Club Night Report

Wednesday 10th April 2019

Club Night Photos for 10th April 2019 - Guest Demonstrator - Gary Rance

The demonstrator for the April meeting was a very welcome return of Gary Rance (see website: www.garyrance.co.uk) - Gary demonstrated the making of several items during a very full evening of techniques, best practices, advice and ideas.

The main subject for the evening was: A Pepper Mill - the making of this showed multiple techniques for copying an existing item.
Gary started with a demonstration of the 'basic' cuts using the round skew.

For the Pepper Mill body - a pre-prepared (drilled), Ash blank was mounted between centres. A 'story stick' and calipers were used to set lengths and measure diameters. The work progressed in stages to arrive at the finished part. Sanding, sanding sealer, 800 grit de-nibbing, gloss acrylic lacquer and buffing completed the part.

The cap blank was mounted on a screw chuck and turned to completion - a story stick was used to set the lengths required. The scallop shapes in the top rim were marked out with dividers (or use the lathe index facility if available) and created first with a square file and then finished with a round file.

The next demonstration showed a 45mm square by 12mm thick sample of Corian being made into a Spinning Top. A 5mm hole through the blank was used to mount it between centres. A 16mm square by 65mm long piece of rosewood was used for the top stem - also turned between centres. A 5mm diameter nylon knitting needle was used for the point in the base.

The making of an Egg from a 50mm square by 75mm long blank in Cherry - between centres - utilised mainly the skew - was completed, sanded and buffed.

The demonstration concluded with some advice on grinding tools 'freehand'.

As usual, Gary produced an excellent variety of demonstrations, tool use, techniques and skills to provide a stimulating and thoroughly entertaining evening. Thank you Gary!

The display table was well supported with a number of interesting items.

Bob Wells showed 3 very thinly tuned candle stick in spalted beech with tulip wood candles. Bill Savage presented a lidded box in the shape of a pear - in yew. A nicely turned pot - made of mulberry wood, was shown by Sean Snook. Steve Body displayed a natural edge dish made from cherry.