Alan J Bishop

Safe Practice when using Woodworking Machinery

Safety in the workshop is a choice. If you choose to ignore safe work procedures and to take risks with machinery or tools, then you must be prepared to accept the downside – that is, one day the risk becomes real! Woodwork accidents can involve serious injury and blood loss, with a long frustrating and boring recovery period before getting back to the shed.

The risk of personal injury is one thing, but we also should consider the risk to others around us, including those who have to clean up the mess afterwards!

I like to think of safety as passport to ensure we can keep doing the work we love.

We know that woodworking machines are inherently risky. However we all know that safe work practices and machine set-up can minimise the likelihood of bad things happening.

This publication from the OSHA Education Centre is from the USA, and is focussed on student safety. None the less, there are lessons for all of us It is a five minute read. You should read it now!

https://www.oshaeducationcenter.com/woodworking-safety/

Time for me to head out to the shed – I have things I need to make!

From the February meeting ‘Show and Tell’ table

The February General Meeting was well attended with some good pieces on display on the Show and Tell table.

Bob talked of his trip to Tasmania and the fabulous carved Huon Pine panels of ‘The Wall’. Bob also had a bowl turned from Oregon.

Steve showed a couple of boxes, including one he is making for the ‘Our Clarence’ exhibition that is being organised by Coldstream Gallery, Ulmarra. Bob talked about the process of making his ‘Wave Box’ and the problems of bending the Red Cedar wave inlays.

Roy showed his work in progress – also entered for the ‘Our Clarence’ exhibition. Roy used an old guitar body without a neck. It features a green forest scene ‘diorama’ set into the body of the guitar, with a neck made from ‘Compwood’, twisted and gnarled, with a carved lizard. Roy is in the process of adding sound and lights.

Terry showed a ‘Wave Vase’ based on the Wave Bowls that he has been experimenting with.

Alan showed a double sided diamond plate kit that he bought from Timbecon.

New member Leonardo showed several puppets he has made – Leonardo has made many puppets, but these are the first he has made of carved wood. He also showed the first bowl he made. The bowl was made on a Saturday morning session at the CVWA Workshop, with Roy’s advice and guidance. All in all, it was a very credible piece.

Work on Show at the June Meeting

Bowl by Bob Northam from a wonderfully coloured piece of Camphor Laurel

The June meeting of the CV Woodies saw a good range of items on display for the Show and Tell section of the meeting. In addition to the items shown here was a Blackbutt Burl framed wall mirror (work in progress) by Jim Morison, a well executed turned ring for a banjo body made by new member Bill McLennan (Bill’s second attempt at turning!), and a range of interesting timbers collected by Andrew Grady (some if which he had for sale).

My apologies to those members whose work I failed to photograph (or at least get a competent photo of!).

Turned Platter by Terry Hulm – featuring timber from the same log as the piece by Bob Northam (above)

Vase turned from hollow log, by Roy Ellery

Jacaranda Festival – Competition Entries now open!

The 2022 Jacaranda Festival Woodwork Display is on again.

The Competition Section is open to all woodworkers. Members of other woodworking clubs are especially welcome. Categories include Furniture, Turned Articles, Small articles, Free Expression and more.

The entry form can be downloaded here or at the link below.

competition-entry-form-202214180-3 Download

Small turnings…

A finely turned piece in Tiger Myrtle by Roy Ellery, with the tools he made to turn the item. The 50 cent piece is for scale.

At a recent session at the CVWA’s Ulmarra workshop, Roy Ellery produced this fine small box with lid during morning tea discussion. The piece is made from tiger myrtle, with a finely turned finial. The finial is so fine that the tip broke when Roy was painting it!

Roy often makes his own turning tools -these miniature scrapers were made from old Allen keys – a good choice because of the quality of steel used.

The moral of the story – don’t waste the finest off cuts of beautiful timbers!

Maker of the Year…

The Australian Wood Review magazine is running its Maker of the Year event, with support from Carbatec and other sponsors. The event sets out to encourage talented and innovative woodworkers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world, with a prize pool of $23,000.

Neil Cryer has entered his award winning ‘Butterfly Fantasy’ – a wonderfully light and delicate turned and pierced piece. (Neil was awarded ‘Best Overall’ in the Lower Clarence Art and Crafts Festival woodwork competition).

