February 2021 Newsletter

Dedicated to the art of woodworking since 1984.

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Next Meeting:

NO
In-Person MEETING THIS MONTH

Online Meeting:

 Video Presentation OnLine on

February 18th 


7:00 PM

Guild Members will receive email with link

President’s Letter — February 2021

The election of officers and one director will be coming up in April.  This is normally held at the general meeting but again this year the election will be held by mail.  Keep an eye on your emails in mid-March for more information about the election.  
 

The Shriners have indicated they are willing to host meetings per the county requirements for groups.  Given the low vaccination rate at this time, age of membership and everyone’s health concerns, we are going to continue to have virtual meeting for a few more months.  We hope that by the middle of year that we will have enough confidence in the general health situation to resume in-person meetings. 
 
About 25 classes have been scheduled and we hope to schedule even more.  Check out the calendar on the website for information on the classes and dates.  Keep checking back for new additions.  Some of the classes we hope to add are 1-hour classes focused on the operation of a particular tool in the shop. These will generally be held on Open Shop days and are great for beginners or those not familiar with a specific piece of equipment.
 
Because there is no demand currently for book boxes we are looking for other community involvement projects for our members.  We have one in mind and hope to have more information in the near future.  If you know of any community needs that our members may be able to contribute to, please let us know.
 
Membership renewals have been taking place the first part of this year and I have been pleasantly surprised at the high rate of renewals.  We had concerns that we might lose a high percentage of members but we have only lost about 25 members.  Our membership now stands at about 230 members who appreciate the benefits and opportunities that membership brings.  Be sure to check out the page on the website and at the end of this Newsletter that lists our sponsors and take advantage of the offers they give to guild members.
 
It takes a lot of folks to keep the Guild operating.  Our thanks this month to the Shop Safety Monitors who open up the shop and try to stay warm in this very cold weather. Even with a fire going the shop never gets very warm and they put up with that for four-hour shifts.  If you are going out there to work, be sure to dress warm.
 
Stay safe wherever you are,

Wayne Humphrey

THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(Online Presentation)

February Program
 
Scott Wunder will make a presentation to the Guild this month at our regular meeting.  Scott is a former SLWG member who got started in wood milling over 25 years ago.  He made a previous presentation to the Guild in August, 2016. 
 
He is a prolific storyteller and has written numerous blogs about woodworking, machine maintenance, and his life as a woodworker.  Scott obtained a graphic arts degree and worked in an advertising business for 9 years as an art director.  People frequently ask him if WunderWoods is a family business, which it is not, but his father did instill in him how to fix things and keep machinery running.
 
If you ask him, he will regale you with the sundry of saw mills that he has owned (lots of chainsaw mills as well as band mills and one circular saw mill).  He got rid of the circular saw mill after the thing almost killed him.  You can expect him to spin a most interesting tale in his presentation to the Guild this Thursday, February 18, 2021.

Guild Members:  Watch your Inbox this week for the Zoom meeting invitation.

LAST MONTH’S PROGRAM

Federal Style Furniture Design

Presented by 

Steve Latta

Steve gave a very interesting discussion of types of Federal Period Furniture design details and how they were integrated into the different elements of furniture surfaces, focusing primarily on inlays.  He followed his presentation by a one-on-one question and answer period that was open to anyone in the meeting.  Next best thing to being in-person!!!

Common Federal inlay design for furniture with bookends and dagger.
Inlay materials to be used for the bookend design on the furniture leg.
Other typical designs for Federal furniture.
Steve showed how to create this diamond design.
Steve pointed out that many designs that utilize arcs are drawn using the same radius, just at different positions.  The tulip design is an example.

Steve teaches woodworking at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, Pa. He also serves as a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and teaches at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking.  Go to the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking website HERE or the Mark Adams website HERE and look him up.

The Shop will be open in February!!

Faust Park Shop Rules to Keep Us Safe!

Rule 1 If you feel unwell or were in contact with someone who feels unwell please do not use the shop until you have been cleared by a health professional.

Rule 2 The number of people using the shop is limited to four (in addition to the Shop Monitor) at all times. Shop usage is on a “a first come, first served basis. A new phone number has been activated so that you may call ahead to ensure that the shop is below maximum capacity. The number is 314-348-3945. This number is only available during “open shop hours” It is not available at other hours.

Rule 3 Every person in the shop must wear a facemask at all times while indoors. Safety glasses must also be used at all times.

Rule 4:  Everyone entering the shop must have their temperature taken by the Shop Monitor. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be denied entry. This is a St. Louis County health requirement for anyone using any building within Faust Park.

Rule 5:  Each person entering the shop must use hand sanitizer before they start working in the shop. Hand sanitizer is available in the shop for your use. Sanitizer first, sign in second!

