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President’s Letter — August 2020
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| A number of interesting things are happening at the Guild as the public health issues continue to change and limit gatherings and the opportunity for learning experiences. Please take the time to thoroughly read the monthly Newsletter and emails you may receive to get all the details.
A new type of class is being offered that will appeal primarily to beginner woodworkers or those that may not have experience with a specific piece of equipment. Classes will be about 1 hour long and start in October and are scheduled through mid-November. If demand justifies it, they can possibly be expanded on in the New Year and repeated. Sign up for these classes will be available shortly on the website.
Monthly meetings will continue to evolve and the formats will be changing. August’s meeting will be a video presentation from John Wilson on how to build Shaker Oval Boxes. Jay Noffsinger will host this video and be available to answer questions at its conclusion. Jay will also be teaching a two day class in August where students will build three boxes of their own. See elsewhere for more details. If you would like to learn more about John Wilson, check out his website http://www.shakerovalbox.com/
September’s meeting will be a virtual presentation on the subject of Arts & Crafts Furniture Style. The presenter will be Bob Lang who is currently the editor of American Period Furniture, the annual journal of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.
October’s meeting will be a livestreamed meeting. The plan is to have presenters, committee reports, Show and Tell and most of what we consider a normal monthly meeting to be available to members live on the internet. We plan initially for a small or non-existent live audience and as we go into the New Year we hope it will be safer to get together in larger groups.
Several members of the Guild’s Board participated in a video meeting with Donna Erbs, Chief Marketing Officer of Anders. She had several thoughts on how the Guild might improve their public presence which can possibly lead to increased financial support from the community at large. It was enlightening to get input from an outsider to the organization and some new ideas to move forward with.
Stay safe in all you do! |
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Faust Park Shop is Open and Here are the 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
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THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(Online Presentation)
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SHAKER OVAL BOXES
Thursday, AUGUST 20, 2020, 6:30 PM
Jay Noffsinger will host a John Wilson video program on Making Shaker Oval Boxes at the August Membership Virtual meeting. The presentation will last approximately 1-1/2 hours.
This presentation is a lead-in to the workshop that Jay will be leading on August 22 and August 29; this will be a 2 day class at Jay Noffsinger’s Shop. See the Guild website to sign up HERE.
Details regarding the virtual presentation will be made available nearer to the presentation. We will post this information on the SLWG website and send an email notice to all members.
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| Michael Fortune gave a two hour online presentation on Building and Designing Chairs.
SLWG Members can view the video on our website Here. |
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Arts & Crafts Furniture Style
presented by
Robert Lang
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| Thanks to Ron Bontz for donating a DVD player to the Guild. |
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| Editor’s Note:
Show and Tell in the Newsletter has been a success and we will be continuing to feature the great projects of our Members.
Please send items you would like to post in future SLWG Newsletters to grady.vaughan@gmail.com.
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Paul Bailey writes:
The story on this project is that one of my daughters wished for a desk for her apartment. (another reason while though I’ve made many pieces—I don’t have any at home to show!). I found the plan for this and ordered it. It was far more complicated than any other piece I’ve made thus far.
The one addition I made was to cut a 1-1/2 inch hole in back corner of desk top, just inside the boundaries of the pigeon hole insert for power lines for computer/charging gear and we attached a power surge protector strip up inside the back skirt, especially since everyone needs power for all kinds of devices these days.
I bought the cherry at St. Charles Hardwoods. |
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Notice the tapered legs and the tambour sliding top which rolls into the back of the desk.
The pigeon holes are a separate piece and can be removed and placed on top of desk if wished. The small drawers in the pigeon holes are all made from 1/2 inch cherry and joined with box joints, front and back.
For durability, I applied about four coats of oil based urethane on all surfaces. |
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| I purchased canvas to make the tambour top, which has cherry slats glued to it. Each piece on the tambour has to be fitted on each end to slide into the grooves on the sides and rounded with a roundover bit to allow it to roll up/down. It’s a little tight and IF I ever did it again, I would spend the money for the expensive router bits which make fitted pieces for each piece of the tambour. |
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John Bronson writes:
Here is a rolling kitchen work table I recently made for a neighbor/client. The top is 12” X 36” X 2” reclaimed pine. The base is made from 200+ year old quarter-sawn white oak that came out of an old church (circa 1818) that an acquaintance was rehabbing into his home. |
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| It was sized to fit into a niche in her kitchen when not in use and can be rolled up to the counter for additional prep space.
