2021 Annual Club Competition

Thursday 2 December 2021

The annual December social event this year repeated the buffet we enjoyed in 2019, organised and picked up by Phil Coe and his wife, from Morrison's in Scarborough and Malton (they had to go to both to get what was required!). It seemed to be well received by the members and their guests - a very encouraging attendance to end the year (32). We tried to make it a little more wood focussed than some previous events. Hopefully we managed to provide a good mix of activities, and of course that valuable opportunity to talk to each other!

Thanks to Steve Cooper for the picture quizzes on prime ministers, cheeses, bridges, monuments, TV personalities, cathedrals, and road signs. Thanks also to Lance for the crossword (a copy is available here, and answers) with woodworking themed clues. Steve Fearnley's egg challenge with 40 different timbers proved a bit too challenging for most, but well done to the winners, Jack and his Mum Helen, for getting 17 right. If you are interested the timbers are listed on Steve's oldfern website at oldfern.co.uk

Show and Tell

John Whiteley shared a hollow spiral intended to hold a crystal, but which had failed to support the weight and ended up cracking, requiring a re-design. He also showed us a segmented bowl made using purple heart and iroko(?). Unfortunately he had finished it with oil, which rendered the distinction between the two woods virtually non-existent. Also (of course) an off-centre turning you may have seen before in the Corona Gallery.

John Lund talked us through his version of the off-centre candlestick that John Whiteley had demonstrated last meeting, based on six different centres. John has a very large Wadkin lathe (7' 6" bed) with a massive chuck that has individually adjustable jaws. He is now onto his 4th off centre candlestick, with a little less skin on his knuckles than he used to have.

Derek Quinn showed us a large, heavy, cast iron tailstock that forms part of a hand lathe. It used to be used in a coopers shop at the cement works in Sandsend. Probably last used in 1941. Derek is working to restore it to its former glory. It has its advantages - sturdy, no electricity required, and variable speed. When finished, if he can organise transportation he may bring it to the club to show us.

Steve Fearnley showed us a roughed out hollow form turned from part-seasoned sweet chestnut. It has been left about an inch thick to dry, before final turning to shape and finishing. Not a piece of the Scampston chestnut, but bought from Snainton Woodworking Supplies. About 20% moisture content to start with, down to around 15% now. (The lumps from Colin's van are more like 30 - 35% wet).Steve has been microwaving it for a couple of minutes each day, and weighing it to see if it is still losing weight.

John suggested using silica gel with wet wood, available in pellet form - look for dried flowers providers. Pack these in and around the piece and stick in the oven. The water transfers to the silica.

Steve had also turned and finished a goblet in chestnut from Scampston- one of the drier branches that had died whilst still on the tree. He brought half a dozen such logs along for people to take away and try.

Bob Ingram showed us a box made from waste wood found at the roadside in Newton on Rawcliffe. He had shown us it at a previous gathering, when it had a French fit lid (Tolouse). He had made various attempts to improve it and now felt he had got it right. He had also turned and carved a large spoon, and by large he meant six foot long!

Steve Cooper had brought along a heavy maul, or mallet, made from a lignum vitae bowling ball someone had given him. Those who picked it up will have felt the weight in the lignum vitae, one of the densest woods to be found. Very oily, but quite pleasant to turn. Now listed on CITES II as endangered, so you are not likely to find it away from recycling old green bowls.