Rule 6:  The Shop Monitor will be enforcing “social distancing” to the extent possible within our space. He or she will assign appropriate workbenches as required to maintain the best separation among all users. 

Rule 7:  The Shop Monitors well be sanitizing the machine controls such as on/off switches, adjustment knobs etc. on a regular basis.

I would also like to point out that the Shop Monitors have all volunteered to continue to serve the Guild during these trying times, so please make their efforts easier by adhering to these health precautions. Doing this will ensure that we all can continue to enjoy one of the Guild’s greatest benefits.

Wayne Watson
Shop Manager

Join or Renew your Guild

Membership Today!

Annual Dues Renewals
 

Remember that letting your membership lapse will result in having to retake the Safety Class ($20) prior to using the Open Shop at Faust Park.

 

Annual membership renewal is available online (click on button below) with PayPal or any major credit card, or mail a check for the appropriate amount with member’s name in the memo line to 
St. Louis Woodworkers Guild
P.O. Box 411766
St. Louis, MO 63141-9998

 
Current membership status is required for use of the Faust Park Shop.
 
Annual Membership Dues:

 

Basic Membership            $40
Full Shop Membership      $75
 
A Basic Membership entitles the member to four (4) uses of the Guild Shop during the membership year.  
A Shop Membership entitles the member to unlimited use of the shop during open shop hours.

Member benefits also include:
 

                      > Discounts at Guild sponsors
                      > Access to Project Workshops 
                      > Access to a local community of woodworkers
                      > Access to the secure portion of the website

See the SLWG Website for signing up!

Click here to pay dues online

SHOW AND TELL

Editor’s Note:

The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild encourages its Members to share their projects in the Newsletter.  Please send items you would like to showcase in future SLWG Newsletters to grady.vaughan@gmail.com.

GV

Walnut stem vases with brass tube epoxied in for waterproofness.  About 4″ tall.

Andy Clawson

Dune Buggy I created on my CNC for one my Grandsons.
 

Mike Peery

My version of the Shaker Candle Stand in Pennsylvania cherry. The video workshop by Christian Becksvoort at Fine Woodworking was a big help in refining the build process. This was my first furniture spindle turning at the lathe, but I think it came out pretty well.

 
The sliding dovetail pins were made on my router table, but I cut the sockets by hand. Super fun project that incorporated a lot of different woodworking skills and tools. 

Jeff Puls

I had some hardwood flooring installed in my home last August and the installer asked if he could hire me to build a piece of furniture for him.  I told him that I would be happy to so this, but that I would not accept any money for my work.  His wife sent me a picture of what they wanted. 

It is built from construction grade lumber from Menards and was stained with a water-based aniline dye, sealed with shellac, and top-coated with a water-based polyurethane.

Bill Schuchat

Picture from Owner.
The dye was a Kenda Dyes Aniline 5 Color Kit where you mix 5 colors of dye (red, yellow, blue, black, brown), then blend them together to make the color you want.  I used a formula from Popular Woodworking: popularwoodworking.com/projects/tips-for-finishing-walnut/.

My wife and I were at an Art Show and we both liked the lamps made by an artisan named Jason Green.  To save a few dollars, I used the famous woodworker line “I could do that!”.  So a few months went by and my wife called me on it. 

 Bob Kastigar

So here is my version of the lamp.  I refer to it as the “Rock Lamp” as it resembles a Zen stacked rock type of sculpture.  I have now made 3 of these, this is the second one.  It makes for a very unique look and everyone who sees it notices it.  Made from multiple woods, of varying thicknesses.  “It is not as easy as you would think to make a rock shape from wood!”
I have always liked the Frank Lloyd Wright lamp from the Hillside house.  I could not find the book that has the plans (out of print) and other plans were un-available.  So I started with a picture of a quality remake from the Internet, and made my own drawings and plans with a few slight design changes (the box joints).  This lamp only has 3 lights, and is overall 24 inches tall.  I used cherry, and basically made up the electrical parts to fit the design.  It really does have a great look in a dark room.  It is not as much of a traditional lamp, it’s more of a lighted sculpture.

I purchased the Inca mortiser and Delta Stationary Biscuit Joiner from a SLWG sale.  I built the mount to hold the router and horizontal mortise jig, then used the mortiser to build its mobile base which also houses a 10″ Ryobi planer. I have wanted the Inca jig since seeing it in their beautiful catalog more than twenty years ago. Injecta, the parent company, made precision tools out of aluminum and advertised their table saw sitting out in the rain. They now only manufacture one small, very precious $$$ table saw which is not marketed in the US.
The Delta biscuit joiner came with a foot actuator but it was clumsy to use so I made the hand lever for easier operation. The joiner is mounted on the back side of a shaper table. I have been a fan of biscuit joiners since using Lamello machines 35 years ago at O’Fallon Tech where I took an evening class that gave me access to their commercial shop. 
 

