Category: Meeting Notes

RECAP OF DWC MEETING DEC 1, 2025

INTRO: Gene H; Safety exits reviewed, Defib unit upstairs. Members shared some stories of safety incidents. The small flip phone on the sign-in table can ONLY BE USED for EMERGENCY 911 calls!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. DWC Lotto group is ready to win the big one soon! $85 is being invested in this weeks big draw on Dec 2nd. Please contact Paul Kidson.
2. COURSES: FLATWORK 101 just completed its Nov run, thanks to all participants and instructors Wayne, Dale, Noel and Paul. 6 more beautiful step-stools are in the world!

TURNING 101 WITH Chris starts Tues eve Dec 2nd and 7 following Tuesdays (shop reserved).   With Kade starts Thurs Dec 4th (SHOP reserved for the turners on Dec 4, 11, 18th.)  Thanks to you both for running these courses for us all!

3. 2by4 CHALLENGE is being run again in 2026 … YOU should participate!,,,sign up sheet is with Gene H.
4. Showing and Judging of handiwork would be in 2026, date to be announced, rules are AT END OF THIS POST. Stay tuned!
5. 50-50 draws will take place next week times 3!!!
6. KUBKARS: will be done again by the club this coming year Build own and compete? It was fun last year.
7. Our Annual General Meeting will occur in JANUARY. Morte details below.
8. Reminder for members to renew their memberships $80 before December 31st.   If they want to be included in an early bird draw for a free membership in 2026 they must have their renewal paid by Dec. 7th. Money can be sent by etransfer to the treasurer Terry H.
9. SHOP CLEAN-UP is Saturday, Dec 13th at 10:00 a.m. Lend a hand..
10. New Members Matimba and Mike C were welcomed to the club!

SHOW AND TELL:

1. Gene H: A binder of club photos is being kept.
2. Jeff B: A completed memory box of pine was shown, with a custom grooved knob – “just the way I wanted it!” Also, 4 turned wine stoppers, maple with ‘Mirawax’ finish.
3. Andy B: Scrolled segmentation of the GRINCH (no that’s not Andy), and Santa on a sleigh, dremmelled and sanded, painted.
4. Gordon D: Santa painted on an old branch!
5. Paul K: Woven board for a bookcase, various woods, various glue and clamp techniques, a link to this technique is worth watching: https://youtu.be/u1bVVpAxF7k?si=TzOpUHLKMdgGx_AM control click to follow the link.
6. Don Mc: Scroll saw book ‘Ornaments for Charity’, and several scrolled ornaments with paint and glitter… notes, gnome, bells, sleigh…
7. Aaron A: Antique draw-knife, antique plane
8. Mike B: whittled christmas figures, spoons, book-marks done with a hook-knife and spokeshave.
9. Annie F: carved birds from poplar

PRESENTATION-Discussion: The DWC Annual General Meeting will take place in January this year. ALL MEMBERS are strongly encouraged to consider taking a role on the executive. We do need people to keep things running. Many have stepped up to help as volunteers during these past 12 months – thank you! All members are capable of contributing to the executive! The Executive roles are being re-designed so that no one position has too much of a burden… we will share the responsibilities. Exec meetings only happen every month or two, for an hour or so usually after a Monday meeting night. It will be important for MANY to attend our AGM in January so that we can meet ‘quorum’ (1/3 of the club’s members does constitute a quorum) and review our bylaws, constitution, and direction moving forward. YOU can find the bylaws and constitution on the club’s website on the ‘ABOUT’ page! We do need a couple volunteers to ‘Learn the AV stuff’ from Aaron (it is easy, he’ll teach you!) so that we are not totally dependent on Aaron and Chris all the time!

Stay tuned for further AGM notices.

Durham Woodworking Club  Rules and Regulations 2026  2×4 Challenge

● Participation in the 2026 – 2×4 Challenge is open to 2026 members of the Durham Working Club.

● An eligible entry is an item completed within the previous 12 calendar months.

● Each participant can submit multiple entries – entries remain the property of the participant.

● For all categories, the entry must be made from a single, 8-foot length of wood, no more than 3 1/2” wide by 1 1/2” deep

● The entry can be fastened using any glue, screws, nails and or dowels and finished using any substance commonly understood to be a wood finish or paint.

