GULF COAST WOODTURNER...GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 3 2019 GCWA RETREAT BY DON...
Transcript of GULF COAST WOODTURNER...GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 3 2019 GCWA RETREAT BY DON...
GULF COAST WOODTURNER February 2019 Newsletter
President’s Corner By Greg Gonsalves
Hello fellow turners! We had one of our largest gatherings for a regular meet-
ing in January. What a great showing! We even had a visiting turner from Canada with us. He extended an invitation for us to attend one of his club’s meetings after
the snow and ice melts. That’ll take a while since they’ve been having sub-zero
temperatures lately. [Fun Fact: -40° Fahrenheit is equal to -40° Celsius, ed.]
When you show off your turnings, have you been asked, “What kind of wood is that?” All the time, probably. Do you always know the answer? Half the time,
probably. Well, if you join us in February, our demo will help solve that problem. Dan Schmoker will advise us on how to identify different trees available to us to turn. Dan is a retired Illinois
State Forester and knows a thing or two about wood. He might have some good literature to hand out for those of us with short memories. I know I can benefit from this demo. If it doesn’t have the label from Home Depot on
the end of it, I’m usually guessing the type of wood I have on the lathe.
The President’s Challenge for February is to turn a miniature “something.” Larry Zarra put on a great demo last month on doing small turnings. Let’s see what we can come up with. It can be anything — a bowl, a hollow-
form, a candle stick holder. Be creative and have fun!
Hey folks, our retreat is right around the corner. The registrations at our January meeting were the largest first day sign ups ever, and the classes are filling fast. Be sure to grab the remaining spots at the February meet-
ing. If you haven’t paid your 2019 club dues, be prepared to do so. You must be a current member to attend (for insurance purposes). I keep getting asked where the retreat will take place this year. NOT in Conroe as in years
past, but in Deer Park: The Jimmy Burke Activity Center, 500 West 13th Street, Deer Park, Texas 77536.
I hope you’re taking advantage of the weather and getting something ready for Show and Tell.
Please turn safely,
Greg
Registration materials for the Retreat were emailed to members by Scott Haddix
on January 18th. They included the 1-page registration form and a 1-page calen-dar of activities, both of which may be available at this Saturday’s GCWA meeting.
But Scott’s email also included a 30-page full description of each of the workshop
sessions, including any tools or materials to bring and any extra costs. Please be sure to read the sections on your sessions before coming to the Retreat.
JJANUARYANUARY DDEMONSTRATIONEMONSTRATION: “M: “MINIATURESINIATURES,”,” with Larry Zarra
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 2
In January GCWA’s own Larry Zarra shared with us his fasci-
nation with turning tiny pieces, not only tops and balls, but
hollowforms and lidded boxes as well. He also talked about
enhancements and decora-
tions and described the tools
and materials he uses most frequently.
Lidded boxes are among the trickiest miniatures to produce.
Note the quarter in the picture for comparison.
Author Malcolm Gladwell has argued that many pro-
fessionals at the top of their field spent roughly 10,000 hours honing their skills. Larry’s version of
this is the jars he fills with practice pieces.
Over the years, Larry has made
some of his own tools for miniature work, and modified
others that he’s purchased. Lighting is critical when working with such tiny pieces.
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 3
2019 GCWA RETREAT2019 GCWA RETREAT BY DON FLUKER, RETREAT LEADER
This year’s Retreat is just around the corner — the weekend of March 9th and 10th.
All you new members are asking, “What is this
Retreat?” Well, many years ago (about 28 or 30), when Gulf Coast Woodturners was just get-
ting started, several members of the club who
lived in Conroe arranged for the club to have
use of a building on the Montgomery County
Fairgrounds, at no cost. The Club’s own mem-
bers planned hands-on classes for other mem-bers, and called it our Retreat.
GWCA has been doing this once a year ever since then. This year the venue is moving to
Deer Park because Montgomery County wanted
to charge us more for the use of the building than we can afford and still keep the registra-
tion fee at $50.
There are classes for everyone, from beginner/
novice wood turners to intermediate and
advanced.
It’s a great deal for $50 —
three classes and two
catered lunches. You won’t find that anywhere
else. You do have to be a
member of GCWA to at-tend ($25 annual mem-
bership fee), so join if
you haven’t done so al-ready. We will have so-
das and water available
for you, and in years past many of you have
brought desserts and
snacks. Let’s keep that
tradition going. I’m especially fond of choco-
late! Those of you bringing a lathe must also
bring a live center, drive center, knock-out bar,
and a chuck, with its key or tommy bars. PLEASE make sure to mark everything as yours.
Let a Board member know if your stuff is lost or
damaged: the club will make things right. Once again there will be a Gallery, so bring
something you have done and let us see it. This
will be my last year as Retreat Leader. I sin-
cerely believe some new leadership is needed.
Thanks to all who have helped over the years!
Again: Mark your tools.
Again: I like chocolate!
