Nov 2017
| Finishing - Chris, John Solberg & PeteTkacs |
“We will have 3 presenters talking about wood finishing. Chris Morgan will start out by giving a comprehensive overview of finishing options. He will talk about the solvents for the various types of finishes and the properties of these finishes, like durability, safety, and speed of application. He will bring his collection of finishes and show a number of options to choose from. Also, you will finally learn about the difference between shellac, lacquer, and varnish. The second presenter is John Solberg. John has done some testing on various finishes you will find interesting. How is one finish more or less durable than another; is one type of finish more susceptible to damage than another. John will show the results of his experimentation. And, finally, Peter Tkacs will demonstrate the Beall buffing system and why he likes it as a final step in putting a perfect finish on his turned objects.”
Sept 2017
Remote Demo - Hollowing
Lyle Jamieson
August 2017
Marketing Your Turnings
Neal Brand
My first turning project was a walnut lamp I made in junior high shop class. My second project came 40 years later when I bought a lathe. When I bought my lathe, I had no idea how to turn wood. I tried to learn by reading a book, but progress was very slow. Then I joined the Denton, Dallas and Fort Worth clubs and my learning increased dramatically both from club demos and talking to other members.
During my talk/demo, I plan to discuss marketing online. I think most turners at some point think about the possibility of marketing their work, if for no other reason, to help pay the bills from SWAT! About eight years ago while working full time I set up an online shop to sell my turnings. I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow I managed to sell a few things per month. I didn’t sell enough to pay for SWAT, but enough to buy an occasional tool. During my demo, I’ll talk about a lucky break that increased my sales considerably and how I have maintained my sales so that I pay for SWAT (and more) through online sales.
I plan to illustrate marketing strategies with two examples, marketing Tibetan spindles and marketing spin tops. I’ll discuss (among other things) options for setting up an online shop, photographing and describing your products, pricing, shop policies, wholesale markets, and the role of the web (social media, blogs, web sites, etc.) in marketing. In the process, I’ll turn a tippe top and discuss the interplay between marketing, material choice, and turning techniques employed.
I live in Denton with my wife Shari. We have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. I am a semi-retired UNT professor and when I am not working or turning wood, I enjoy hiking. My brother and I have a goal of hiking at least 5 miles in each of the 50 states. As of the time of this writing we are at 19 and counting.
July 2017
Femispheres
Drew Shelton
I got into woodworking intending to make furniture. I had no interest at all in trying woodturning. A fellow woodworker at my office signed up for a penturning class at Woodcraft and talked me into taking it with him. I was instantly hooked. Soon afterwards I bought my first lathe, which was in 2000, and started cranking out pens. I took a bowl turning class at Woodcraft where there was a last-minute substitute instructor - Gary Roberts. He told the class about the Central Texas Woodturners Association and the AAW, though he did not say he was instrumental in starting both. He had some copies of his book with him, which made me realize there was a whole universe of possibilities I knew nothing about. I had to buy one. While I have made a few pieces of furniture since that time, my main focus has been turning
I have held multiple positions within the CTWA, including president.
Drew
June 2017
Turning Fundamentals
Bob Edwards
Bob Edwards has been turning for what seems like forever. Living with a talented and creative wife he searched for an outlet of his own. Nothing seemed to satisfy until he discovered Woodturning. That was over 40 years ago and his enthusiasm has never dwindled. Not having the patience for pen making or segmented work he is content with just about anything else.
Bob's been a member of the AAW sense it's inception with a member number of 1210. Bob will turn just about anything that will stay together while turning but his favorite material is Mesquite.
Bob loves to travel and when he does he takes along some Mesquite to trade with turners along the way. He enjoys teaching and demonstrating to others but has a rather different approach. Rather than demonstrating how to turn one object he prefers to show how to use the tools to create your own forms.
His demonstrations are light hearted as he will sometimes deliberately make a mistake to illustrate a point. Bob encourages participation and discussion during his demos, it's like group therapy. He often learns as much from his audience as they do from him.