1

April 2013

It must be spring again as I seem to have an increasing number of rabbits chowing down in my yard, which in turn will probably lead to an increasing number of coyotes who in turn will lead to a decreasing number of rabbits, and could possibly have something to do with my missing cat, but I digress.

Springtime also means that it will be time to finish those heirloom pieces that you’ve been working on for the Fine Art Woodworking Show at the Orange County Fair. You’ll be checking the insides, outsides, bottoms, and tops to ensure that everything is looking fabulous for those persnickety judges. You’ll want to get rolling on these projects pretty soon, because the cut-off date for entries to the competition is June 1st, 2013. If you have any questions regarding

the entry process you can email entries@ocfair.com, or ask our Fair Chairman, Mr. Larry Marley.

2x4 Contest

For the life of me I can’t figure out why they call a 2x4 a 2x4, when in actuality they are really 1 ½”x 3 ½”, but that’s a discussion for another time. What I can tell you is that we will be having the 2x4, or 1 ½”x 3 ½” contest at the May meeting. The contest premise is what can you make out of one pine, or fir 8 foot length of 2x4. It’s always a lot of fun, and it’s pretty amazing what our members can come up with, so be a part of this, and get down to the hardware store for a 2x4, or, you know what it really is, and start cutting. The rules for this contest will be posted on another page of this newsletter.

Online Store?

After noticing that my OCWA polo shirt was getting a little long in the tooth, ten years old to be exact, I thought it would be nice to have an on-line store on our web site to be able to purchase a new shirt, or some other club item, but as usual, what seemed like a nice idea at the time bumped into reality, so we’ve had change our think-

ing on the way this was going to actually work.

Two of our Board members, Mr. Ollie Vaughan, and Mr. John Marshal have found a supplier of wearing apparel that will embroider the OCWA, and OC Turn-ers logos on, at very reasonable prices, but the idea of purchasing them on our web site won’t work, because the OCWA can’t carry an inventory of apparel, and are not set up to be in the shipping business.

What we are going to do however is provide some pictures of examples of the apparel, and contact information of our supplier on our website, so that you can order the items directly from our supplier, and they can ship it to you, or you can pick it up yourself. There will be a catalogue available at the meeting for your perusal. I also ordered some items for myself, and hopefully they’ll be ready by

(Continued on page 2)

Volume 30Volume 30 Issue 4Issue 4 April 2013April 2013

I N T H I S I S S U E

President’s Message 1

Woodworkers’ Sawdust 2

Woodturners’ Shavings 3

Show and Tell 4

Calendar of Events 5

Toy Story 5

Freedom Pen Project 6

J. Paul Finnell Demo 7

Meeting Dates 9

President’s MessagePresident’s Message James SanthonJames Santhon

2

Hello again all. Judging by the attendance last month, and the subsequent comments, our guest speaker was a hit! Ron Goldman, Editor of Woodworker West magazine, talked about some great American artists including friend-to-the-club, Sam Maloof. On a quick side note, you can imagine my shock when I saw a long lost picture of me on the front cover of the last Sawdust & Shavings newsletter. In the photo, I was standing next to Sam Maloof and our current prez on an OCWA trip we took to his compound back in the early 2000’s. Hearing Ron’s personal accounts of Sam and the interesting facts around the acclaimed life of this legend, really helped paint a fuller picture of the great man I already thought Sam to be. Thank you Ron!

The April meeting features Master Woodcarver Boris Khechoyan who has over 28 years of experience in woodcarving and has been internationally recognized for his talents continually over his illustrious career. He occasionally teaches at the William Ng’s School of Woodworking in Anaheim, Ca.

Born in Baku City, USSR, Boris began his woodcarving career in 1978 at the Azerbaijan College of Fine Arts in the former Soviet Union. A natural at the craft, Boris received numerous awards from student exhibitions in Moscow while attend-ing college. Boris continued his formal schooling at the University of Architecture in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he studied various other styles of woodcarvings, in-cluding Gothic, Rococo, Empire and Classicism. It is there that he developed a talent for inlaid work, incrustations, Mother of Pearl, bone and hand carvings – specialties that he continues to be in high demand for to this day. In fact, some of the pieces Boris produced during this time are still on display at the Art Museum of Baku.

