June 2025 Newsletter

Dedicated to the art of woodworking since 1984.









SLWG June 2025 Newsletter

Next Meeting:

6:45 PM Thursday, June 19th 

Moolah Shrine Center, Oasis Room
12545 Fee Fee Rd, St. Louis, MO  63146

President’s Letter

There won’t be Library this month, Al Carlson our librarian will not be at the meeting.     The Guild needs a couple of volunteers to help Al with the library and learn how to do it so he has some help with it.

There will be Ice water at the meeting this month.  It will be in a red cooler in the back of the room where the library normally is set up.

Just a reminder that the membership dues are going up the first of July, so if you want to renew early you can and still keep your regular expiration date.

As of the writing of this, the Calendar of Events on the website is down.  IT support has been notified and they are working on getting it back up.  Hopefully it will be up soon.  I keep the Guild calendar backed up to my personal calendar so we do have the information.  If someone needs to know something just email me at president@slwg.org.

The Faust Art Fair is coming up on Aug.16.  David Gronefeld is the point person on this.  Give any contributions for our booth at the fair to David.

Stay safe in the shop,

Brian Ellison


When choosing lumber, be it domestic or exotic hardwood, Visit Andrew and the team at U-Pick Hardwoods in St. Charles Mo.
U Pick hardwoods offers guild members a 10% Discount with your current membership card.


Beaver Industrial Supply has name-brand woodworking tools engineered to make your shop more productive. We carry a full range of products like high-end saws, planers, sanders, lathes, joiners, drills and dust extractors.  Shop products from Axiom, Fein, Festool, Jet, Kreg, Powermatic, Laguna Tools, Skilsaw and more!

THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(In-Person Presentation and Livestream)


Wood Collecting with the International Wood Collectors Society

with

Garry Roux

The tuned box collection above belongs to Eric Krum, Secretary Treasurer of the IWCS.

If you can’t make it to this month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming.

LAST MONTH’S PROGRAM


Woodmills

with

Matt Wallace

Matt Wallace gave an interesting presentation of his second career as a sawyer.  He did a great job of explaining the different cutting patterns to create various grain configurations from logs.

If you could not make it to last month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming.

Looking for Volunteers for

Faust Park Summer Camps
June 20, 2025

The first one went great and we can still use a volunteer or two for the second one at North County Recreation Center.

See Dave Gronefeld at the meeting if you can volunteer for this. (Short Notice)

Need Project Donations

Faust Park Art Fair
August 16, 2025

Dave is looking for donations to sell at the Art Fair to support our Guild.  We will have at least one location selling our products.

Talk to Dave Gronefeld at the meeting if you have projects to donate, or just bring them and give them to Dave then.

A/V Tech Support Needed

The Guild is looking for 2-3 members proficient at Microsoft PowerPoint to help at the AV table during meetings. Additional IT experience a plus.

Contact Hal Donovan at hal.donovan@slwg.org.
 

Photos from Brian Ellison’s Scroll Saw Classes

Basic Class

Advanced Class

Bob Kastigar mans the Cap and Apron sale table.  Aprons are priced at $40 and Caps at $20.While cash is the preferred method of payment, checks or credit cards might be accepted if the Treasurer is present.
Crafted for durability, these items are ideal for daily use in the shop or when representing the Guild at events, such as the Faust Park events.

Donate to the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild HERE

SHOW AND TELL

Keith Lissant brought in this scroll sawn trivet Christmas present made from chinkapin oak with an oil finish. Took about 5 or 6 hours to make.  

Bill Schuchat said this was his first attempt at dining room chairs.  He made the pair from one 14′ board from St. Charles Hardwoods.  Plans from Tom McLaughlin. He filled the pores to even out the finish.  Hand-carved out the seats for comfort.

Lee Wandel built these stacked barrister cabinets from cherry wood finished with Danish Oil Walnut stain.

Used mortise joints on the glass doors – not many screws – mostly glue.

Nathan Hull made a Horse Carrousel from a pattern sold on Ebay.  Mostly scroll saw work with hickory and Baltic birch. It was noted that any projects like this should be using hardwood dowels only for longevity.

Ron Farber, a new Guild Member, noted that he likes one-day projects such as this cedar Wren House.

Easy to clean out with a removable bottom and equipped with holes in both ends for a quick repair when a squirrel does its damage. He has made about 10 or 11 of these.  Marine spar varnish is recommended for outdoor longevity.

Table #70 from Hal Donovan for the HSH program.