Over the course of the event, Australian Wood Review showcases selected works from the competition entries on its Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the year.

This week, it was Neil’s entry that was chosen to be showcased via Facebook and Instagram, with the caption as follows:-

“Here’s Neil Cryer’s entry: Butterfly Fantasy is “transparent in part and incredibly light in construction from the end of a heavy 400mm diameter windfall jacaranda log”.

Another recent picture of Neil’s entry to Maker of the Year.

Note that entries to the ‘Maker of the Year’ close on 5 September.

Show and Tell from the June Meeting

The June club meeting was well attended, despite the cold but sunny weather!

The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Bob Aitken and Terry Hulm on the use of resins in their work. Unfortunately, I had to leave early, and missed a very slick and informative presentation – regretfully, we have no photos!

A diverse range of pieces were put up for ‘Show and Tell’. Steve Dodd and Alan Bishop shared the draw for vouchers.

Colin Lang’s Puzzle piece. Unfortunately, Colin dropped the puzzle, and couldn’t get it back together!

A Bandsawn Box by Darby Munro – made from a piece of the legendary ‘Mongrel Mango’.

A Plectrum Holder – built by Steve Dodd for his daughter to hold guitar picks. CNC machined.

A mallet – made by Colin Lang’s grandson.

Paper Napkin Holder – made by Steve Dodd while learning to use his CNC machine.

Recent work

As we head towards the next Jacaranda Festival Exhibition (Saturday 29 October through Sunday 6 November), our members are hard at work. The Jacaranda display and sales is the Clarence Valley Woodworkers Association’s major event of the year. All members are encouraged to participate. Members can display and sell made items or choose to just display only.

Here are some new pieces by Bob Aitken and Roy Ellery

Club Meeting and Demonstration – April 30-2022

Apologies – this article was written back in April, but someone forgot to press the ‘publish’ button!

The CVWA General Meeting of 30-April, 2022 was followed by a demonstration by President Roy Ellery. Roy brought in the range of tools he uses to carve and texture his turned and sculpted pieces. Roy’s demo generated a lot of interest, with questions from the floor. Some of Roy’s tools have a reverse switch option, apparently, that feature can be used to correct mistakes…

As usual, the meeting featured the traditional Show and Tell section, with numerous items and plenty of discussion.

Roy Ellery – Turned, textured and painted bowl

Alan Bishop – Un-square box with glass bird

Jim Morison – Mystery log – best guesses included Crepe Myrtle and Mulberry

Alan Bishop – Dragon Fly box – Coastal Cypress and Mango

The meeting concluded with a sausage sizzle and good conversation – thanks to Colin Lang.

Clarence Valley Arts and Crafts Festival 2022

The Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association held its Clarence River Arts and Crafts Festival (22/23 January) after cancellations and delays. The woodworking section was well supported with a very strong and diverse range of entries.

The Clarence Valley Woodworkers dominated – both in quantity and quality of entries!

The work was judged by Bim Morton, a studio woodworker and educator of more than 30 years experience. Bim is also a co-founder of the Tree-O Gallery in Raleigh, just off the Bellingen Road. In addition to fine woodwork, Tree-O
Gallery features other arts and crafts, such as ceramics, painting and sculpture. Next time you find yourselves traveling to Coffs Harbour, take the time to visit!

Neil Cryer is rightfully pleased with his winning entry!

Neil Cryer won the prize for Best Overall with his tour de force piece ‘Butterfly Fantasy’. Everyone was drawn to this piece, and it was widely admired.

Pat Johnson’s ‘Flower Bowl’ as another wonderful piece, taking out First Prize for the Carved, Sculpted or Joined Section. Although partly turned, the real work was in the detailed carving around the rim and underneath. The piece was made from a stunning piece of curly Mango.

Steve Dodd’s wonderful ‘Musical Bench’ took second place in the Carved, Sculpted or Joined Section. The choice of timbers, the design of the piece and the execution were outstanding.

First Prize in the Turned Section went to Roy Ellery for this beautiful ‘Leafed Bowl’. It was no surprise that this piece sold very quickly. The judge had no problem selecting this piece, and he noted the form and the beautiful finish on the inside of the bowl.