● The use of functional hardware ie hinges and decorative knob allowed

● Any project big or small is acceptable but preference be given to those using more of the 2 x 4.

● Each participant will show their item and describe the project details including woods and finished used and any challenges with project.

● Judges will rate originality, craftsmanship, effectiveness and best use of 2 x 4.

Announcements:

1. SIGN UP with the Community Relations director Gene for DWC members build and compete kubkars event, date to be confirmed,  and also sign up for ‘2 by 4’ challenge in categories turning or flatwork or scrolling… dates to be confirmed also.
2. The club will be selling off surplus machines in 2026.  These include 2 Lee Valley sharpening systems,  a craftsman benchtop sander,  a jepson chopsticks, and a busy bee shaper.  Further details to come later. 
3. Chad Shaw is  selling the following:  10 inch table saw,  delta shaper table. 16 inch scroll saw. See email last week from Chad/ Gene for details. 
4. 8 plus boxes were constructed last week at the box build meeting, fantastic!
5. 50 50 draw will be held next week. 
6. Flatwork  101 went well on Nov 22,  they are in the shop again on Nov 29th. 
7. New member Catherine was welcomed to the club.
8. Turning 101 with Kade will run dec 4th 11th and 18th.
9. Turning 101 with Chris will run for the next 8 Tuesdays evenings starting Dec  2nd.                          
10. SHOP CLOSED, RESTRICTED for the above 101 course dates

SHOW AND TELL

1. Gordon D.  Broken glass pieces in rectangular  boxes, golden ratio.
2. Andy B.  Scrolled 3D snowflakes 
3. Kade B.  Various turned ornaments and boxes.  Maple turned cowboy hats. One for his son. One for cat.!
4. Rod.  Moxon vice home-made., for dovetailing
5. Noel G.  Mystery log branch to be identified. 

SWAP NIGHT ACTIVITY.

Great turnout of members with a wide variety of items to be re-homed, traded, sold.  Lots of happy members picked up some new to them stuff, others got rid of don’t need it anymore stuff!  Thanks to all for attending and participating.   Some stuff may be getting dropped off to the re-store on John Street for re-selling.

See you next Monday. DEC 1st.

RECAP OF DWC MEETING NOV 10, 2025

INTRO: Gene H; Safety exits reviewed, Defib unit upstairs._ We will try to have a hands on lesson about using the defib unit at a future meeting

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. DWC Lotto group is waiting to win the big one soon! $85 from the last set of players is being held until the next big 50M jackpot comes up. Please contact Paul Kidson.
2. COURSES: FLATWORK 101 Set for saturdays Nov 22 and 29! QUIET SHOP those dates – shop reserved for the course!
3. 2by4 CHALLENGE is being considered again this year…we NEED participants,,,sign up sheet will be sent around, Showing and Judging of handiwork would be in late Jan or Feb. Stay tuned!
4. 50-50 draws took place…WINNERS Gene H and Rick K were the lucky winners. You can’t win it if you’re not in it! Get in by emailing the treasurer Terry before Friday Nov 21st   The first draw for the new group will be Monday November 24th.   $30 – name entered once on the wheel, $50 – name entered 3 times on the wheel
5. CUB-CARS: should we do that again within the club? Build own and compete? It was fun last year.       Cub packs have been contacted about working with us again – some requests are in for Feb – March dates. Stay Tuned.
6. DWC SWAP-Night is set for Monday Nov 24th upstairs at the club. Bring in anything remotely connected to woodworking that you might want to trade, sell, or give away. Further details upcoming. Email Doug Ricketts if you want your goods to be ‘advertised’ in advance.
7. Our Annual General Meeting will occur in the coming months – stay tuned for details
8. Reminder for members to renew their memberships $80 before December 31st.   If they want to be included in an early bird draw for a free membership in 2026 they must have their renewal paid by Nov 30th. Money can be sent by etransfer to the treasurer Terry H (you must indicate in notes what the money is for -ie – 50/50 or membership renewal or both) or by cash at a meeting,  or paid by Visa on the clubs website but that adds an additional fee.

