he and his wife made “Psalm 91” yard signs for friends and neighbors. The stamps were made on the CNC. You need to take the time to read this good Psalm. It puts Covid 19 in a proper perspective.

Chris Sautter sent in before and after pictures of a little wheelbarrow he rebuilt for his wife. A great looking little wheelbarrow! One thing for sure, Chris knows who butters the bread.

Denis Urbanczik sent me a picture of a piece of wood he got from his mom. I’m not going to tell you about it here. You’ll just have to see it in the gallery.

Internet Links of Interest

• If you need some inspiration and plans for a new project, check out https://www.buildsomething.com/plans/list You’ll find lots of practical projects that are fairly easy to build.
• For a limited time Fine Woodworking is offering three of their membership only videos for free.
  * Machine Setup with Matt Wajda and Ellen Kaspern
  ** Organize Your Shop with Smart Carts
  *** Don’t Fear the Hand-Cut Dovetail

Carver’s Corner

Jim tells me the carvers have suspended their Saturday morning meetings till Covid 19 leaves town.

However, the field trip to Vic Hood’s Shop is still on. Be at Vic’s shop at 9 AM on Saturday May 16th. They plan to caravan to save fuel and increase chances of finding his shop. Contact Jim (jajolliffe@aol.com) or one of the carvers to schedule a ride.

The address to Vic Hood’s shop:
4231 Old Hillsboro Rd
Franklin, TN

Sweeping Up

I saw this in a post on routerforums.com –
“As you reach a certain age, and when you drop something on the floor, you start questioning whether or not you really need it, rather than going through the trouble of picking it up.”

But if you’re thinking it’s tough getting old, maybe you’re not looking at it right.

Thanks to Pete Miller for sending in this picture.

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.

Splinters March 2020

Volume 35 / Issue 03

Greetings

This past month I’ve learned a lot more about WordPress websites. Thanks to Cliff Baker with UTSI IT department for his patience with an old guy (i.e., Old dog learning new tricks!)

The website has a long way to go, but is starting to look a little more presentable. Keep watching http://tnvalleywoodclub.org to see how we’re progressing.

Looking Back

• February Program – Robert Milton from Hobby Hardwoods in New Market, AL. gave an entertaining presentation of his lumber business. He described his current operation and what he has available to woodworkers looking for high-quality cabinet woods. He also carries some exotic species.

 Coming Events

• April Program – April’s presentation will be by Sam Clark on Shop Maintenance
• May 16 – Annual Picnic

Membership Dues

Just a reminder that dues for 2020 are now payable. If you’re not sure of your dues status, see Paul Jalbert.

New Members

We welcome the following folk to Tennessee Valley Woodworkers:
– Eddie and Suzanne Barton of Normandy TN
– Rick Dickson of Fayetteville, TN
– Alan Moultrie of Manchester, TN
– Nicole Holland of Manchester, TN
– Dusty Wilder of Tullahoma, TN
– Pete Winford of Manchester, TN

Tips and Jigs

Contact Carl Blumenthal if you have Tips & Jigs you’d like to share with the club.

Carl Blumenthal – Carl talked about safety of transporting power tools and his experience of a blade guard getting bent on a chop saw and flying apart when operated.

February Show & Tell

Pictures for February Show & Tell can be see at http://tvww.utsi.edu/index.php/show-tell/nggallery/2020-show-tell/2020-02feb

Doug Dunlap had two sanding blocks he made and showed ease of use. Made with cedar, walnut, and beech. Finish Danish Oil. He also had a segmented pepper mill made of walnut and maple finished with Danish Oil.

John Hartin displayed a bowl made of magnolia finish lacquer.

Mickey Knowles showed a spalted maple bowl finished with sanding sealer and lacquer.

Chuck Taylor brought a small vase made of apple and finished with gloss lacquer. He had a salt and pepper mill finished with oil and wax. Chuck also had a set of nested bowls made of Leyland cypress finished with food safe oil.

Loyd Ackerman displayed a segmented vase made with maple and walnut. Finish lacquer and Beall wax system.

Danny Maher showed pics of a Little Free Library he built to be placed at Russell Barnett dealership. The club has built another prototype for mass production. Materials will be purchased with funds from our club and Friends of the Library. The units will be placed outside county public schools and other locations around the county.

Internet Links of Interest

Woodworkers at all levels and abilities come to Woodcademy for woodworking information, education, and advice. They keep coming back for new classes, woodworking plans, product reviews, industry information, great newsletters, and more! Learn something new, get info on which tool to buy, find new project plans.

https://www.woodcademy.com/

Carver’s Corner

The Splinters Carvers meet at Jim Jolliffe’s shop on the first and third Saturday’s 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!

The carvers are headed to Vic Hood’s Shop for their club’s meeting at 9 AM on Saturday May 16th. They plan to caravan to save fuel and increase chances of finding his shop. Contact Jim or one of the carvers to schedule a ride.

The address to Vic Hood’s shop:
4231 Old Hillsboro Rd
Franklin, TN

Sweeping Up

Not wood related but…

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

Newsletter Information

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