Hands-On Evening – Group turning project July 2022

This evening’s hands-on event is a team challenge which was organised by Roger our club chairman, who came up with a project of a Clown Clock, with the parts being turned on three separate lathes.

Each team was to have three club members who will work from the provided diagram with all measurements being given to work from. Each team will work on a different aspect of the clock project and hopefully it should fit together by the end of the evening all being well.

There were three lathes on the go throughout the evening and these were overseen by three team leaders:

Rob Hackett

Steve Hackett

Paul Wiley

The team leaders were there for advice and guidance to aid the member’s development through the process, and they were not to be doing any turning themselves (no chance of that then). The club members started to take an active part in the turning process and this went down well as the evening progressed, I think we will be having a similar type of set-up in the future.

The major shock of the evening was when our very own Raffle King, Arthur actually won a prize, he spent the rest of the evening chatting whilst in shock. With Steve being on the lathe the raffle duties were undertaken by Richard with the taking of the money and handing out the tickets. This could be why Arthur won this week.

Ian was unable to attend for the evening due to his wife, Kim going down with the dreaded COVID, hope she recovers well from this, so all the best from the club.

Finally, our thanks go out to all the club members who undertook the setting up and cleaning away of the equipment and waste made during the evening’s entertainment.

The finished clock, courtesy to Roger Cheshire.

Report by Barrie Fisher and edited by Steve Hackett

All-day hands-on meeting in July 2022

Blackcountry Woodturners had their All-day hands-on meeting today. It started at 10.00 and went on till 16.00, this is an event that when allowed is put on at least once a year.

During the day any club member could go along and try out different aspects of turning, this included the following:

  • Sharpening using different types of systems, (Nigel demonstrated his design of holding the gouges)
  • Carving with a rotary device, thanks to Rob
  • Colouring and waxing to develop a finish
  • Aspects of turning for the newer members, thanks to Steve, Roger.

The club was well attended by the committee and had a steady member base drop in during the day with some being in attendance all day.  This aspect of the open day will be an ongoing event in the coming years for the members.  We were also able to sign up a new member during the day who is just starting in the wood adventure.

We had four lathes on the go during the day, which were used to good effect, and some of the newer turners ended up with one-to-one instruction at times and some were given various methods of solving problems that they have encountered in a safe and effective manner.

Though out the day we were able to help ourselves to tea and coffee with biscuits, cake and savoury items provided for everyone, alongside the table with numerous wood blanks and tools for sale.

Ian was also very busy during the day carrying out the PAT testing on all of the club’s electrical items and updating each item with an updated label.

Report by Barrie Fisher and edited by Steve Hackett