I used salad bowl finish on the top and wipe-on poly on the base. |
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| Here is a large (5’ X 2’) stained glass window I recently rebuilt for a friend/client. It came out of an 1880’s era house he was rehabbing. In addition to replacing several broken glass panels & releading the entire window, I built a new frame out of 100+ year old reclaimed pine with thru-tenon construction. The finish was applied by my client. |
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Bob Meyer writes:
I built a coat rack for my son using old Insulators and the posts that they fit on, using a piece of walnut for the base. I sent him brass screws to mount it to his wall, I wanted something to give it some bling. |
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| The posts that the insulators are mounted on, I left them as they were, unfinished, gives it the older look. The insulators were some that I’ve picked up over the years, I sent him pictures of all that I had and let him choose which ones he wanted. Finished the walnut with polyurethane, 6 coats, sanding with 400 grit between each coat. |
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| I had to build a jig to allow me to drill the four 1-1/4″ Fostner holes at the angle that I wanted. |
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| I got the jig idea from looking on the internet, but made changes to the one that I finally decided on. |
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Bob Quigley writes:
I remodeled a bathroom in February and made my own vanity, mirror and closet doors. Tom Tierney and I found some live edge cedar a few years ago and I thought it would be the perfect wood for a small cabin on a lake. With his help we made these items and they have impressed everyone. Great project for a cold February. |
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| Ron Romitti sent in pics of his completed dresser project that was showcased in progress in the July Issue of the SLWG Newsletter. Click HERE to see the progress photos. |
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| The carcass is solid walnut and the drawer fronts are solid cherry. |
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| Closeup of the drawer fronts with continuing grain pattern from one drawer to the next. |
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| Everything was finished with Sam Maloof poly/oil and wax/oil finishes. The finish on the dresser has a soft feel to it and a low luster sheen. The finish really makes the wood grain pop. All and all I’m very pleased on how it turned out — now I just have to get it upstairs. |
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Bill Schuchat writes:
Thirty years ago I made a Butler’s tray and a similar living room side table. Both had drop leaves with a rule joint. So I decided to build another side table to match the original one. |
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| Both are cherry with a linseed oil finish (3 coats wet sanded to 600 grit between coats to prevent a blotchy finish). You can see in the photo how the older one has darkened over time. |
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| Lastly, I assembled 10 more little trucks for the Toy Program. I still had (and have) leftover parts for about half the components of the truck so the amount of milling was reasonable. Of course, I did not have enough cab parts or fenders and both of these are the most complicated to make. |
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| Don Snyder sent in this floor-lamp project he says that he completed a while back before the nasty virus-bug got us into foxholes.
He also sent the construction details. See this LINK. |
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Dan Lender writes:
My oldest son asked me to build him an additional base kitchen cabinet. After talking with him and his wife, they decided that it had it be portable. |
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| The final cabinet size is 24” deep x 36” wide x 36” tall. The cabinet box is made from UV white birch ply and the drawer front, door frames, end-panel frames and face frame are made from poplar wood. |
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| The top is hard maple and the door and end-panel center panels are made with MDF. The three drawers are made from ½” Baltic birch ply and have dovetail joinery. |
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| The pull-out soft close trash drawer mechanism is from Rev-A-drawer. The drawers were sprayed with 1-1/2# cut shellac, the countertop was sprayed with Sherwin Williams Sher-wood Hi-Bild pre-cat lacquer, and the outer surfaces were painted with Sherwin Williams Sher-wood Kem Aqua plus white. |
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Bob Schindler writes:
Here is my third attempt at a 3D cutting board. My first two attempts resulted in 3.33 bf of walnut, 3.33 bf of cherry and 2.5 bf of hard maple being destroyed (or in the dust collector) due to trying to learn how to use my bandsaw. This one isn’t quite perfect but I will take it. |
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| Paul Bailey submitted this item also. |
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Long-time member Ethan Sincox is the Technical Editor of Quercus Magazine and will be having an article in future issues. The magazine is designed for those working wood by hand. Check it out at https://quercusmagazine.com/
To get tips from Ethan and see what he is working on, check out The Kilted Woodworker on Facebook. |
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| Scott Grove has a newsletter and videos on Creative craftsman techniques that may pique some Member’s interest. Click this LINK for more info! |
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| Here is a link to a site that lists safety recall notices for woodworking tools. LINK |
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SLWG Surplus Woodworking Equipment SALE
No items to be posted in August. Stay Tuned.