A few pics from around the meeting room

Brian leading the Q and A

And questions from the audience.

Joe and Keith are also interested in the Q&A.

Librarian Al Carlson has some advice for Jeff Nasser about the library contents.

Bob Kastigar consults with Scott Berlinger about something.

TOOL RECALLS
and Other Videos

Check these links out if you have these items (some might be a little dated):

DeWalt Miter Saw Recall LINK

Grizzley Children’s Tool Kits Recall LINK

Makita Cordless Hedge Trimmer Recall LINK

Harbor Freight Miter Saw Blade Guard Recall Article LINK

COMMUNITY

St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
 

Holiday Toy Program
The Friday Toy Builders have almost 700 toys in inventory at this point.  

The trains shown below are made from the donated pews that members salvaged and have a custom-made coupling system designed and built by Don Turner.

Toys are built on the first and third Fridays of the month in the shop from 10 to 2.  Everyone is welcome.

Wayne Humphrey


Toy Committee Chair Bob Baird will be at the Toy Table to receive completed toys and distribute parts to those who request them.  Please be sure to contact him ahead of the meeting if you need parts.

  Toy Committee Update

We have plenty of supplies (wood, dowels, wheels, pins, etc.).  Please don’t let that stand in your way of making toys 😊. Reach out to Bob or Wayne, and we will let you into the shed to look around for what you need.

We have lots of patterns for toys of every kind. Contact me, and I will share them with you. We hope to have them all up on the website soon.

Please contact a committee member with any comments or suggestions you may have for the program.

Thank you to all who have built toys and contributed to this important program. 
 

Bob Baird
Toy Committee Chair

2025 Toy Report

Toy Tally

Collected
May — 340
YTD — 816

Delivered
May — 102
YTD — 127
Since 1994 — 89,521

2025 Toy Program Major Contributors

Over 100 Club
William Marsek — 217
Paul Hellenbrand — 213
Linda Turner — 207

Over 50 Club
Bill Meuth — 79
Dan Sudkamp — 74

NEW CONTRIBUTORS
None this month

2025 Target and Challenge

Target for Delivered Items:  4,000

3.2% ACHIEVED

10% Member Participation Target

(40 Members)

15% ACHIEVED
6 Members
(Total Guild Members 402)

Organizations that we currently donate toys to include:

BJC Children’s Hospital
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
Hawthorn Children’s Psych. Hosp.
LifeWise STL
Mercy Hospital

Peace Pantry Cedar Hill
RankenJordan Ped. Bridge Hospital
Rockwood School District
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Toys for Tots

Toy Committee

Bob Baird, Chair
Paul Bailey
Hal Donovan

Charles Schrock
Grady Vaughan

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 HERE.

HSH Table Build Community Outreach

Tom will have wood to distribute at this month’s meeting

We have completed 2 months of our fiscal year with a total of 18 tables delivered so far. Our goal is to deliver 150 by March 31, 2026.
 
The donations of wood combined with Members’ time and talent have helped and will continue to help St. Louis area residents and families. Every table that Members have donated through the Guild has gone to someone in need.
 
The HSH team collected 13 donated oak church pews from Webster Groves Presbyterian Church and cut them up into useable boards for both the Toy and HSH table programs.
The wood is available now. Contact me to arrange a pickup.
 
Matt Wallace made another donation of walnut wood which is also available.
 
Already this year we have 3 Members who have built and donated 5 or more tables. More table builders are needed. Especially after the May tornadoes.
 
Information about our HSH table program and sample table measured drawings can be found on our website under the Community Service tab, HomeSweetHome. LINK HERE

We would like you to join in on this effort. Please consider getting more involved in the Guild Outreach programs be it through HSH or Toys or both.

Your involvement will help make the programs, the Guild, and our community even better.
Please contact me at the meeting or call, text, or email me if you are interested in building a table(s).

Tom Tierney
(314) 412-1817
tmtierney@gmail.com

Talley to 5/31/25:
                                    Current Month             Current Year          Program Total
Dining Tables                       0                                   1                          35
End Tables/Sofa Server       4                                 12                        337
Coffee Tables                       4                                   4                          36
Night Stands                        0                                   1                            8

Total                                     8                                 18                        416

Total Tables by Year

FY 2022-2023                           102
FY 2023-2024                           121
FY 2024-2025                           175
FY 2025-2026   (2 months)         18

Grand Total for Program           416

FY 2025-2026 Target and Challenge

Target for Delivered Tables:  150

12% ACHIEVED

Table of Recognition
Below are the Members who have built five or more tables in the current FY.

