AVENUES OF INTEREST
Members have various interests including wood turning, scroll sawing, furniture making and restoration.
WOOD TURNING
Lathe Turning.
The lathe gives woodworkers an avenue to create intricate rounded timberwork. From pens to rolling pins, table legs and lampstands to bangles, rings and intricate bowls.
With the headstock revolving and a spur drive biting in to one end of the wood to be turned, the other end is held in the tail stock with a “live end”.
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When the lathe is turned on, the wood rotates between these centres. The rotating timber may then be shaped with the use of various chisels. Because the turning wood is held in place, the chisels cause a rounding of the wood. This method of turning is referred to as spindle turning.
Other methods of affixing the wood to the lathe include the use of a chuck (mechanical jaws) to hold the timber, or a face plate which is screwed to one end of the wood. This enables larger pieces of timber to be held a one end only whilst the wood can be turned on its entire face. This method is generally used for turning bowls etc.
Spinning wood at speed can be inherently dangerous, but with a little knowledge and safety instructions adhered to, very few injuries occur. For example, loose fitting long sleeves could get caught in spinning machinery, as could long hair if not tied back. Safety glasses should be worn, and when sanding, dust masks should also be worn. Wood can also break free from chucks, face plates or spur drives etc. All wood turners experience this event, but the risk becomes lesser with practice and proper use of the tools. As such, there is an injury to pride more often than a physical one.
In short, treat the equipment with respect, be careful in your approach, and turning can be a real and valuable experience bringing a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction to you.
This article is a member contribution.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
Members often work on items at home and bring them in for 'show & tell'.
SCROLL SAWING
WHAT IS SCROLL SAWING?
It is commonly believed that scroll sawing started in the late 1500s when a German clockmaker
devised a method for making fine, narrow blades. They were used to saw delicate and intricate wooden shapes using a hand-held fretsaw or coping saw.
It is my understanding that women were used a lot initially to do this fine word using the hand held saws because of their patience and attention to detail. No doubt these attributes coming from their experiences in sewing.
By the 1860s fretsaws and or coping saws had become mechanised in the most basic of ways.
Today’s Scroll saws are fully mechanised, costing for a basic machine $100, to a top of the line model
costing $3000 to $4500. With few exceptions they are mainly made in Taiwan under some form of license agreement.
Primarily they are used to cut detailed and intricate shapes, mainly from wood. To become proficient in the use of one, you must be patient and take care (as you would in any woodworking undertaking).
Our scroll saw members are available and willing to assist anyone interested on what is a very enjoyable pastime.
This article is a member contribution.