SHOW AND TELL:

1. Aaron A – Jointer Plane from Lee Valley, a ‘second’ with a minor cosmetic blemish, and a low angle jack plane. Aaron did a demo on using these planes at the end of the meeting!
2. Watne P – Entertainment unit drawer made using a box joint jig. Ansd a box, rabbeted bottom inset lid. Half inch poplar from Peacock, MDF lid, teak oil finish.
3. Don Mc – 45 days till Christmas. Don again is offering to send any member pdf patterns of ornaments with custom names in them… you print it then glue it on wood and scroll it!
4. Tom M – wood sculpture pieces available from Tom
5. John K – Use of scrap wood… soap dish routed, tea light holder, zebrawood box.
6. Kent – memory box with no glue or fasteners, just friction fit, box joints and mortise and tenon
7. Gene – various boxes shown in prep for next weeks Nov 17th group box build night

PRESENTATION:

Gene H – Promo talk on upcoming DWC Box Build Night

1. BOX BUILDING NIGHTS –IDEA – Promote safe work skills and help woodworkers share and build skills, learn techniques and consider designs. Members present on a box build nights will do group builds in the shop… members can bring in palm sander, paper, clamps. Various box types will be constructed at different work stations. Wood donations for these ongoing DWC community projects can be directed to the Community Relations director Gene.

SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY AT OUR DWC BOX BUILD NIGHT!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. DWC Lotto group IS SET with 16 participants. Draws start Nov 4th!!  Paul Kidson
2. COURSES:     FLATWORK 101 is now FULL, with Noel, Paul, Dale, Wayne. Set for Nov 22 and 29QUIET SHOP those dates – shop reserved for the course!
3. WEDNESDAY nights are ‘Turning with Chris’ nights, 6-9 pm. QUIET Shop reserved. Chris to confirm when these nights begin…
4. 50-50 draws took place…WINNERS were Steve H, Kade B and Noel G. Congrats you lucky rats!
5. The treasurer Terry Haight is who you email to get into the weekly club 50-50 draws. The current round ends on Nov 17th. Collection to be entered into the next draw is now ongoing and money must be paid by Friday Nov 21   The first draw for the new group will be Monday November 24th.  

                 $30 – name entered once on the wheel,   $50 – name entered 3 times on the wheel

The collected money will be divided in half with half going to the club and the other half divided by 15 for draws over the next 15 weeks.  

1. 6.  Membership renewal  (Terry Haight)

Reminder for members to renew their memberships $80 before December 31st.   If they want to be included in an early bird draw for a free membership in 2026 they must have their renewal paid by December 1st.

Money can be sent by etransfer to the treasurer Terry, (you must indicate in notes what the money is for -ie – 50/50 or membership renewal or both) or by cash to Terry at a meeting,  or paid by Visa on the clubs website but that adds an additional fee.

7.  The FANTASTIC DWC SWAP NIGHT is coming soon…  Nov. 24^th  right after our usual ‘show and tell’, in the upper room at the club.   Bring your unwanted un-needed, extra stuff… to sell, trade, give away, Bring cash to buy some great deals!   What can you bring in ??  ANYTHING REMOTELY CONNECTED to Woodworking – Wood, Tools, Fasteners, Glue, Finishes, kits, jigs, hardware, projects…   and don’t forget that “One woodworker’s junk is another woodworker’s treasure!”  

RECAP OF DWC MEETING NOV 3, 2025

INTRO: Gene H; Safety exits reviewed, Defib unit upstairs.

SHOW AND TELL:

1. Gene H.     Wooden painted pigs on a stick for the ‘hog-line’ in Lawn Bowling
2. Gord T.    Elm wood from Parkwood Estate, various grits large sheets sandpaper, free to anyone
3. Tom M.      Unique shaped firewood pieces, free to a good home!
4. Doug R.    Various Christmas ornaments, table saw and bandsaw snowflakes, turned ornaments, links to youtube videos on how to: Wooden Snowflakes on a Table Saw , Wood Turning Inside Out Christmas Ornament
5. Annie F.     Halloween lantern with scroll work, interchangeable inserts for diff holidays.
6. Dale C.      Update on this years pumpkin carving… see on facebook DWC or Dale Coolidge
7. Gene H.    Pics from recent European trip – Bucharest, Danube,…

PRESENTATION:

1. Business Trip to Mauritania, pictures and interesting info from Aaron A.     Tasiast Gold Mine, Kinross Gold Corp.
2. BOX BUILDING NIGHTS – with Gene H and Aaron A…IDEA – Promote safe work work skills and help newer woodworkers build skills, learn techniques and consider designs.A team will demo a box build, then the members present on a given night will do group builds in the shop… this may become a regular meeting feature – third Monday of each month?!! Efforts will be made to find wood for this, memory boxes will be made to be donated to local hospitals for families who have lost a loved one. Team leaders will be needed for each month. Gene and Kent will lead the first such event on Monday Nov 17th, Paul K and Doug R will lead the next such event, likely in January. Other members are encouraged to step forward!! Maybe some lathe-loving ww’rs could work on wig stands on those same nights??!