Please come on down to the April Meeting and see how a master works! This will be a great opportunity to see the tools and tricks of the trade of woodcarving and inlay work.

Best Regards,

- Greg Madrigal

Woodworkers’ SawdustWoodworkers’ Sawdust Greg MadrigalGreg Madrigal

meeting time, so I can display them for you.

Show and Tell

In an attempt to reinvigorate our show and tell participation we’re going to try something a little different at our next meeting.

We’re going to shake up the format a little, so that we’ll be starting the meeting with our usual announcements, but we will have our show and tell segment right after the announcements, and then the break.

Our main speaker will be after the break, and will take us through to the 50/50 drawing, and the finish of the meeting.

This will give our show and tell participants the opportunity to actually share their work with a full room, and could make for some lively banter. We’ll see how this plays out, and hopefully we’ll have a lot of fun. I hope to see you there.

- James Santhon

(Continued from page 1)

3

Fellow Turners: March was a busy month for the OCWT. The J. Paul Fennell Saturday Demo was enjoyed by over 30 members and visitors. It was a great program and those that missed it really missed a unique program by a true wood artist. The follow-on classes were also well attended and intense. Among the highlights was a chance to try out a variety of tools and to prac-tice some new design layout methods. I believe Don Scott will have more information elsewhere in the newsletter. Many thanks to Bill Haskell our pro demonstration chairman as well as Dick Foreman and an outstanding set up crew for helping with this program. Four more paid attendees and

we would have broken even in the finance department. Oh well; profit is NOT my goal, just breaking even or close to it seems to be a worthy goal.

The Thursday April 18 OCWT meeting will feature Pete Carta from Alhambra. He is a well-known turner, an accomplished demonstrator and friend of many in the OCWT. He will be demonstrating some multi axis techniques. It promises to be a really interesting program.

I had promised an annotated list of resources for those that are interested in building or improving a vac-uum chuck system, VCS, for their lathe. Here it is:

1. Craft Supply USA and Packard Woodworks should be known to all. I might suggest down load-ing the Craft Supply’s handout on VCS. It is a good block diagram that may have originated with Oneway Manufacturing.

2. Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowes all have brass pipe fittings and reinforced hose by the foot. Just remember to keep the fittings all the same size. I think ¼” NPT (National Pipe Thread) is perfect. Harbor Freight has a cheap ¼” in line filter.

3. www.MarleyTurned.com Our own Larry Marley has a very good article on VCS in his January 2011 newsletter.

4. The AAW has several VCS articles on their website. www.WoodTurner.org 5. Every time I mention McFadden-Dale Hardware I see a lot of blank faces. You really need to

check out this place. Way in the back near the hose reels they have a great selection of pipe fittings, gauges and particle filters. Watch the sizes as their inventory is open stock and gets exposed to consumer blending. They are located at 1851 Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 714-550-7122. [Note: Mc Fadden-Dale also has locations in north Anaheim, Corona, and Ontario. –Ed.]

6. Check out www.VeneerSupplies.com. They have a great on-line catalog with pictures and de-scriptions. I have ordered from them. Again watch the sizes.

7. Sawmill Creek and Woodturning Online have numerous articles and links. 8. www.CarlFord.info/demos/Vacuum_Chucks_Demo.pdf is a great 20 page article with lots of

pictures. His price information is a bit dated. 9. www.JTTurningTools.com If you call, ask for Tom. He is helpful and knowledgeable. He

makes a vacuum pump adapter for most lathes plus some really neat chucks.

10. Don Doyle at www.RubberChucky.com has some really neat vacuum chuck gaskets as well as other chucking appliances.

So there you are. I’m anxious to hear how your VAC project turns out.

