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President’s Letter — June 2021
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Finally, we can hold our first in-person meeting on June 17th, and I can’t wait. Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music….remember those words from the famous Three Dog Night song? Well, we may not have music, but we will have cake and ice cream…OK maybe some music too. Oh yeah, we’ll have a great program as well! Please plan on attending so we can take our first step in getting back to “our” normal. |
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| Speaking of attending – I hope everyone had a great time at our long over-due Swap Meet/Flea Market last weekend, caught up with friends, ate some great food, and found a few new old treasures. I personally have a few old hand tools that were my father’s that I inherited many decades ago. They’re not valuable to anyone but me so I know they’ll always be in my tool chest and never at a Swap Meet. Maybe one of these days, I’ll clean them up and store them in a place of honor in my tool chest. |
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Speaking of tools – many of my non-woodworking friends often ask me what my favorite tool is. I have to confess; my favorite tool is my DeWalt 12” Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw. It has all the bells and whistles I need for the kind of projects I seem to do. I’ve had it since September 2008. I got it for two reasons – first, it was my first real tool for woodworking projects and second, it was desperately needed to rebuild the lower level of our little pre-retirement home in Galveston, Texas. It seems Hurricane Ike needed our lower walls and all our “stuff” more than we did. |
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| A fellow woodworking friend of mine sent me the following link for an article in Wood Magazine because he knew how much I love my saw –Click HERE . It’s a great article on maintaining a miter saw, clearly written and easy to follow. I do know how important it is to keep our tools in top condition and I shamefully admit I’ve never given my favorite tool a proper tune-up. I’m most anxious to print it off and give my old saw the once over. |
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| Speaking of tool maintenance – Dan “Our Tool Man” Coleman will be our program speaker Thursday. Dan is a “jig and fixture junkie” and builder of amazing tools. He has a wealth of knowledge on tools, equipment, and maintenance of all things mechanical. His program will be on all things Bandsaws and include maintenance and set up. I’m sure we’ll all learn a few new things – so, join me for our first in-person meeting June 17th at the Moolah Shrine Center,. Cake and ice cream served at our social hour beginning at 6:30 PM.
See you soon, |
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| Vickie a.k.a. – 1abWdWrkr |
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Face Mask Protocol
The SLWG leadership requests that in-person attendees at the In-Person Meeting comply with the CDC guidelines for masking which recommends that non-vaccinated persons wear masks and for vaccinated persons masks are optional. |
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THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(In-Person and Online Presentation)
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6:00 Doors Open – Social
6:30 Refreshments – Cake and Ice Cream
7:00 Meeting Start – Guild Announcements & Business
7:30 Program – Band Saws by Dan Coleman
Our resident machinery expert, Dan Coleman, will be giving a presentation on
Band Saws
types, sizes, cost, advantages, and set up
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The May online meeting featured Ron Bontz, Saw Sharpener extraordinaire, who demonstrated the fine points of sharpening hand saws.
Ron makes beautiful, custom made hand saws and mallets in Edwardsville, Illinois and can be reached at CustomSaws@BontzSawWorks.Net .
Ron’s presentation is available HERE on the SLWG Website. |
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Cabinet Building Class
The first cabinet building course was completed that spanned two days on Saturday and Sunday, June 5th and 6th. There were three Guild Members in attendance Matt Meglan, Wayne Meglan, and Dan Herron. Instruction was provided by Don Turner in his shop and many of the techniques used to build lower kitchen cabinets were demonstrated and then executed by the students to build a complete cabinet. The structure and face frames were machined and assembled by the end of the course. Mission style doors and box joint drawers were machined and ready for assembly by the end of the last day so the students could take those parts home and assemble in their shops. |
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Class members with their completed cabinets |
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Dan Herron drills holes for pocket screws |
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Wayne Meglan machining box joints |
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Matt Meglan sanding face frames |
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MEMBER FORUM
Just a short reminder that the FORUM on the SLWG Website (Click HERE) is the perfect place to ask a question about woodworking, share interesting finds, advertise when you have lumber or a tool that you would like to buy/sell/trade or have a helpful hint to share. Make sure you have opted in to receive posts.