SEE YOU AT our NEXT MEETING, MONDAY NOV 10^th in the shop!

RECAP OF DWC MEETING OCT 27 2025

INTRO: Kade B; Safety exits reviewed, new members welcomed

GALLERY: Don; scrolled and painted butterflies for his ‘ugly fence’!

Dan: various turned bottle ‘Caps’ for covering an open bottle

Tom: Cherry and maple kitchen board and wine bottle coaster, and a ‘bug hotel’ for a grandson.

Matt: Halloween prop “portal gun”, and a grooved pasta gnocchi board.

Gabby: a bathroom vanity organizer crafted large toothbrush.

YOU really should be here to see these interesting Gallery items from DWC members!

DEMO: Dale: presentation on Pumpkin Carving!!! IF YOU are on Facebook you should search Dale Coolidge to see some absolutely awesome pumpkin creations!!!

Dale has completed 639 pumpkin patterns over the years, at about 3 to 5 hours per. This year he is carving 9 unique pumpkins. Uses cut-thru and ‘relief carving’ techniques. Uses pattern marking wheels and carbon paper. (leather stitching wheels or tracing wheels at lee valley or amazon…) uses a wide variety of carving tools and cutters, some home-made. DALE lives at 16 Pinedale crescent in Oshawa if you want to go see this years handiwork on halloween or a couple days following…

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. DWC Lotto group deadline has been extended to Saturday, Nov. 1st. Get your $30 etransfer in to the treasurer Terry.
2. COURSES: Turning 101 with Kade likely to be in November, with Chris may be in December. Contact Kade or Chris by phone or email (ATTACHED DWC master contact list)FLATWORK 101 with Noel, Paul, Dale, Wayne. Set for Nov 22 and 29, full. QUIET SHOP those dates – reserved for the course!
3. WEDNESDAY nights are ‘Turning with Chris’ nights, 6-9 pm. QUIET Shop reserved. Chris to confirm when these nights begin…
4. Scolling 101course with Don set for Wednesday Nov. 12, 6 to 8/9.
5. Sharpening: need for a learning session, Kade may do one, Dale may also… to be confirmed (DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THOSE PUMPKINS!!)
6. Travels in England and Scotland with Kade: review of a 3 week tour featuring turning demos and classes by Kade

Happy Halloween, and LETS GO BLUE JAYS!!!!!

GALLERY:  Noel – bowl;  Bernie – Framed old English carving; Dale – restored no. 3 Stanley plane, Chris – various laser carvings framed;  Doug – ice cream scoop, paddle 

4 NEW MEMBERS INTRODUCED THEMSELVES—–FANTASTIC.  WELCOME TO DWC

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. LOTTO GROUP – won $86 over summer, was re-invested in tickets.  $30 is needed from you if you want to be in the Lotto group, that would cover tickets into January…  that 30 is due to the treasurer Terry no later than Oct 25th.  our next draw will be Oct 28th.
2. FLATWORK 101 course has ONE Opening left!!!  Course runs on NOV 22 and 29.  Contact Paul Kidson or Noel Green to enroll in this fantastic course which introduces you to safe use of all the shop’s machines, except the lathes.
3. SHOP Clean-up  OCT 25 10 a.m.  Many hands make light work!!   THE NOVEMBER 22 date will have to change because the Flatwork 101 group is in the shop that day!
4. Social nights at our regular meetings, on the first Monday of each month.  Club supplies coffee/water?  members bring treats to share.
5. DWC club clothing … is there a desire to purchase DWC caps or shirts again like we did a few years ago?… We would need a volunteer to coordinate this.
6. SWAP NIGHT… last year’s Swap Night was a solid success!  Should we do it again in the coming weeks/months??  Members bring in extra woodworking supplies, equipment, whatever to sell trade or give away…  A show of hands indicated strong support for doing this again!!
7. LIBRARY  is open for members to use.  Cupboards along the end wall past the table saw.  Take a look, Borrow a book, just sign it out in the binder on the ledge there.  on-line catalog at librarything.com