- Robin

Woodturners’ ShavingsWoodturners’ Shavings Robin HoffRobin Hoff

4

• C L U B O F F I C E R S & C O M M I T T E E S •

Board of Directors Club Committees Woodturners Committees

President James Santhon 949-481-2821 Badges Len Musgrave 714-532-4778 Outside Programs Bill Haskell 714-528-4783

Vice President Greg Madrigal 714-539-1818 Mentor Chairman Fred Wilmott 949-367-6671 Challenge Dick Foreman 714-637-6175

Treasurer Ralph Crowther 949-588-2922 Webmaster Larry Marley 949-412-6710 Special Projects Jerry Nininger 949-631-7530

Secretary Jerry Nininger 949-631-7530 Toy Program Bill Rogers 714-637-2912 Pen Projects John Marshall 949-582-2997

Turners President Robin Hoff 714-505-2688 Refreshments Jim Steinmetz 714-842-8793 Audio/Video Ralph Alder 714-614-4461

Public Affairs Larry Marley 949-412-6710 Resources George Plummer 714-540-4527 50/50 Drawing Al Whitcomb 714-931-0555

Director at Large John Marshall 949-582-2997 Library Ollie Vaughan 949-278-5939 50/50 Drawing Bill Rogers 714-637-2912

2nd Director at Large Ollie Vaughn 949-278-5939 Welcome Art Dunbar 714-536-4568 Refreshments Jim Steinmetz 714-842-8793

Director at Large Al Missbrenner 562-866-2873 Newsletter David Tilson 714-330-4786 Wood Supplies Jeanette Gonzales 562-417-7750

Property Master Ralph Alder 714-614-4461

Show & Tell PhotosShow & Tell Photos

5

The March toy workshop was attended by 41 people on a rather cool beautiful sunny day. This was one of the largest number of people we have had at the workshop. Ed Smet was in Hawaii for a couple of weeks visiting his son but he left a box of keepsake boxes to assemble. The sanding group was busy sanding legs and paws for the pull toys made by Allen Darden-elle. The finishing group was busy spraying the keepsake boxes, legs, arms and the duck

bodies and wheels made by Harvey Carr and others. At the April 6th work-shop we will have Carol, Debbie Scott and Mag Musgrave there to make some handkerchief dolls for the baby cradles. If your wife or significant other is interested in making some dolls for the cradles please feel free to attend the workshop. We will have material and supplies and the expertise to teach you how to make them. As you can see from the photos we all had a great time and there is always something to do. It is a great time to get to know your fellow woodworker and for us men to do some “bonding”. Then you will know how the women feel when they go shopping together and “bond”. Just a thought. See you all on April 6th.

- Bill Rogers

Welcome Welcome -- New Members!New Members!

Marc Rayner Huntington Beach

Interest: General Woodworking, Restoration and Furniture

Lynn Rybarczyk San Diego

Interest: Furniture, Cabinetry

• M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R •

Monthly Toy Workshop Bill Rogers’ House Apr. 6, 9:00-Noon

S.D. Fair Design in Wood Entry Deadline www.sdfair.com May 3

Let the Chips Fly W.W. Competition, info. call 951-858-6601 Soboba Casino, San Jacinto May 11-12

Memorial Day Freedom Pen Turn-A-Thon Rockler, Orange May 25, 9:30-Noon

O.C. Fair Woodworking Show Entry Deadline www.ocfair.com June 1

Furniture Society Symposium Los Angeles June 20-23

AWFS Fair Las Vegas, NV June 24-27

Annual AAW Symposium Tampa, FL June 28-30

Independence Day Freedom Pen Turn-A-Thon Rockler, Orange July 6, 9:30-Noon

San Diego County Fair Del Mar June 8 - July 4

Orange County Fair Costa Mesa July 13 - Aug. 12

Graeme Priddle Woodturning Demo Laguna Tools, Irvine July 27

Jimmy Clewes Woodturning Demo Laguna Tools, Irvine Oct. 26

Toy StoryToy Story Bill RogersBill Rogers

6

Our pen program is running quite well and we have nine turners making pens at this time. So far this year we have had 616 finished pens turned in. Four hundred forty-four pens were given to LCDR Kendra Kaufman. We now have two helmets for donations as both Jim Anderson and Seldon Warner both furnished us with helmets. We very much appreci-ate your donations to the program.