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HELP WANTED – OPEN POSITION
Web Master: to create and maintain the content of the Guild Website. This is NOT the technical position associated with the website and training will be available.
Contact Vickie Berry or any Officer or Director if interested. |
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| 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 |
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Yet again some other ‘projects’ for my daughter at her new house.
Two Adirondack chairs made in red cedar to go with the picnic table featured in last month’s S&T.
The chairs are all red cedar, and daughter wanted matching color for her table. Again the worst part of the project was the cost– $200 per chair for lumber alone!
Paul Bailey
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Jerre Baynes writes:
We put in a koi pond which required rebuilding part of our deck. So I build a gazebo that overlooks the waterfall, stream and pond. |
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Joists can overhang a header by 2′ so I added a balcony on the back side. |
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I’m not good at heights anymore. I minimized the time I needed to be on top by only putting on the roof sheeting 2′ at a time. Then I could shingle it from a ladder inside. Finished shingling it on Christmas Eve. |
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I recently completed a Flat File Cabinet for a local artist. |
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Constructed with cherry wood.
Paul Berglund
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I was struggling to get a square corner on cabinet pieces too large for my cross-cut sled, and just as I nearly spent a small fortune on a fancy new right angle track saw system I found a vintage YouTube of Norm Abram making this simple sled. |
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Using the 5-cut method I was able to square the 45″ fence to within .0015″. Added some t-track and a homemade stop for repeatable cuts.
Not much to look at but it’s as significant a game changer in my shop as anything in recent memory.
Alex Gerberding
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Detailed instructions for constructing a table-saw sled to be used as an aid when adding splines to reinforce mitered corner-joints can be found on this link HERE.
Don Snyder
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| Bill Schuchat has continued on with his violin project and thrown in a couple of other projects in his spare time. He writes: |
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I have continued making progress on my violin. Finished the first phase of carving the outside of the maple back; this is a three-stage process. 1) Roughing out with a gouge, 2) Smoothing with a thumb plane, and 3) Finish smoothing with a scraper.
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| I started with the “economical thumb plane that I bought, but found there was a lot of tearout. So, I ponied up and ordered an Ibex thumb plane, but it has not arrived yet. |
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I also made a knife box for a wedding gift. Made of cherry. Fitted to hold a knife, fork and sharpening steel and felt lined. Finished with 5 coats of Shellac and waxed. |
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And I managed to make a set of turned wine stoppers. Wood and hardware from Rockler. Finished with Tung Oil. |
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We are looking for videos of interest to our Guild Members. Please send us links to your favorites and we will publish them here. These can be videos that you upload yourself to our website or see on another site.
GV
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Woodwork Web is a video series on YouTube that forwards tips and tricks on woodworking. I sent two suggestions in and they used them both in the same program.
Here is the LINK.
Hal Donovan
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| Here is a link to a site that lists safety recall notices for woodworking tools. LINK |
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COMMUNITY
St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
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A web page has been created for our Ranken Jordan projects.
Check it out HERE.
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Toy Committee Update
For July toy donations, we will be at the Guild Shop at Faust Park July 6 2021 at 9:00am to 10:00am for the July Toy Drop off and sorting of Toys, or you can bring toys to the Guild Meeting on Thursday July 15, 2021.
Toys were delivered to two of our groups in June.
The Toy Committee asks that the membership start making toys for the Marines Toys for Tots program and other groups that we give toys to for Christmas. These Toys need to be finished.
This Summer and Fall we plan to have Toy building Days at the Guild Shop. More info to come!!