Set-up: Friday, March 8
Saturday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (lunch 12:00 to 1:30)
Sunday: 9:00 am to noon, then lunch, then
clean-up, then Raffle at 2:00 pm
Jimmy Burke Activity Center 500 W 13th St,
Deer Park, TX 77536
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 4
FFEBRUARYEBRUARY PPROGRAMROGRAM: “F: “FINDINGINDING THETHE WWOODOOD ININ AA TTREEREE,” ,”
with Dan Schmokerwith Dan Schmoker
Dan Schmoker retired as an Illinois forester in 2017 and moved to Houston, so
he’s a relatively new member of GCWA. He hasn’t let the
moss grow under his feet, though (as they say) since he’s pictured on page 6 of this
newsletter receiving the 1st
place ribbon in the Intermedi-ate category for his butternut
bowl.
Dan will talk about identifying trees in Texas, using a “dichotomous key,” which is a form of decision tree
that we may be familiar with from other settings. With trees, for example, the first step is usually listed
as “Does the tree have needles or leaves?” He will have handouts at the meeting, but he also says that any members who own either of these two pocket-
sized guides should bring them to the meeting:
Additionally, bring along a 10x eye loupe or hand lens/magnifying glass if you have one handy.
In Illinois, Dan was a member of the Lincoln Land Woodturners, and a presentation he did for them in
2016 is available on YouTube: “Re-turning a Dried Green Bowl Blank” at https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=b79riyp98Z8&t=272s
The Schmokers’ introduction to Houston left a lot to
be desired. Their belongings were still mostly in
boxes when Hurricane Harvey hit, their house
flooded (no flood insurance), and they lost a great
deal. A GoFund me effort helped them recover part of their losses.
If you want to practice ahead of time using a di-
chotomous key, go out to your backyard and bring
in a leaf. Then go to this website of the national Arbor Day organization, and proceed using their online program. (Yes, yes, you probably already
know what kind of trees you have in your back-yard, but this is PRACTICE.)
https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/whatTree.cfm?ItemID=E6A
Some of you may be thinking, “Gee, I’ve always wondered what kind of wood that ugly piece in
my garage is. I’ll just bring it along and ask Dan.” “Please don’t,” Dan says. That’s not going to be
the focus of his presentation.
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 5
SSHOWHOW ANDAND TTELLELL, J, JANUARYANUARY 2018 2018
BEST OF SHOW: Scott Haddix, Winged Bowl
George Graves Captured All Three Awards in the Beginners Category
1st Place Enhanced Oak/Mahogany Bowl
2nd Place Mahogany/
Walnut Bowl
3rd Place Black Palm Bowl
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 6
SSHOWHOW ANDAND TTELLELL, J, JANUARYANUARY 2018, 2018, CONTINUEDCONTINUED
2nd Place Intermediate,
Dean Grimes, Spalted Bowl
1st Place Intermediate
Dan Schmoker, Butternut Bowl
3rd Place Intermediate:
Dean Grimes, Mimosa Bowl
January Show and Tell Judges
Stephen Seal and Paul Millo
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 7
SSHOWHOW ANDAND TTELLELL, J, JANUARYANUARY 2018, 2018, CONTINUEDCONTINUED
1st Place Advanced
Gary Rock, Cedar Hollowform
3rd Place
Advanced Scott Haddix
Texas Ebony Goblet
2nd Place Advanced
Paul Mugridge, Bradford Pear Hollowform
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 8
SSHOWHOW ANDAND TTELLELL, J, JANUARYANUARY 2018, 2018, CONTINUEDCONTINUED
1st Place Enhanced:
Gary Rock, River Birch Spiral Bowl
2nd Place Enhanced:
Gary Rock, White Oak Hollowform
3rd Place Enhanced Walter Mooney, Maple and Cedar Stepstool
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 9
SSHOWHOW ANDAND TTELLELL, J, JANUARYANUARY 2018, 2018, CONTINUEDCONTINUED
1st Place Kits:
Andy Henderson, Acryllic Pen
2nd Place Kits:
Dean Grimes, Screwdriver
3rd Place Kits Thomas Matthews, Walnut Bottle Stopper
GULF COAST WOODTURNER, February 2019, page 11
About Our Club
Gulf Coast Woodturners Association has, for more than twenty years, been affiliated with the American Association of Woodturners. GCWA meets at 9:00 am, usually on the third Saturday, and usually at the
Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston (see map at left). Annual dues are $25. The
club’s website is www.gulfcoastwoodturners.org,
and its email address is:
There are many resources for turners on the AAW website:
https://www.woodturner.org
Executive Committee
Greg Gonsalves, President — 281-998-8662, [email protected] Ed Peine, Vice President — 832-289-0659, [email protected]
Lane Bradford, Secretary — 936-447-9310, [email protected]
Rene Gonzalez, Treasurer — 281-481-6415, [email protected] Walter Mooney, Board Member (membership) — 713-248-6431, [email protected]
Dave Greenawalt, Board Member — 936-524-6610, [email protected]
Scott Haddix, Board Member and Website Creative Director — 281-213-8900, [email protected]
Scott Njaa, Board member
Chuck Graham, Board member, 713-899-4562, [email protected]
George Kabacinski, Education/Programs, 832-349-3006, [email protected]
Don Fluker, Demo events and Retreat Coordinator, 713-382-8986, [email protected]
John McCune, Newsletter Editor — 281-744-9978, [email protected]
GCWA Meeting Schedule
February, 2019: Dan Schmoker, Finding the Wood in a Tree
March 8-10, 2019: GCWA Retreat
March, 2019: Gary Barnes, Three-sided Box with a Twist
August 17, 2019 — Demo Day with Jimmy Clewes