Guy Willacker of Rockler had a turn-a-thon to turn pens for the VA Hospital in Long Beach. We had short notice for this event but were able to get six turners and turned 28 Purple Heart pens. Thanks to Richard Kalman, Les Rogers, Doug Turner, Eric Thorson, Seldon Warner and John Marshall for their help. Also Guy is having two more turn-a-thons in the near future at Rockler, 25 May and 6 July, 09:30 to noon. So mark your calendars and let’s give Guy our support.

As a reminder for all, when you turn in ten finished pens at the monthly challenge you are entitled to one ticket for the drawing, thanks to Dick Foreman.

Keep turning and stay healthy,

- John Marshall

Freedom Pen ProjectFreedom Pen Project John MarshallJohn Marshall

1. One or more items made solely from a single softwood (pine, or Douglas fir) 8’ 2x4. No other wood allowed.

2. There will be a special category for toys with a cash prize for the best entry.

3. One entry per person. Might be multiple items, but it counts as one entry.

4. All OCWA members in good standing, except for judges, are eligible to enter.

5. At least 75% of the 2x4, as determined by the judges, must be used.

6. Whatever fasteners or other hardware items the woodworker desires can be used.

7. Finish, including color, are whatever the woodworker desires.

8. Winning entries may be donated to the club for fund raising efforts, but it is not required.

Prizes:

1st Place $100.00 2nd Place $50.00 3rd Place $25.00 Best Toy $25.00

2x4 (or 1 ½”x3 ½”) Contest Rules2x4 (or 1 ½”x3 ½”) Contest Rules

7

J. Paul Fennell is famous for his unusual vessels using negative space by carving and piercing. He has done demonstrations at many of the woodturning symposiums including AAW. You can find and review Paul's work at his website, www.jpaulfennell.com. The Satur-

day demo was held at Laguna Tool in Irvine. We thank Laguna Tool for the generous use of their facilities.

The first thing Paul talked about was safety! He begs you to use eye protection as an absolute mini-mum. But you also should consider some type of dust mask to prevent ingesting the dust from any wood you are using, but specifically some of the exotics.

Whenever you are creating art you have to consider the form … and maintain smooth transitions with graceful curves to be successful. Paul was an en-gineer in the Apollo Program and as he transitioned into artist he says that he would never consider cre-ating on the lathe using a drawing with dimensions because it would just drive him crazy.

Paul was generous to share some of his best secrets for making hollow forms and then decorating them with texturing and piercing. Paul does most of his work with green wood and almost always uses free wood to make his pieces (collected from tree trimmings and firewood piles). You can't beat the cost. You have to consider the orientation and shrink ratio of the wood you are us-ing. Some woods are easier to work with because their shrink ratio is closer to 1 (which means that the wood shrinks almost the same in both direc-tions) such as mesquite. To prevent the wood from drying too fast and splitting or deforming, after turn-ing the outside shape, coat it with medium super glue. Since Paul lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, he really has to pay attention to how fast the wood dries.

Paul shared with us how to make our own handles for our lathe tools that are non-rolling and easily done on a table saw. For hollowing, Paul has found that you can buy surplus drill bits for about $5 a pound and since they are made from high speed steel, you can use the drill bits to make inexpensive cutters for your lathe hollowing tools. Paul had a large selection of home-made boring bars that he uses for different operations in his hollowing. With the table saw handles and $5 a pound tool steel bits, you can make your own for cheap.

Paul had several tricks to get a consistent and thin wall thickness for his vessels. One way was to use a high-energy light with fiber-optics inside the ves-sel which allows you to judge the wall thickness and consistency by how the light appears on the outside (works best in a darker room). Another way was to

drill a series of holes (on vessels you plan on pierc-ing anyway) to a certain precise depth around the vessel and then hollow the inside until the light shines through the holes. In order to do this, you first have to lay out your design and make sure the holes are only drilled where you plan

to pierce. The same concept will work on the out-side surface for areas you want to lower consis-tently from adjacent areas. Just drill a series of holes and then using various rotary tools, you can lower the surface to the depth of the drilled holes.

