Posted 7 January 2023. Updated 15 January. A large attendance of around 50 people started off the new season for 2023. There was a real buzz in the hall on the evening, and it was good to see so many people sharing their expertise and interest in all things related to woodturning.

Our next event is on Thursday 2 February, when we welcome Colwin Way for an "interactive remote demonstration" (IRD). Colwin is based in Dorset, and is the main woodturning demonstrator and tutor for Axminster Tools. We would not normally be able to see him in this part of the country, but thanks to the internet we will be watching him live (via Zoom) on a big screen in the village hall, with two way communication between us and him. For those who are unable to attend, a Zoom link will be provided for watching at home. He will be looking at turning wet wood - rough turning to speed up drying, and turning to a finish and letting the wood "speak" - finding its own shape as it dries. Very useful for a club who has just acquired 30 rhododendron tree trunks!

Posted 22 January 2023. A reminder that a weekly email news bulletin goes out every Sunday to anyone who would like a copy, giving the latest news and information about the Club and woodturning activity generally. For example this week's has the offer of a free lathe with accompanying accessories, details of an upcoming British Hardwoods Open Day, some turning of rotten almond wood and fresh rhododendron wood, and updates on membership. If you would like to be on the circulation list just email to let us know.

Posted on 10 February 2023 Updated 18 February 2022 We had an excellent turnout for the interactive remote demonstration (IRD) from Colwin Way on 2 February – 43 in the hall plus 4 on Zoom. The IRD allowed us to welcome a top class demonstrator we would not otherwise see, and he delivered exactly what was asked of him – methods and hints on how to deal with green timber. A few technical hitches were encountered, with a couple of frozen screens and a loss of sound. We are not sure whether this was due to problems with Wifi signal, connections or computer processing power, but thanks to Martyn and Keith we resolved them fairly quickly when they occurred. There is a brief write-up of the demonstration on the website. A video recording is also now available on YouTube.

The next 5 meetings will have a “real” person in front of us, using a lathe and creating something, with explanation of their methods. John Whiteley is next up on 2 March, probably doing something connected with boxes.

More about this and other news is in the latest weekly news bulletins

Posted on 11 February 2023 With the devastating news that Snainton Woodworking Supplies are to close on 6 April, we have begun looking for alternative timber suppliers. We have bought a stock of blanks from Snainton in their 25% off sale, but I suspect it will not stretch far into the year. The suppliers list is on the Links page. Please let me know of any suppliers you might use that should be added to the list.

Posted 11 March 2023 A very interesting demonstration by John Whiteley in March, looking at dealing with difficult wood, and at form and design with boxes. A write-up of the evening is available on this website. A video is available on YouTube.

Posted 26 March 2023 16 club members gathered for an enjoyable day woodturning and conversing, at John Lund's marvellous workshop in Broughton. Many thanks to John for his hospitality on the day, and to Geoff for organising the event.

There will be more Hands On Days coming up in the near future. The next one is probably at Andy McLaughlin's workshop in Ebberston. Date to be confirmed, at which point it will be notified here. For non-members reading this, please note these are members only days, but it doesn't cost much to join - only £19 for the rest of the year from now, and reducing by £2 each month until the end of the year. A bargain price even just for one days training, but of course you get so much more by being a member.

Posted 6 April 2023 Today was the final day of trading for Snainton Woodworking Supplies, a sad day for everyone involved in woodturning, and for its many customers across the country. This family based company has done so much for so many of us over the years, and will be sorely missed. We wish Jackie, Lynda, Mike, Bernard and other staff all the best for the future.

Posted 9 April 2023. Updated 21 April 2023. We enjoyed an excellent demonstration by Emma Cook on Thursday 6 April, when she turned, carved and coloured a banded bowl. She also turned a small platter, coloured using a centrifuge idea to spread out glue size and colour in a starburst effect. A write-up is on this website, and a video of the event is now available on YouTube, with a link also in in our video gallery.

Our club shop was opened for the sale of wood, abrasives, Chestnut products and second hand tools. It seemed to be well received.

For our next club evening we welcome back Dennis Wake from Hartlepool: Thursday 4 May, 7.00 pm. Dennis last visited us in March 2022. Further details will follow before the event.

Posted 6 May 2023. Updated 9 May 2023 Dennis Wake visited us again from Hartlepool. He offered us three small projects - first a hinged trinket box, then a post-box money box (based on a Tony Wilson design), and an apple. A write-up is available on the site, and a video is on YouTube.

Our club shop had its second outing, selling wood, abrasives, Chestnut products and second hand tools. Once again it proved popular with lots of items sold.

For our next club evening we welcome back club member Martyn Weller: Thursday 1 June, 7.00 pm. He will be turning a segmented cube, which results in a 3-pointed bowl shape. Martyn last did a demonstration for us in May 2022. Further details will follow before the event.