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Guild (Picnic) Tour
The Guild “picnic” tour has been scheduled for September 26 at David Stine Furniture. ( Due to the pandemic, we are going to forgo the eating so everyone can keep a mask in place.) Dave Stine made a presentation at a regular guild meeting about a year ago, for those who remember. His shop is north of Grafton, Illinois between Alton and Jerseyville, almost exactly 45 minutes from Clayton. See his website for the furniture he builds – https://www.stinewoodworking.com/. More information to follow as we work out the details.
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COMMUNITY
St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
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| Hal Donavan and Vickie Berry were at Faust Park to collect toys as announced for the Toy Program this month. Next Pick-Up will be notified by general email. |
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Toy Committee Update
The Toy Committee continues to not have a need to collect more shop-made toys at this time. We do appreciate what you have done in the past and look forward to your efforts again. We have experienced a decline in the need for toys, compared to this time last year. Shriners Hospital for Children has indicated that they would like to delay receiving more toys until the end of September due to a decline in patients. We have developed a three-month collection/distribution plan and anticipate collecting toys from you again in October 2020. An emailing will be sent giving details for the collection when the date gets closer.
If you would like to contribute in a different way, consider making a more complex larger toy for the Toys-for-Tots St. Louis Program. You are encouraged to finish these toys with bright colors for the holidays. The Committee will be collecting your toys mid-October/November 2020.
Please look at the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild Woodworkers class events. Bill Schuchat will be leading a Toys-for-Tots Build Day event on August 30. Sign-up now if you are interested.
Dan Lender
Toy Committee Chair
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| You Asked…
I wasn’t able to bring my toys to the August Toy Pick Up – will there be another opportunity?
Yes, we expect to have at least one more collection day before the end of the year. We have enough toys for our delivery to regular hospitals and agencies through the end of the year – so, we encourage members to make toys specific for Toys for Tots.
Vickie Berry has volunteered to act as a collection point for members during the rest of August for those that want to contribute before 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. |
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Collected
August — 393
YTD — 3,926
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Delivered
August — 1,322
YTD — 2,970
Since 1994 — 72,832!*
*No Deliveries March-July
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2020 Toy Program Major Contributors
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Over 1000 Club
Wayne Humphrey -1,142
Over 750 Club
Bill Meuth – 801
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Over 100 Club
Rich Sanders – 254
Linda Turner – 217
Vickie Berry – 208
Keith Lissant – 169
Bob Baird – 154
Bill Schuchat – 141
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2020 Target and Challenge
Progress towards our 2020 targets:
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| Target for Delivered Items: 7,138 |
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41% ACHIEVED
Reduced demand due to the Pandemic
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| 22% Member Participation Target |
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11% ACHIEVED
26 Members so far
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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:
Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition
Mercy Children’s Hospital St. Louis
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Rockwood School District |
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Dan Lender
Paul Bailey
Vickie Berry
Hal Donovan
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Steve Mettes
Bill Schuchat
Rick Weitzman
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| Please contact us with comments, suggestions or if you need to arrange pickup or delivery of toys. |
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Bring Me A Book Team News
It is important for our Members to know even though we are not building boxes at this time, the BMABStL program is still providing books to kids and exploring additional partnerships to continue distributing books and book boxes in the future.
Hopefully, we will be building boxes before too much longer. Stay tuned.
Tom Tierney
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As of April 30, 2020
Unassembled Box Kits ready for members to pick up 0
Undistributed Book Boxes on Hand 8
Book Boxes Collected and in QC 14
Book Boxes Completed and Delivered to BMABStl
since beginning of program in April 2018 1045
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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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Upcoming Classes
Shaker Oval Boxes
Jay Noffsinger will lead a two (2) day class on making Shaker Oval Boxes. The workshop will be conducted in Jay’s personal shop located at 2073 Bowler Road, O’Fallon Illinois 62269.
Classes will be held on two consecutive Saturdays (August 22nd and August 29th) from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Cost includes all required materials.
Students are required to bring wire snips, tack hammer and a sharp “Exacto” knife.
Each student will construct three different size boxes which they can keep.