Leo Weisman

These two projects of mine are finalists in the St. Louis Magazine Architect and Design Awards custom furniture category.  Winner revealed on the 18th, send some good vibes please!  

 Here’s a stick chair I built.  It’s a hybrid between Chris Schwartz’s and Christopher Williams’ designs.  Elm seat, arm bow, and comb.  Red oak legs and sticks. 
 

John Koenig

Allow me to introduce to you Gretchen, the elephant.  My granddaughter will have her 2nd birthday in February 2021 and I thought it would be fitting to make her an elephant money bank.  Her bedroom has elephant decor and her favorite color is pink.   The design and fabrication was a simple effort, but the painting was difficult.  The hot pink top-coat did not want to adhere to the light pink.  Thanks for looking!

Dan Lender

Valet Tray with Two Compartments, Sloping Sides and Line Inlay
 by Don Snyder.

I made this valet tray way back before Covid-19 invaded our lives.  It is made of mahogany for the main parts and veneers for the line inlay (0.9 mm thick white sycamore and black-dyed anigre, layered black-white-black). 

I used a table saw for cutting the compound-angle miters on the outer four corners and a Bridge City Jointmaker Pro for cutting the mitered ends of the inner divider and for cutting the V-channel in the sides to accommodate the divider. The sides have a 5 degree tilt from vertical.

I set up the blade and miter-gauge angles on the table saw after calculating the angles using an Android app I wrote (for this app, see http://dls-website.com/documents/WoodworkingNotes/Polygon_Notes.pdf).

The bottoms of the two compartments are lined with Ultrasuede.

Here are a few pictures of a maple and walnut chess board I made recently as a gift. The squares are 1.5×1.5” and the board is 1.5” thick. My brother made a matching walnut box to hold the pieces.

 Collin Preftakes

SELECTED VIDEOS

Don Snyder shared a video on making cutting boards HERE.

When selecting woods for a cutting board, he recommends checking wood toxicity.  Check out this wood toxicity chart HERE.

TOOL RECALLS

 Here is a link to a site that lists safety recall notices for woodworking tools.  LINK

SLWG Surplus Woodworking Equipment SALE
 
No items to be posted in February.  Stay Tuned.


COMMUNITY

St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
 

A web page has been created for our Ranken Jordan projects.

Check it out HERE.

  Toy Committee Update

 
February has been chilly, but we had a great day collecting and distributing toys earlier this month at the Faust Park Shop.  Because of your support, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and LifeWise-StL, all were able to have toys delivered to them.  No toys were delivered to Mercy Children’s Hospital, Shriners Hospital, nor Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition this month.

In anticipation of having a chilly March, the Toy Committee is planning to have a similar collection day (meeting at the Faust Park Shop) in March.   An announcement will be sent to you early March.

If any of you would like to be a part of the Toy Committee, please contact me.  Thanks again for your support.

Dan Lender

Toy Committee Chair

Toy Collection

The SLWG Toy Committee plans to have a toy collection in March, date to be announced.  We will meet at the Guild shop maintenance parking lot, Faust Park, Chesterfield, MO.  If it is raining or snowing, we will be meet at the Old SEARS store, Chesterfield Mall, south side, under the canopy.  Look for the blue Ford pick-up.  We will have axles, tires, wheels, etc. available for your future use.  You can always contact me in advance to help us have available what you need. 

Dan Lender

Special Request from
St. Louis Children’s Hospital – 

Delivered!!

 
Recently, the Toy Committee was contacted by St. Louis Children’s Hospital about a need to have “Alphabet Letters” fabricated for their Art Department use.  Don Turner was able to supply 82 letters in just a few days.  Thank you Don!

You Asked…

I won’t be able to bring my toys to the Toy Pick Up – will there be another opportunity?

YesVickie Berry has volunteered to act as a collection point for members for those that want to contribute and can’t make it to our next collection day.  She lives in Glendale and is available most days and times – just call or text her at 972-741-1944 to schedule a delivery time.

2021 Toy Report

Toy Tally

Collected
February — 617
YTD — 1,035

Delivered
February — 440
YTD — 989

Since 1994 — 76,201

2021 Toy Program Major Contributors

Over 300 Club
Wayne Humphrey – 391

Over 100 Club
Rich Sanders – 203
Linda Turner – 190

FIRST-TIME CONTRIBUTORS

None this month – great opportunity!

2021 Target and Challenge

Target for Delivered Items:  6,000

16% ACHIEVED
A Good start for the year!

10% Member Participation Target

3% ACHIEVED
8 Members

Toy Pattern Library is Growing

 
Keep checking the website for new patterns throughout the year as well as the schedule for donating seasonal items.  We’ll continue to add new and interesting patterns for all levels of woodcrafters so check back often.
 