A reminder that you can keep up with recent activities by reading our weekly Ryedale Woodturners newsletter. All issues are available from this website.

Posted 9 June 2023. Club member Martyn Weller demonstrated "three challenging bowls" for us, in an excellent presentation of ambitious turning to produce items beyond the norm. He concentrated on showing us the techniques, rather than producing finished articles. A write-up with pictures is available on the website.

For our next club evening, on Thursday 6 July, we welcome back Mick Hanbury, from Lincolnshire. A very experienced artistic woodturner, who last visited in May 2017

A reminder that you can keep up with recent activities by reading our weekly Ryedale Woodturners newsletter. All issues are available from this website.

Posted on 28 June 2023 Club evening on

Thursday 6 July at Snainton Village Hall

when we welcomed Mick Hanbury from Lincolnshire.

Posted 14 July 2023. Mick Hanbury returned after a long absence, to present us with an excellent demonstration of turning, texturing and colouring. He created a 14 inch diameter shield in sycamore, with texturing and acrylic iridescent paints applied as decoration. A report on the evening, with pictures, is available on this site, and a video of the evening is available on YouTube.

For our next club evening, on Thursday 3 August, we are having an Open Evening - all welcome, free entry. There will be six lathes in operation, with the opportunity to have a go at turning. There will also be pyrography, sharpening, a presentation on a woodturning cruise (yes, there are such things!) and the club shop selling wood blanks, finishes, and a few second hand tools.

A reminder that you can keep up with recent activities by reading our weekly Ryedale Woodturners newsletter. All issues are available from this website.

Posted on 28 July 2023. Updated 12 August 2023

OPEN EVENING

Thursday 3 August 2023

Snainton Village Hall

Our second open evening of the year seemed to be a great success, with around 50 people in attendance, and a real buzz of interest and conversation in the hall. Although the evening was free entry, we still covered our expenses and made some money for the club due to shop sales and the sale of kind donations of wood, pen kits, acrylic, tools, bolts and screws.

There will be some woodturning blanks for sale. Also Chestnut finishing products, approximately 20% off RRP. There will be Woodturning magazines to take or borrow for free, plus a few books and some second hand tools.

Guests are welcome. No entry fee this evening.

Posted 12 August 2023. We had an excellent day at Thornton le Dale Show on Wednesday 9 August. We had our best ever day's sale figures, and club members also won 10 out of 12 prizes on offer in the woodworking section in the Handicrafts tent. Some photos of the winners, and of the marquee exhibits are available.

Posted 22 August 2023 Other upcoming events include an exhibition and sale at Thornton le Dale Hill Institute, on Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 September, 10am - 4pm. Also a training/hands on day at Broughton on Saturday 30 September (fully booked - enquire to be placed on a reserve list. Members only.)

Posted on 16 September 2023. Paul Hannaby gave a demonstration via internet link from his workshop in the Forest of Dean. Unfortunately we could not get the sound to come through for about 40 minutes, until a solution was eventually found (the fault was at our end, not Paul's) and we were able to proceed. Paul demonstrated turning a straightforward bowl, and then turning a natural edge bowl from an awkward looking lump of holly with its bark still on. Clear descriptions of what he was doing, and why, made the demonstration well worth waiting for. Paul will make a video recording of the evening available in the next few days. A little more detail on the evening is in Bulletin 37. Updated 2 October 2023 Paul has put the video on You Tube, available for a month or so.

Exhibition and Sale

Thornton le Dale Hill Institute

Saturday 9 September, Sunday 10 September, 10am - 4pm

Free entry

Posted on 16 September 2023. Updated 8 October 2023.

Club evening, Thursday 5 October at Snainton Village Hall

Secretary and treasurer Steve Fearnley turned some Christmas ornaments - a pendant (kit), choirboys, angel and a lamp-post (for the choir to sing under). Turned mainly from yew branches and sapele, they involved some use of pen-turning techniques and equipment, and hints on peg-joints. Santa also made a brief appearance. A write-up, with pictures, is available on the website. A video link to a Zoom recording will follow shortly.

Posted 8 October 2023 We held a hands on / training day at John Lund's workshop on Saturday 30 September. 18 members were involved, either training, being trained, or just working on a lathe, with 7 lathes in operation. A very enjoyable day with a good social atmosphere. Many thanks to John for his hospitality, and to Geoff for organising the day. A couple of pictures are below - more are on a separate page.

Posted on 12 November 2023 Updated 15 December 2023 Our final club meeting of the year was on Thursday 7 December, when we held our annual Club Competition and Christmas party. A 25 minute video reviewing the club activities during the year was shown at the event, and is now available on You Tube.

Posted on 11 November 2023

Exhibition and Sale

Thornton le Dale Hill Institute

Saturday 18 November, Sunday 19 November, 10am - 4pm

Free entry