5 +
Hal Donovan
Charles Schrock
Tom Tierney

Current Year No. of 5+ Builders               3
Overall No. of 5+ Builders                      16

Current Year No. of Builders                    6
Overall No. of Builders                           38

UPCOMING MEETING PRESENTATIONS

June 19                       Garry Roux                     Wood Collecting with the
                                                                          Society of Wood Collectors

July 17                         Everyone                      Christmas in July – S&T

August 21                   Adam Conner                Joinery

September 18            Mary May                       Mary May’s School of
                                                                         Traditional Woodcarving

October 16                 Brian Ellison                   About the Scroll Saw

November 20             Guild Panel                     Stump the Chump
 

Woodworking Classes

Held at Faust Park Workshop

See the Full Schedule on the SLWG Website HERE.

Faust Park Workshop Information

  • 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. 

June  “Open Shop”  Hours
June 1                 9 am – 5 pm

June 3 & 4        10 am – 2 pm

June 7              9 am – 5 pm

June 10 & 11     10 am – 2 pm

June 14 & 15       9 am – 5 pm

June 16 & 17      10 am – 2 pm

June 21               9 am – 5 pm

Next Shop Safety Class
When:

   Thursday, July 3rd, 6:30 pm
       
Where:
           Faust Park Workshop

Duration:
           Plan for 3 Hours

Cost:
         $20 for Current Members

Safety Class attendees must register online and bring their current Guild membership card.
 Limit of 10 per class.
Visit the SLWG website for Safety Class Signup HERE.

Directions: Plug the following address into your GPS or phone: 
1135 Henry Jackson Rd. Chesterfield, MO

Join or Renew your Guild

Membership Today!

Annual Dues Renewals

NOTE: DUES INCREASE SCHEDULED FOR JULY 1, 2025
 

Grace Period
If a membership lapses, a former member can rejoin the guild within 12 months of expiration without having to retake the $20 Shop Safety Class. After 12 months have passed, the individual will be required to Renew membership and retake the $20 safety class.

 

Annual membership renewal is available online (click on button below) with 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 and completion of Safety Class status is required for use of the Faust Park Shop.
 
CURRENT Annual Membership Dues:

 

Basic Membership            $40 ($50 after 7/1/25)
Full Shop Membership      $75 ($120 after 7/1/25)
 
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

WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS

Patrick Barrett

Daniel Crooker

Ronald Farmer

Ryan Hunt

Matthew Kunshek

Garrett Morck

Rodney Stanley

Steven Warth

If you are a current or retired Boeing employee you can 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 Brian Ellison at president@slwg.org and if I don’t know the answer, I will try to find it for you.

SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders

President:
Brian Ellison
president@slwg.org

Vice President:
Corey Doner
vicepresident@slwg.org

Secretary:
Adam Conners
secretary@slwg.org

Treasurer:
Joe Turner
treasurer@slwg.org

Directors:
Hal Donovan (exp. 2026)
TBD (exp. 2027)
Bob Kastigar  (exp. 2028)
Bob Danner (exp. 2029)

Immediate Past President:
Jay Noffsinger

Membership Coordinator:
Brian Ellison (Temp) – membership@slwg.org

IT/Sponsorship/Donations Coordinator:
Todd Martin – donations@slwg.org

IT Administrator:
 it@slwg.org

Webmasters
Aaron Johnson / Jim Becher /
Nick Balogh
webmaster@slwg.org
 

Newsletter Editor:
Grady Vaughan
newsletter@slwg.org

Librarian:
Al Carlson

Toy Committee Chair:
Bob Baird
toys@slwg.org

Photographer:
Leo Weisman

Shop Manager:
David Gronefeld

Classes and Workshops Coordinator:
Corey Doner

Program Coordinator:
Corey Doner
 

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 Patronize our sponsors who support the guild and our mission to encourage and educate members and non-members to enjoy and enrich their woodworking skills and experiences.

Walnut Level sponsor.  Guild members will receive a 10% discount on many items at Rockler.


Pine Level Sponsor.  Guild members will receive a 10% discount on saw sharpening at Quinn Saw.


Pine Level Sponsor.  Learn the art of Traditional Woodcarving with professional woodcarver, Mary May!

Image Credits:
Turned Wood Box Collection Photo by Violet Oman
 


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St. Louis Woodworkers Guild · PO Box 411766 · Saint Louis, MO 63141-1766 · USA


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