Author: spaltyrotpunk

A southwest Michigan association for woodturners of all levels. As a member of the American Association of Woodturners, the club promotes education through classes and demonstrations for beginning and advanced woodturners.

June 2022

Brian Newton – Casting Resin Blanks

Our June 2022 club meeting will have a demonstration by Brian Newton. He is planning to show us how to cast resin blanks. He will make a couple of pen blanks in a pressure pot. While these blanks are “cooking”, he’ll discuss other resins and the use of epoxy in resin work. Safety is a big issue when using pressure pots and Brian will spend time addressing safety issues. He will also cover dyes, mica powers and mold release agents. Brian routinely attended local craft shows selling his pen, bottle stopper and other blanks. He will have various resin and resin-wood hybrid blanks and other casting supplies available for purchase.

April 2022

Todd Beck – Burning Wood

The demonstration will be our very own member Todd Beck. Todd will bring to us his experiences and skill doing Pyrography or wood burning which is a method of enhancing a piece of wood by burning with various tools. Color can also be added to the design future enhancing the design of the turning. There are numerous styles of burning from detailed art, to branding, to more subtle shading. The photos show just a few of the many techniques. Todd’s demonstration will include information about the equipment that he likes to use and live demonstration of the skill he has developed doing Pyrography. This promises to be a very interesting and informative demonstration that you won’t want to miss.

Sources and websites for  tools, supplies and paraphenalia I refered to in the demo on woodburning.

razertip.com

treelineusa.com

packardwoodwork.com               

woodturnerscatalog.com

leevalley.com (the eraser I use is one of a kit that costs $11.50.  Probably to expensive)

excel and x-zcto craft knives  (Blades #10 and #11 are very handy)

Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen/Brush (these are the India Ink pens)and TomBow Brush Pens(these are water based)  Both are available at Amazon.

Any other questions or comments…text to 269-539-7634 (no calls please) or email becktodd@gmail.com

March 2022

Rudy Lopez – Turning long stem natural edge goblets.

Pro turner Rudy Lopez will be joining us from his Tampa, FL studio to demonstrate his long stem natural edge goblets.  Rudy is a nationally known turner who has demonstrated at regional and national conventions as well as schools including:  Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft, John C. Campbell Folk School, Marc Adams School of Woodworking.  He will be turning a thin stem natural edge goblet from a green limb approximately 1½” – 2 ½ ”dia. He  will show attendees the simple techniques he uses to easily turn a thin stem natural edge goblet from a green limb using mostly a 1/2″ or 5/8″ side ground bowl gouge.  He will explain limb selection, pith orientation, different techniques used for stabilizing thin stems, the use and sharpening of Negative Rake scrapers and drying to help avoid cracking.  He will also share techniques such as using a string steady, finesse needed for turning thin stems on goblets.

Click on Western Michigan Woodturners below to see the video, and use Password: west0312

Western Michigan Woodturners Natural Edge Thin Stem Goblet March 12, 2022

Password: west0312

February 2022

Seri Robinson – Turning Spalted Wood

Do you really need all those stabilizers? Turns out (hah!) you can turn spalted wood—even very punky spalted wood—without stabilizing it and get a finish with your tool that rivals sandpaper. Join Dr. Robinson for a technique demonstration on various kinds of spalted wood. Learn about the different surface qualities different tools make, get a touch of wood science, and learn to make finishing cuts that will get rid of your need for glue, and significantly cut your sanding time on spalted wood.”

Dr. Seri Robinson