Thanks everyone for a good meeting.  Despite our last-minute change in the demos, it was pretty successful. 

Welcome to our meeting guests:  Jeff Wright, David Cusick, and Mr. And Mrs  Pat Neil fromKent, England.

Jeff is our newest member, joining at our meeting last week. Welcome Jeff!

We need a couple of mentors for Jeff and David.  Just to spend a few hours with either of them and get them pointed in the right direction.  Please call or email me if you will have some time to arrange some tutoring.  I’ve got one weekend free this month (the 17^th-18^th) because of business travel (guess where I have to go again), But I will likely try to get to at least one of our new turners for some one-on-one time.  If you can do the same, please let me know. 

From what I understand, Wayne Dawson did an awesome job with the “Turning 101” class on the Skew.  Thanks Wayne for taking that on.  A lot of what Wayne discussed on sharpening and honing the skew will be re-taught next month when our demo is on tool sharpening.  More on that in a little bit.

I won’t be making a trip to the “free wood store” (the St. Pete Brush disposal sites) this month, but don’t let that stop you from going.  This is a great place to find wood for no cost, so take advantage of it!  If you find something that’s a little too big for your lathe, that’s OK.  Bring it to the meeting with you.  Here’s why:

June’s “Turning 101”

We’ve had a number of requests from folks with mini lathes to help them out finding wood that they could turn.  Seems like most of the stuff we are auctioning at our monthly meetings is too big for them.  So rather than have a class for the 101 session in June, we are going to offer up some “milling” time.

I will bring a chainsaw  - and I am hoping that a few more of the our experienced members will do the same – and we will cut up whatever logs you may want to bring and turn them into blanks that will fit your lathe.

Just a few requests: 

1) don’t bring a whole downed tree on a trailer and expect anyone to cut it up for you – just a few pieces per person that may need some trimming or sizing.

2) Nothing over 28” in diameter

3) You will need to bring your own safety glasses if you are going to be near the cutting area.

4) If you have some wood to share for the auction, that would be appreciated. 

Last month’s Turning challenge was “Candlesticks” and we had some great designs and a whole variety of offerings.

Lee Ketchum won the challenge with a very beautiful design which he made using Stuart Mortimer’s spiraling techniques. Lee took home the challenge trophy and two Satin Nickel Euro pen kits.  Congratulations, Lee!

Next Month’s Turning Challenge will be salt and pepper shakers (not grinders or mills!).  These offer up their own set of unique challenges and “design opportunities” so let’s see what our members can come up with. 

The “Bring Back” raffle - Two beautiful miniature goblets by Wayne Dawson - was won by Steve Dicenso.  

Next month, Steve gets to make something for the raffle.

Next Month’s DEMO will be on sharpening and honing, and will be a hands-on demo.  We will have two grinders set up for both freehand and Wolverine-jig sharpening, plus a new “Jool-Tool” sharpening demonstration by Bob Winter.  There will also be a demonstration on honing using hand-held diamond honers.

Members can bring a tool or two to try the sharpening techniques being taught on the Wolverine systems.

I will be gone for the last two weeks of May.  I can be reached by email any time, but it may be difficult to reach me by phone during that time.

See you at the June 5^th meeting!