PROCEDURES:

1. VOLUNTEERS are the Lifeblood of DWC!!  EVERYONE should try to volunteer in some capacity through the year…  More Details Below.
2. SAFETY:  YOUR responsibility in a shop.  PROTECT your eyes, ears, lungs, body!  Use that Brain…work smart, ask for help/guidance when needed!!
3. EDUCATION   our ‘101’ courses are so very valuable.  Turning 101 (contact Chris L or Kade B),  Flatwork 101 (contact Paul K or Noel G), Scrollsaw 101 and 102. Contact Don McFarland, Don has tentative dates planned: Nov 12 and 19.
4. SHOP DUTIES:   RED-TAG (found on/near the sign in table) to be put on a machine when it needs maintenance or repair attention, and leave note indicating the issue, and UNPLUG the machine.  also email the details to the DWC repair email address found in your membership list. It is the first email in the list at the bottom of the document. If it isn’t in your copy of the membership list please ask for a new copy of the list. We all share responsibility for things operating safely and well in the shop.
5. DUST COLLECTORS – EMPTY whenever it gets half full (into garbage bags found by the garbage cans near the chop saw),ONLY wood dust and shavings.  Put these bags then into the outside grey metal bins by the entry door at edge of parking lot (KEY for bins is on hook/nail by the sign in book in shop).  Put key back.  Call or Text to NOVAS ARK to tell them when the bins are full of shavings bags or nearly full
6. SCRAP BINS – put only your 12 inch or less scraps of wood into the scrap bin.  Larger than that YOU take it home or cut it up… 
7. MACHINES – GUARDS should be IN PLACE, if you remove a guard for some reason…PUT it back on…   DUST collection – use it, be sure to open appropriate gates!
8. SANDERS… these can get damaged/clogged by improper use or by NOT CLEANING… USE the CREPE block to clean the sanding surface when done your work
9. EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTION:   Special instruction is required before you use the Drum Sander, the Router Table, and Lathes (if you are not experienced and comfortable with) .   IF you are not CONFIDENT and INFORMED about proper and safe use of ANY machine then DO NOT use it!!  ASK for help/advice  (Email or Phone)   Router table lift system has been getting clogged, use the brush to clean the threads.
10. COMMUNITY Projects:  these are very important to our club and to the community at large… Get Involved!   Pens 4 Peacekeepers, Wig Stands 4 Cancer patients, Memory Boxes, Kub Kars, Back Door Mission.  others

VOLUNTEERING at DWC:  Where can you help out…

Meeting set-up and take down

Social Night set-up and cleanup

Maintenance team – learn how and help out with machine repair and maintenance

New Member Orientations

Executive Team

Community Service project coordinators 

101 Course Instructing, shadow, learn, instruct…

Shop Clean-up days

Library maintenance 

Club Clothing 

And more….

Doug R discussed new books for our library and cautioned all members to vet all books to be donated to the library to see if they are a “good”  fit.

Those present at the meeting were informed that an email was sent to the landlord inquiring  about the status of a possible lease extension ( beyond Dec. 2026) or if the lease may be prematurely canceled ( with 6 months notice). Membership will be informed of any response to this email.

Priorities/Guiding principles for the club discussed with reference to recently purchased router/Router table .

This includes 

1) Safety

2) Protection of the assets 

3) Enhancing members woodworking experiences and 

4) Giving back 

Safety : Discussion around safety with respect to new router table . Topics included correct direction of travel when routing, and speed of cut  as well as rpm of router bit

Protection of the asset : For those not familiar with the router seek out assistance from others in the club. A number of members will be available to offer their services for those not familiar with the features of the router table

Enhancing members woodworking experience : “Hands on ” workshops demonstrating router use will be scheduled in the Fall as a regular Monday night meeting .Memory box construction with use of a router will be the first “hands  on “ workshop.

Giving back : Many members were involved with research evaluating router table purchase , assembly of the router table , rollout of the router table at a Monday night meeting and volunteering to be a resource to assist those not familiar with the router table. Giving back includes the memory boxes which will be constructed as part of these workshops.

