General Meeting

February’s General meeting will be a turning centric event.

• Agenda
• 9 am – meet and greet – -coffee and pastries
• 9:15 – short business meeting
• 9:30 Alan Kirby would like to address the membership about a special piece of wood, see below”The Charter Oak was an enormous white oak tree growing on Wyllys Hill in Hartford, Connecticut, from around the 12th or 13th century until it fell during a storm in 1856. Connecticut colonists hid Connecticut’s Royal Charter of 1662 within the tree’s hollow to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general. The oak symbolized American independence and was commemorated on the Connecticut State Quarter. It was also depicted on a commemorative half dollar^[1] and a postage stamp^[2] in 1935, Connecticut’s tercentennial.”This slab was originally cut from the tree by John Calvin Barker, the great-great grandfather of my wife.  He operated a lumber mill on Governor St in Hartford at the time of the storm.  The slab was passed down through the Barker family and has been in my wife’s possession since her father passed away.As the 250th anniversary of America’s founding approaches, my wife and I would like to do something worthy of this slab from perhaps the most symbolically important tree in America’s history.The slab itself seems quite dry.  It’s about 4.5″ thick, but warped and has a deep insect-created channel on one side.  These are clearly challenges for any project using this slab.Our original thought was to create a tabletop, perhaps with epoxy filling the channel, but we have been advised this would be difficult.  Another suggestion was an art piece.

  Given the knowledge, skills, and creativity within GNHW, we are hoping to solicit ideas on how to utilize this slab in a way that honors its history.  My own woodworking skills are limited to basic turning so I do not feel competent to do much with it by myself however.

   

• 
• 10:00 Josh Rasch Epoxy “Demo”

  Discussion on the process of how I use Epoxy in woodturning. The Epoxy I use, Why and when I use each type of epoxy. Pouring the Epoxy to make a turning blank, the Tools I use to turn and finishing the pieces.

• I started turning in 2023 as something to do during the winter when Golf courses were not open. I quickly found a love for turning and dove head first into it. Early on I was playing around and using Epoxy for the turning. I really like how epoxy gives you the opportunity to work with wood you wouldn’t normally turn, that is cracked or has insect damage. The epoxy with these types of pieces really gives the pieces a unique look

• 11:00 Don Lowe will demonstrate turning a votive candle holder,

  Don Lowe is a member of the Guild as well as a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen. He’s been wood turning about 13 years and is mostly self-taught. He enjoys creating things from odd and unique pieces of wood that end up being one of a kind items.

  Don retired from GE Aerospace in 2021 as a Principal Engineer and devotes his time to wood turning, machining projects and outdoor activities including bicycling and kayaking. He lives in Bow, NH with his wife Diane.

• 11:30 Bill Emerson will demonstrate turning a an egg,
  I’ve been turning 15 plus years and mostly self taught.
  I’m a member of the Guild of NH Woodworkers, GSWT and Seacoast Woodturners.
  Also a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen.
  Current President of GSWT.
  I have participated at Sunapee Craftsmen’s Fair for many years as a demonstrator.
  Always looking to encourage and bring in young individuals.
• 12:00 Brown Bag lunch.
• 12:30 Chris Schmidt  will briefly demonstrate some basic and advanced bowl turning techniques, emphasizing the minimalization of sanding, and then show how easy it is to add texture with carbide carving tips and a Dremel tool. He will also walk us through his process of applying layers of milk paint finish over cherry wood, sanding back and polishing the work to achieve the aged copper or ceramic look.
  Chris Schmidt teaches Design Technology at Thetford Academy, which includes woodworking and wood turning as well as metal work, timber framing, and graphic design. He is vice president of the Upper Valley Woodturners. Chris has been turning for 15 years, exploring form, color, and texture as elements of design. More recently, Chris has continued his interest in design through the medium of clay. “Artistic design is independent of medium, the challenge is how to express your vision within the nature of the material.”
  It is hard to beat the look and feel of clear cherry polished to a satin finish and aged over time. Figured wood can be quite stunning. But let’s face it, much of what we do on the lathe is limited to different shades of brown, smooth texture, and variations of round form. Ceramic craft more readily invites texture, color, and vast possibilities in form. Bringing some of this influence to wood, Chris uses alternative shapes, simple carving, and milk paint finishes to make wood look like ceramics or even copper. Inspired by the work of Al Stirt’s square to round bowls, and Beth Ireland’s bandsaw boxes, Chris applies similar techniques to create salad bowls where form and function converge to highlight the aesthetics of woodcraft.
• Adjourn 3:00