Club Night Report

Wednesday 14th June 2023

Club Night Photos for Wednesday 14th June 2023 - Guest Demonstrator: Paul Hannaby

The demonstrator for the June 2023 meeting was a welcome return of Paul Hannaby (see websites: www.creative-woodturning.com and www.hannaby.com) - who last entertained us in October 2022.

Paul's demonstrations for the evening were a push-fit Lidded Box - which is a more usable version than the 'traditional' woodturners 'pop-fit-lid' in that the lid should just slide off the base (one-handed). And a series of Oyster Boxes - where a number of similar boxes are made in one setting.

A blank approx. 3 inches square by 4 inches long was mounted between centres and made round.  A small tenon was cut at the tailstock end for mounting in the O'Donnell chuck jaws.  Mounted in the chuck - the proportions of the box was decided - 1/3 lid and 2/3 base - a second spigot was cut at the tailstock end, and a thin parting tool was used to separate the lid and base.  The box base was hollowed first (Paul's personal preference) - using a ½" spindle gouge, and a couple of home-made box scrapers.  The parallel section for the fitting of the lid was cut.
The box lid was mounted in the chuck - the spigot was turned to fit the base recess - and was then hollowed to give a 3 mm to 5 mm wall thickness and sanded.  Melamine Lacquer was used to finish all surfaces of the box, cut back with steel-wool and microcrystalline wax applied and buffed.  The base was re-mounted in the chuck and the lid was fitted, plus tailstock support.  The outside of the box was finish turned and the lid spigot was removed - and sanded.  The box joint, being impossible to 'hide' was emphasised with a 1 mm wide by 1 mm deep step in the base.
A jam chuck was turned to hold the base for finish shaping, spigot removal, sanding and polishing.

For Pauls' second box a 2 ½" diameter by 8" long yew blank was mounted between centres, made round and a spigot cut on the tailstock end - then mounted in a 4-jaw chuck.  The turning process was to face, shape and hollow the end of the blank and create the box fit recess.  This 'lid' was then parted off - a jam chuck turned on the end of the blank, and hollowed.  The lid was fitted on the jam chuck and finish shaped.  The box was then parted off.  The end of the blank was turned to make a jam chuck for the base of the box, mounted and finish turned, sanded and polished.  This completed the first box.
The process was repeated down the length of the blank to make a second and third box.

Paul entertained us with a wide-ranging demonstration of box-making techniques - along with showing excellent tool control and finishing suggestions.  An enjoyable, engaging and informative evening.  Thank you, Paul!

The Display Table was very well supported with a wide range of interesting items.

Arthur Kingdon challenged the Members to identify a piece of timber/ bark on, and a turned example. He later revealed that it was evergreen Holm Oak aka Holly Oak - the latin name is Quercus Ilex. Mike Crawshaw presented a couple of Nordic gonks and commented on the use of Chroma Craft, metallic gilt finishes. Paul Kohn showed a number of items to include a large bird box made from eucalyptus, ash and mahogany, a 3-legged stand/ tazza made from elm and a large condiment tray/ cheese board and dome. Bob Wells displayed two spalted beech items - a shallow bowl and a pot - that had been extensively treated with Ronseal wet rot wood hardener to stabilise the timber. Dave Branscombe showed items that had been pierced to compliment a flaw in the timber, a pyrographed pot and a couple of bowls. Martin Barrett brought along a couple of large, thin, shallow platters made from walnut and a collection of spinning tops, and a launcher.