Report on our spindle turning competition held 22nd August 2019.

Our turning competition on 22nd August 2019 was all about spindle turning, this is the system where most of the turning is done between centres, i.e. between the headstock and tailstock. The competition was organized by Colin MacRae, the judges for the competition were Colin MacRae and Jim Kelman. The entries for the Novice category were good, as were the entries for the Experienced category, but the Intermediate category still comes up short on entries. In addition to the competition, Colin had arranged for 4 more of the lathes to be in use during the judging. These were Bill Munro, David Hobson, Dave Line and David Hutcheson, each of these turners would be doing something different. A summary of the competition and the free turning follows in the form of a selection of pictures and some text, pictures by Mike Day and Alec Mutch.

To see a larger picture along with a little text, click on any of the pictures.

Ian Asher.

We have just learned that Ian Asher from Aldearn has died, Ian was a member of the Highland Woodturners for many years, joining the club shortly after it moved to Munlochy. Ian was a very regular attendee during the whole of his membership and often brought in items for the rest of the members to see, as I recall they were always a bit on the big side, he did like to work with large pieces of wood. Due to the lateness of knowing of his passing we have only found out that his funeral is on Thursday 22nd at 11 o’clock at the crematorium. Ian will be missed by all of our members and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family at this difficult time.

Competition reminder.

Just a short reminder that the competition on Spindle turning is this Thursday 22nd August 2019. The criteria for the competition along with a few ideas was posted on line at an earlier date and can still be seen here on line, just roll the page up to find it. In addition to the competition there will be 4 turners working the lathes whilst the competition judging is going on, the judges for this competition are Colin MacRae and Jim Kelman, Colin is also the organizer for this meeting. Remember there is a prize of £25 to the winners of all 3 categories, so good luck to all of you entering the competition and lets see lots of entries.

Report on our meeting on the 8th August 2019, working with threads.

Our meeting on the 8th of August 2019 was mostly to do with threads in woodturning, James Wares was using hand held thread chasing tools and I was using a traditional tap and thread box system. Both have their own merits, the hand held thread chaser tools are first class for making fine threads on things like small trinket boxes, where as the tap and box system is very good for producing threads on things like standard lamp connections or the bases for table lamps. In addition to the threading going on a 3rd turner, Errol Levings was taken in to work another of the lathes, Errol was to make some Harry potter wands. A summary of the meeting follows in the gallery below. This meeting was organized by Colin MacRae.

If you want to see a larger picture and some text just click on any picture. All the picture for this post were taken courtesy of Mike Day.

Next meeting, working with threads, Thursday 8th August 2019.

Our next meeting on the 8th August 2019 is about working with threads in woodturning. There will be 2 turners demonstrating how threads are made in wood, James Wares will be using hand chasing tools and I will be using a threading box and thread tap. Also working a lathe will be Errol Levings. This meeting has been organized by Colin MacRae.

These are the type of hand chasing tools James Wares will be using.
This is the threading box and tap tool I will be using.

The hand chasing tools are very useful when making larger diameter threads on things like wooden boxes. The threading box and tap system is best used for making joints on things like standard lamps or to fix the bases on table lamps. The meeting will start at 6.45pm as usual but will be preceded by a full committee meeting.