Find patterns at:  https://slwg.org/community-involvement/toy-program/

Organizations that we currently donate toys to include:

Toy Committee

Dan Lender
Paul Bailey
Vickie Berry
Hal Donovan

Steve Mettes
Bill Schuchat
Rick Weitzman

Please contact us with comments, suggestions or if you need to arrange pickup or delivery of toys. Individual contact info can be found on the Members Only section of the SLWG website.

Bring Me A Book Team News
With a current inventory of 206 book boxes, the Guild is taking a break from making more book boxes for the next few months.
 
Tom Tierney

Book Box Committee

Tom Tierney: (314) 412-1817
Jack McKay: (314) 435-2232

Charles Schrock: (314) 822-3709
 

Check out the Events Calendar on the SLWG website HERE.

Woodworking Classes

Held at Faust Park Workshop

Woodworking Classes
 

Classes resumed in February. See the Schedule on the SLWG Website HERE.
 

Faust Park Workshop Information

SEE SHOP MANAGER’S LETTER  FOR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

  • To participate in the Workshop Safety Class or use the shop, you must have paid the current year Guild dues and have your current membership card with appropriate marking.
  • To use the Guild Workshop during open hours, you must have passed a Workshop Safety Class. 

March Shop Hours
March 9 & 10      10 am – 2 pm
March 13 & 14      9 am – 5 pm
March 16 & 17     10 am – 2 pm
March 20 & 21      9 am – 5 pm
March 27              9 am – 5 pm

Safety Class attendees must register online and bring their current Guild membership card.

Directions to the shop on the SLWG website HERE. Limit of 4 per class.

Next Shop Safety Class

When:
       Thursday, March 4, 6:30 pm
       
Where:
           Faust Park Workshop
Duration:
           Plan for 3 Hours
Cost:
         $20 for Current Members

Visit the SLWG website for Safety Class Signup HERE.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Kami Bathon
Michael Beaudoin
Bruce Burnett
Sherri Burnett
Josh Coursey
Jack Dabrowski
Matt Hoehn
Brian Keller
Richard Oman
Bryan Patterson

If you are a current or retired Boeing employee you can now contribute to the St. Louis Woodworker’s guild through the Boeing Gift Match program.  The guild is now an approved charitable organization with the Boeing program.  As an employee participant, your donation of $25.00 USD or more or the equivalent volunteer hours of 25 hours or more will be matched 1:1 by Boeing.  The maximum individual contribution is $6,000.00 or 6,000 volunteer hours.  Your contribution is tax deductible as long as you follow three simple steps:

Step 1:  Eligible Boeing employees or retirees first make a contribution directly to the guild

Step 2:  After making your donation go to Total Access and click on My Community Giving – GIVE – Gift Match on the Boeing Gift Match page.

Step 3:  Register your donation whether it’s monetary or volunteer hours and select The St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild and enter the total amount and the date of the contribution.

It’s that easy, you get a great tax break and it benefits the guild directly.  If you have any questions, please email Wayne Humphrey at president@slwg.org and if I don’t know the answer, I will try to find it for you.

The St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild is now listed with Amazon Smile.

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite woodworker’s guild every time you shop at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild. 

Simply go to smile.amazon.com and select the St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild as your organization that you want to receive donations from your eligible purchases.  The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.  You don’t make the donation, Amazon Smile does.  It truly is at no cost to you.  Just make sure you go to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com.  If you have any questions on how the program works, just send an email to Wayne Humphrey at president@slwg.org .

SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders

President:
Wayne Humphrey – 314-440-2173

Vice President:
Bill Schuchat – 314-406-1823

Secretary:
Adam Connors – 314-495-1772

Treasurer:
Tom Tierney – 314-412-1817

Directors:
Jay Noffsinger  (exp. 2024)
Vickie Berry (exp. 2021)
Dan Sudkamp (exp. 2022)
Don Turner (exp. 2023)

Immediate Past President:
Bob Brinkmann

Marketing & Membership Chair:
Wayne Watson

Membership Coordinator:
David Schindler

Woodworking Show Coordinator:
Wayne Watson

Book Box Committee Chair:
Tom Tierney

Outreach Coordinator:
Open

Newsletter Editor:
Grady Vaughan

Librarian:
Al Carlson

Toy Committee Chair:
Dan Lender

Shop Manager:
Wayne Watson

Classes and Workshops Coordinator:
Bill Schuchat

Web Master:
David Zemon

Media Coordinator:
Bob Fuerman

Legal Counsel:
Bill Hobson


Our Sponsors

The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild relies heavily on sponsorship to execute on our mission statement of education, community service, and local development. Please support our sponsors. 











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Kohler City Hardwoods
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