Rich Weitzman
Toy Committee Chair
314-920-7867
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Collected
June — 79
YTD — 2,707
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Delivered
June — 139
YTD — 1,824
Since 1994 — 77,036
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2021 Toy Program Major Contributors
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Over 700 Club
Bill Meuth – 710
Over 500 Club
Linda Turner – 594
Wayne Humphrey – 569
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Over 400 Club
Rich Sanders – 450
Over 100 Club
Hal Donovan – 109
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2021 Target and Challenge
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| Target for Delivered Items: 6,000 |
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| 10% Member Participation Target |
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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/ |
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Organizations that we currently donate toys to include: |
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Rich Weitzman, Chair
Paul Bailey
Vickie Berry
Hal Donovan
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Dan Lender
Steve Mettes
Bill Schuchat
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| 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. |
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Desks for Kids Program
The Desks for Kids Program has been put on hold temporarily due to distribution issues. No desk building sessions are currently scheduled. |
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Bring Me A Book Team News
The Bring Me a Book St. Louis program has been recently inundated with a large donation of books which has challenged their distribution system. They have requested that SLWG put a hold on the Book Box Program until they sort through how they plan to move forward with their distribution system.
Stay tuned for upcoming announcements.
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Tom Tierney: (314) 412-1817
Jack McKay: (314) 435-2232
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Charles Schrock: (314) 822-3709
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Check out the Events Calendar on the SLWG website HERE. |
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Woodworking Classes
Held at Faust Park Workshop |
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Woodworking Classes
Upcoming Classes
See the Schedule on the SLWG Website HERE.
Next two months:
Date Teacher Subject
16-Jun Alex Gerberding Advanced Sketch Up Class
30-Jun Alex Gerberding Advanced Sketch Up Class
1-Jul Wayne Watson Safety Class
3-Jul David Brown Turning Bowls with Green Wood
7-Jul Alex Gerberding Advanced Sketch Up Class
5-Aug Wayne Watson Safety Class
21-Aug Wayne Humphrey Bandsawn Boxes
28-Aug Mike Sistek Leigh Jigs
29-Aug Wayne Watson Mortise and Tenon
Recent Classes
Date Teacher Subject
29-May Ron Bontz Sharpen Hand Saws
30-May Mike Sistek Finish with Shellac and Oil
3-Jun Wayne Watson Safety Class
5-Jun Dave Windus Small Boxes
6-Jun Wayne Watson Collecting AntiqueTools
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Faust Park Workshop Information
SEE SHOP MANAGER’S LETTER BELOW FOR REVISED SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
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- 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.
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July Shop Hours
July 6 & 7 10 am – 2 pm
July 10 & 11 9 am – 5 pm
July 13 & 14 10 am – 2 pm
July 17 & 18 9 am – 5 pm
July 24 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.
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Next Shop Safety Class
When:
Thursday, July 1, 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. |
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The Shop is OPEN!
The NEW Faust Park Shop Rules
Keeping in line with the latest CDC guidance the following rules are being relaxed if you are Fully Vaccinated for the Covid 19 Virus.
Effective as of May 15th 2021, fully vaccinated Members will no longer be required to wear face masks while in the shop.
Safety glasses will continue to be required as in the past.
Maximum occupancy limits are also being lifted.
If you are not fully vaccinated please be advised that vaccinated individuals will be present within the woodshop without facemasks.
Wayne Watson
Shop Manager
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Join or Renew your Guild
Membership Today!
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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! |
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WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
Weston Capper
Ben Kampelman
David Meyers
Bryan Schuler
Pedro Veronezi |
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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. |
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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 . |
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SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders |
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President:
Vickie Berry
Vice President:
Bill Schuchat |
Secretary:
Adam Connors
Treasurer:
Tom Tierney |
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Directors:
Dan Sudkamp (exp. 2022)
Don Turner (exp. 2023)
Jay Noffsinger (exp. 2024)
Dan Lender (exp. 2025)
Immediate Past President:
Wayne Humphrey
Marketing & Membership Chair:
David Schindler
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:
Rich Weitzman
Shop Manager:
Wayne Watson
Classes and Workshops Coordinator:
Bill Schuchat
Web Master:
David Zemon
Media Coordinator:
Bob Fuerman
Legal Counsel:
Bill Hobson |
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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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(In-store only)
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