May 2020 President’s Letter
Hello to all fellow MAWT members,
I hope everybody is safe, healthy and staying busy. The Milwaukee Area Woodturners club inaugurated its first streaming video demonstration with Mike Mahoney this past Saturday. Mike is very knowledgeable about all things wood and an expert woodturner. He discussed trees, tools, grinding and more. He also had several videos about cutting logs, turning bowls and applying finishes – he covered a lot of ground in about 3 hours! For the members who participated in the Zoom meeting, I think we all left with plenty of information that will certainly help us in our turning adventures.\
If you missed the demo, you can check out some of his teaching videos on his Youtube website: https://www.youtube.com/user/mikemahoney100/videos
Question for Mike? – here’s his email address: mikemahoneybowls@gmail.com
Future Demonstrations – The coronavirus pandemic crisis has certainly changed how all of us are living our lives. Due to this ever changing health situation, the MAWT Board has decided to take a monthly “wait and see” position on having an actual in-person meeting at Woodcraft. This was done for the health and safety of our members. As the situation progresses, the Board will review this policy and hopefully we will be able to share time and camaraderie in-person with fellow members.
But in the meantime, the club is working diligently on future presentations with national demonstrators and maybe even fellow club members.
Show and Tell Gallery – Tom Hipsak will be putting together and emailing virtual galleries of member’s work on an ongoing basis. Just send photos of any recent turning projects to Tom as HIGH-RESOLUTION, not reduced in size, and as an ATTACHMENT in your email, along with your name and descriptions. Email to thipsak@wi.rr.com .
MAWT’s ongoing community projects – please continue to make these turned items!
- Turn for Troops – Carl Brust has hundreds of pen kit donated by Woodcraft. He will mail packages of 15 kits (you need to provide your own wood blanks). When completed, you can drop them off at Woodcraft (in the mail box at the base of the stairs to the meeting area). Contact Carl at cjbrust1@gmail.com to get a free package mailed to you.
- Empty Bowls – bowls should be approx. 5-7” in diameter.
- Beads of Courage – vessels should be 6” dia. x 4 – 5” ht. – minimum interior size, use clear varnish, dried to odor-free, with a lid. Contact me if you need any BoC beads.
Turning Challenge – It’s been a while since we had a monthly challenge and if you watched Mike on Saturday, he demonstrated how to turn a drinking cup. Here’s the Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TSD6g__TZA . It is a great blend of turning and carving – give it a try. Send photos of your finished cups to Tom Hipsak for the Show and Tell Gallery.
Safe turning,
Ron Zdroik
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