Announcements

50/50 draw – Andy Bay was a double winner 

Shop cleanup will continue over the summer on the fourth Saturday of the month as shown on DWC website calendar with next Clean-up on Saturday May 24 @ 10 am.

Next Monday night meeting Monday October 20.

Subsequent to the last meeting Paul K has confirmed WE HAVE NOT WON THE BIG PRIZE YET so $40 will be required to enter the lottery over the summer until we return in October for regular meetings.

Durham Woodworking Club

Members Meeting – Social

Draft minutes

May 5^th, 2025

1830 – 2000 hrs.

AGENDA

1. Attendance
2. Welcome
3. Safety
4. Show and Tell
5. Announcements

ATTENDANCE

Members in attendance in person and online via Google Meetings

WELCOME

Welcome to all and new members.

A new member talked to why he was glad to have joined the club.

Reminder to all that the networking in the club helps to teach each other.

SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Emergency and Fire exits reviewed. First Aid Kits and AED identified.

Reminder to all members about the safety information above.

SHOW AND TELL      

Member #1

Information about use of the router, and creating quality joints.

Routering after the item was assembled.

Member # 2 (Doug)

A third memory box by this member. Very beautifully done. Hinges from amazon.

Octagon shaped.

Doug

Picture of a great horned owl up in a tree.

Pen made of one of the hardest woods known (lignum vitae?)

Member # 3

Bowl turned from Ash. Nicely done. Yet to be finished.

Social Break

Presentation on Pines – Doug Ricketts

Music, Art, etc highlighted references to trees.

Reference to the high number of native pines in Canada.

Durham Woodworking Club

Members Meeting

April 28^th, 2025

1830 – 2000 hrs.

AGENDA

1. Attendance
2. Welcome
3. Safety
4. Show and Tell
5. Special Presentation – “NEW ROUTER TABLE”
6. Announcements

ATTENDANCE

Members in attendance in person and online via Google Meetings

WELCOME

Welcome by Aaron Alton

SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Emergency and Fire exits reviewed. First Aid Kits and AED identified.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION – NEW ROUTER TABLE

Wayne and Dale will give demonstration.

• Jessem Lift system assessed as being one of the best, the table the stand the dust collection. (made in Canada)
• Not a lot of dust flies about.
• Why do we need a router table?
  • Health and safety issues (PPE)
  • Safety issues with table not seen with the hand held router.
• Technical reason for using the Router table discussed
  • It is the size of the project that determines if you use the hand held or the table top
  • Acknowledgement that there are members who are well versed in using the table.
• Comparisons between the two tools outlined.
  • Need to be knowledgeable and be aware of safety issues.
  • (router bits, router spinning, pushing, not pushing left to right, spins in different directions, pushing the wood in the opposite way the bit is spinning)
  • Idea of placing arrows on the table to indicate direction.
• Never go between the fence and the Router bit. Damage table, router bit and all the systems inside.
• Some Q & A from members.
• Patterns/templates traced on to wood – attached to wood – the bearing would be on the template to cut.
• Will use the table for edging. It can do so much more.
• 3 ¼ HP motor, complete ventilation and no dust picked up within the system
• Very fine adjustments can be made on this tool.
• The bigger the bit the slower the speed – adjust the speed, as it only needs to cut. (the speed issue is a critical point, speed adjustment is right at the front)
• There are two (2) collars, quarter or half, and not difficult to remove.
• When tightening the collar on to the shaft, do not tighten on the top part of the round, but on to the straight edge of the shaft.
• Demonstration and further discussion given live.
• Plywood and very old wood do not cut well. (tear outs)
• Extensive information given during the presentation.
• Suggestion that Education be given to help the safe use of the table. May be included in the 101. Also reach out to experienced members.  (more to come on that)

Miscellaneous – Saw Blade Sharpening – Peacock lumber drop off information given.

SHOW AND TELL      

Margo

Camphorated oil – can be purchased at any drug store.

This is the oil used to make rust proof paper when wrapping up tools. Router bits can be dropped off at Peacock lumber every Tuesday for pickup the following Wednesday for those who need sharpening.

Gord

Brought in some wood for members who are interested

Paul

Has brought in see through15 plastic containers that members may want, otherwise will go into recycling

Doug

The library

New books highlighted, including a bird house book.

