June 14, 2025 Club Meeting
Rogers Historical Museum Open House: Randy Wright reported that there was a good turnout and lots of interest at the turning demonstration the club provided the previous Saturday, June 7th. The kids loved the tops they would make and give away. Since they couldn’t make them fast enough, one member came back to the club house to collect more to provide to the kids. Randy thanked all the club members that participated. I video of the event is on the website.
Little Rock Veteran’s Home Visit: Randy Wright and Ron East reported on their LR Veteran’s Home visit. They very impressed by the enthusiasm of the veterans, who would line up when they have an opportunity to turn pins and other small items. They had 13 sit-down lathes, some wheelchair compatible, and there was even had a one handed turner. This was the main activity of the week for many of the vets. They would like to see our club help set something like this up locally, perhaps at the new veteran home coming to Springdale. Volunteers will be needed to make that happen. A Youtube Video includes some pictures from this visit.
Every Other 4th Saturday for Recruitment: David Morris suggested dedicating some of the 4th Saturdays for recruitment, maybe every other one. It could be a Bring a Friend to see demonstrations and experience turning. It was also suggested that the August 4th Saturday be dedicated to members sharing/demoing short tips and tricks that they use. Of course volunteers are needed to implement any of these ideas.
Lace Bobbins: Paul Moore learned that members of the Dogwood Lace Guild need these small (about 5”) wood tools for working lace. He brought one in to show, and asked that anyone interested in making these for the Dogwood Lace Guild should contact them via their Facebook page.
Financial Report: Joe Fernandez, Treasurer, provided account balances and income and expenses for the prior month.
Club Insurance: David Morris, Joe Fernancdez, and Steve Jeffcoat had discussions with our liability insurance carrier AMJ Hartford Ins. Some clarification was obtained, but questions remain regarding the overlap provided by our AAW membership. For an event to be covered, it does seem that it must be an official club activity. There was speculation that for an event to be official it might have to be in the club minutes – official minutes are something we are still working toward, but have not historically had. Hartford did expand our coverage to include club property, for no additional charge.
Show and Tell, Novice: Tony Schmitt won best in this category for his bowl that had been displayed in the Roger’s Historical Museum. Other entrants included Ron East, Doug Farish, Chuck Gunther, Jim Higuera, Ken Larkin, and David Wimberly. Many of these were pieces made as part of the beginner’s class. Congratulations to Thurman Hatch and the other volunteers that have helped conduct those classes and get these new members turning.
Show and Tell, Advanced: Deborah Ness won best in this category wither a hollow vessel which, when one wall as too thin, she converted it to an opening containing a miniature version of that same vessel. Other entrants included Larry Copas with a walnut/maple urn and a salt well.
Pieces for the Roger’s Historical Museum: Debe Krogman made an appeal for more pieces for display at the museum. She changes out the display every three months and wants us to show off our work. You get the piece back after the quarter. As she said, “everything is worthy”.
Bring Back Raffle: There were 35 tickets sold. Joe Fernandez won first pick and chose a beautiful bowl Thurman had made (who will receive a free ticket next month).
Black Bags: Pauline Stutsman had club bags on display that are available for purchase from the club store for $20.
Demonstration, Paul Moore Making a Salt Well/Cellar/Box: Paul brought in many of these he had made, pointing out the flaws in each so that we could avoid those same mistakes.
- His lid preference is a flat lid that rotates on a rod glued into the underside of the lid that fits into a hole drilled into the side of the box. He had one example of a wood dowel for the pivot hinge that went all the way through the lid.
- Do not buy a ¼” rod from Home Depot because it is not cold rolled steel, and thus the dimension is off, instead buy a cold rolled steel rod from Lowe’s.
- A drill press is best for getting perpendicular holes, but he showed using a jig he built to center the hole in the wall/lid of his box and which also acts as a guide.
- A magnet is used exactly opposite the hinge to provide a positive close. He found a magnet in the lid and in the bottom too strong, but that will depend on the magnet you use. He puts a stub rod in one or the other location.
- Since you are using your fingers to pinch out salt, you don’t want the box too deep. He started with a 3 ¾” cube of walnut.
- He mounted it for spindle turning (end grain) and used a Stebcenter from Craft Supplies.
- He rounded the piece using a skew chisel cutting high, starting my removing the corners. He finds using the skew to be very quick.
- He put ¼” tenons on both ends, continuing to use his skew with a peeling cut finishing the tenons with a parting tool and a spindle gouge to sharpen the corners.
- He then marked the lid at ½” down from the top.
- He noted at this point, that if he were going to use a wooden dowel for the pivot hinge that would go through the lid -- he would take it off the lathe and drill that hole on the drill press at this time.
- He then chucked it up, and made sure it was straight using a small ruler.
- He then parted off the lid using a thin parting tool and a saw.
- Next, he chucked up the top and used a spindle gouge to flatten the bottom and cut a 3/16th inch mortise; then used a sanding block to flatten the edge which needs to be ½” thick for the magnet.
- He then flipped the top using the expansion chuck to remove the tenon, and sanded the top of the lid with the sanding block and paper.
- He then mounted the bottom of the box in the chuck and cut a recess in the top of the box to match that of the bottom of the lid, and sanded that.
- Next, he flipped the bottom to remove the tenon, marked it for the same recess, and cut that recess for mounting the bottom of the box in the expansion chuck and checked for flat.
- He then flipped the box again, so the bottom is mounted in the expansion chuck and used a 2” Forstner bit to drill out about an inch of material. He marked the rim for his ½” sides and hollowed it using a spindle gouge working from the center out, and back up the side. He said you could use a hollowing bit, a big round nose scraper, or a special homemade tool. A scraper would be needed to clean up the bottom.
- He lined up the grain between the lid and the box and marked opposing sides.
- He drilled the hinge rod mortise with a portable drill and his custom jig that centered the hole in his ½” wall (bottom) and equivalent distance from the side of the lid. These were clamped together for drilling. He cut his cold rolled steel rod with a hacksaw. The rod would be epoxied into the lid and rotate in the box hole. The magnet(s) would be similarly fitted on the opposite side.
Paul and Larry (who brought in a salt well for show and tell) noted that there are forums discussing salt well construction on the AAW website, publicly available to all. Many thanks to Paul for this detailed demonstration.
Attendance: Approximately 25.