Click to sign up for Shaker Oval Boxes class HERE. To provide Social Distancing for the above class, it will be limited to a maximum of 5 participants.
Toys for Tots Building Classes
Bill Schuchat will lead classes for building “Toys For Tots” to donate to the US Marine’s program for the Christmas Holiday season. The classes will be on August 30 at the Faust Park Guild Shop. Each class will be 4 hours long and will be offered twice that day (8 AM and 1 PM). The Toy Committee will collect for the TFT campaign later this year.
Each participant will be able to choose between two plans: A Toddler Rocking Horse which is on the SLWG toy patterns or a Child’s Walker Tricycle. See pictures below. For industrious members, you can do both projects.
Plans and materials will be furnished.
When you register, please send an email to Bill at wschuchat@gmail.com and let him know which plan, or if you want to build both, so he can have sufficient materials for everyone.
Both projects will require work beyond the class time to complete. Bill will be available post class if you have questions. Click to sign up for Toys for Tots morning class HERE
Click to sign up for Toys for Tots afternoon class HERE
To provide Social Distancing at the Faust Park Shop, each class period will be limited to a maximum of 4 participants.
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| The Toddler Rocking Horse is a straightforward project built from 1x pine for the body and rockers and ¾” hardwood plywood for the head. Bandsaw or scroll saw work is required. It is assembled with glue and screws. Wood, dowels and screws will be furnished. |
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| The Child’s Walker Tricycle is a little more complicated. It will be made from poplar hardwood and has 3 parts that require glue-up from 4/4 stock followed by lathe work. If you do not want to turn these pieces, an alternative plan is available for assembly from dowels, however, materials for this alternate will not be furnished. Axles are 5/16” threaded rod. It is also assembled with glue and screws. (Note: all 4/4 materials, axles, nuts, washers, screws, 3/8” dowels, and ¼” plywood will be furnished.) |
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SketchUp Classes
As a follow up to the SketchUp class that was held on June 4, an email was sent to all Guild members to see how much interest that there is in a follow up class(es). 19 members have indicated interest in more classes with about a 50:50 split in interest in Beginner Classes versus Advanced Classes.
A skills survey was sent to these 19 members to find out how much everyone knows; results of that survey are still filtering in. [If you received one of these surveys, please send it in ASAP.]
Alex Gerberding has volunteered to teach a more advanced SketchUp class in Mid September. Exact date TBD.
If you are interested in SketchUp and have not indicated this to Bill, notify him at vicepresident@slwg.org and you will be added to the SketchUp group. |
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Faust Park Workshop Information
SEE SHOP MANAGER’S LETTER ABOVE FOR 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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September Shop Hours
September 8 & 9 10 am – 2 pm
September 12 & 13 9 am – 5 pm
September 15 & 16 10 am – 2 pm
September 19 & 20 9 am – 5 pm
September 26 9 am – 5 pm
Make Checks for Safety Class payable to SLWG and attendees must bring their current Guild membership card.
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Next Shop Safety Class
When:
Thursday, October 1, 6:30 PM
Where:
Faust Park Workshop
Duration:
Plan for 3 Hours
Cost:
$20 for Current Members
Link to Safety Class Signup and Directions to the shop on the SLWG website HERE. Limit of 4 per class. |
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| GUILD MEMBERSHIP
Annual Dues Renewals
Annual membership renewal is available online with PayPal (preferred, as this speeds up the check-in process at the meeting) or at the meeting when you sign in.
If you are coming to the meeting and want to avoid a long line, put your funds in an envelope with your name on it and what you are paying for. You can just drop it at the table and not have to wait in line.
Current membership status is required for use of the Faust Park Shop.
Annual Membership Dues:
Basic Membership $40 (4 uses of the Guild Shop during 2020)
Full Shop Membership $75 (Unlimited use of the Guild Shop during 2020)
A basic membership entitles the member to four uses of the Guild Shop during the 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
Just Complete & Return This Application!
Or, bring the completed form to the next meeting and Join right there!!! Cash, checks, PayPal or credit cards accepted. |
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| WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
Matt Creighton
Chase Mateusiak |
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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:
Wayne Humphrey – 314-440-2173
Vice President:
Bill Schuchat – 314-406-1823 |
Secretary:
Adam Connors – 314-495-1772
Treasurer:
Tom Tierney – 314-412-1817 |
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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 |
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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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