Reminder to turn the dust collector on when using the Router at the back of the room.

Members may need to have refreshers to ensure safe and proper use.

Further discussion by members.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• This coming Wednesday April 30^th, there will be a whittling instruction class, so please try to keep noise down in the workshop

• Next Monday May 5^th the meeting will be a Social with coffee and snacks.

Please feel free to bring in any other refreshments.

Agenda

1. Special Virtual Presentation – Guitar Maker

WELCOME

SPECIAL PRESENTATION AND GUEST

Annie introduced Stephane who will describe how he made a Banjo.

Stephane is based in Quebec

Stephane has a family of artists and people who like to work with their hands.

Became an apprentice to a Master Builder. He was a SW and now works with seniors and is an Artist in his soul.

For one year he spent 50 hrs a week building instruments. Classical Guitars, folk guitars. Built 27 instruments together.

In the last 8 years learned to do carvings on whale boats.

Today will be about guitar building, and based on the questions sent to him.

He became a teacher of guitar building in Montreal.

The science behind the sound. Wood types is very important related to that science.

Stephane presented pictures of inside the guitar. Cracking of the wood can be a problem when bending. Braces are used and the grain of the wood is taken into account. Described how the bracing within the guitar, supports the guitar bridge.

Beautiful pictures of the art of guitar building and the ornamentation in the creations.

His signature on the guitars is a bite on the end of the guitar.

Showed a 28 string guitar built by a friend.

Explained that different kind of bracing, created different types of sounds.

Picture of how he builds the inlaid rosettes.

Showed a double neck guitar, which has a different type of bracing and two necks.

Showed a FAN bracing that is used for the Classical guitar.

Most of his instruments have special stamps inside with dates etc.

Questions from the members followed the presentation, on bracing, types of wood.

His favourite hand tool is the Japanese saw. Precise and cuts well,

Assembling and drying. Controlling the moisture is hard. For the gluing he uses normal wood glue and different epoxy and super glue and the spray. Useful to fixing and fine tuning. It is easy to make a mess, so must be very careful.

For the Fret Board he uses epoxy. The wood glue is hard to remove. The epoxy is cleaner.

Students use animal glue, but you have to be very precise with controlling the temperature.

For sanding he uses his hand to sand, resulting in many hours of work.

Have to be careful not to kill the sound with varnish, so they have to be as thin as can be done to protect the wood.

Demonstrated how a template is used to measure and design in the creation of the guitar.

Discussed the different quality of wood. Each builder can create unique sounds and not necessarily sharing this with other creators. They take note of the type of frequencies that are produced. 

Quebec has two schools of guitar building. Montreal and Quebec City. People come from far and wide to attend.

What are the Rosettes made of Answer; Maple, Amaranth Monkey bug. Like to use exotic woods. Some use Brazilian Rose wood (must carry papers regarding that wood when travelling through the states   Uses salvage wood as well. (70/80 yrs ago, so it is very dry)

Some wood is protected in various countries.

Stephane asked the group what they do with wood. Gene explained. It was suggested that Annie sends Stephane has access to the Club website to see the gallery of work done by the members.

A question about the type of customer that comes to the Guitar Builder. Shape, wood, type of sound, and many more aspects of the guitar beyond those items.

Question: Does the type of wood dictate the sound.

Answer: the bracing in the guitar and small pieces of wood to secure but not kill the vibration of the guitar wood.  Yes there is thought put into the type of wood and the condition of the wood when building.

It takes 200-300 hours to build a guitar.

“the caliper is your best friend”

Gene and Paul   thanked Stephane for his presentation

Stephane thanked the Club for inviting him. Happy to share his art with the group.

Further discussion on the art of woodworking.

SHOW AND TELL

Mike B showing his various carvings. Bought a 50 mm blade that does a nice planning cut.

Donald McFarland

Presented his Patriotic Signs

Proud to be Canadian and other variations.

He has also designed his own. Elbows Up Canada strong

Scout Trucks

• Looking for volunteers for the 24^th March
• Reviewed what type of help is needed.
• Email Gene if you can make it out
• Older kids this year 11-13 and a total of 11-12

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Shop Clean up day Saturday March 22 10:00 am. ( please take a picture and send to Gene of the clean-up gang
2. No meeting on the 24^th   as we have Scout Trucks to build