(Continued on page 8)

J. Paul Fennell Demo, Sat., March 16th Don Scott

8

For surface design, you can use the indexing fea-ture of your lathe, but many times the stock index-ing feature will not provide you with enough stops. For example, my lathe has a 96 position index fea-ture but if my design repeats every 5 indexes, it won't work on my lathe. No problem, you can make your own indexing disk for your lathe. I have seen these in the past and always thought I would make some for myself, but had no idea how to accurately locate the stop positions. Can you measure 3.6 degrees for a 100 position index? Well, Paul gave us the secret. Just design your index disk so that the circumference is some easy increment and turn your disk to that specific circumference. Then it is easy to measure and mark for your index locations. For a 100 position indexing disk, I just made it 25 inches in circumference and marked every quarter inch! Just like Staples, "That was Easy."

Now you can draw linear lines using the indexing disk. Draw the radial lines by rotating the piece in the lathe. You can use this for your design or even draw diagonal lines through the corners of the radial and linear lines to turn your design by 45 degrees. Tedious but effective. This allows you to apply a 2D design to a 3D surface.

Finding the tools to do this type of work can be diffi-cult, so Paul has a site called bursforcarving.com

where you can buy assorted rotary burrs and tools for carving and piercing your work. Paul recom-mends a sandpaper called Rhynowet Redline (made in Portugal) available from 80 grit to 2500 grit at www.supergrit.com for about $25 for 50 sheets. This stuff is long lasting and flexible.

After the all day Saturday demo, Paul conducted 2 separate workshops hosted at Woodcraft in Stanton (limited to 6 participants). One was a two day event and the other was a one day event. These were hands-on events where the participants were able to create and decorate their projects with Paul there to guide them in whatever style of piercing they

were interested in and to contribute design advice and tool selection in order to finish the projects more effi-ciently. The group even went next door to Acapulco for lunch. They must have had a good time because you can see what

Jerry Nininger had for dessert. Did he share? I don't think so.

We remember Paul's Apollo Program background and can see that he has indeed made the transition from scientist to artist. Paul had a lot of really great tips for decorating and piercing different projects from the lathe and with all his thin-wall turning, cut-ting, texturing and piecing, we didn't once hear him say, "Houston, we have a problem."

Thank you Paul, for your brilliant demonstration.

- Don Scott

(Continued from page 7)

Friends of OCWA — Please Support Our Sponsors

P.O. Box 1038 Fullerton CA 92836-8038

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Anderson International Trading

(800) 454-6270 www.AITWood.com

Deft, Inc.

www.DeftFinishes.com

Laguna Tools

(800) 234-1976 www.LagunaTools.com

Rockler Woodworking & Hardware (714) 282-1157

www.Rockler20.com

Austin Hardwood & Hardware

(714) 953-4000 AustinHardwoodsOnline.com

Exotic Woods USA

(631) 651-8651 www.ExoticWoodsUSA.com

Reel Lumber Service

(714) 632-1988 www.ReelLumber.com

Festool

www.FestoolUSA.com

Craft Supplies, USA

(800)551-8876 www.WoodturnersCatalog.com

Industrial Blade & Products Co.

www.IndustrialBlade.net

Renaissance Doors & Windows

(888) 283-0722

RenaissanceDoorsAndWindows.com

Woodcraft Supply

(714) 899-1422 www.Woodcraft.com

WHERE?

Tustin Senior Center 200 S. “C” Street Tustin, CA 92680

WHEN?

Woodworkers’ Meeting Thursday April 4, 7:00 PM

Woodturners’ Meeting Thursday April 18, 6:30 PM

Board Meeting Thursday April 4, 6:00 PM

Sawdust &

Shavings

Is The Monthly Newsletter of

The Orange County

Woodworkers Association

Visit us on the Web at: OCWoodWorkers.com

Sawdust & Shavings is pub-lished monthly before the Woodworkers Meeting. The deadline for submissions is the Monday after the Turner’s meeting.

Do you have an idea for an article, shop tip, or tool review? Please contact the editor at:

library@davidtilson.com