The President's Corner - November 2012

Steve's Shavings

If you did not attend the October meeting you missed some special events. Pete Bucki conducted a rapid paced auction consisting of 2 woodworking related items. The money raised from the auction helps defray the increasing material costs of Toys for Tots. Be sure to participate in the auction at the November TWA meeting.

Once again, Jeff Leimberger, Program Chair, came through with yet another outstanding and engaging program from a local artisan - Jon Turner, luthier from Chapel Hill. Jon gave a hands on demonstration of the special techniques, jigs, and forms necessary to build a quality acoustic string instrument. I continue to be amazed at the quality of woodworking artisans in the Triangle area. If you know of others, please let Jeff know for possible future programs.

October continues as one of my favorite months. The weather is cooler, the leaves are turning vibrant hues, it is my birth month, and the NC State Fair comes to town for eleven days. I have been attending the State Fair for over 60 years and one of my favorite stops is the Village of Yesteryear in the Holshouser Building where numerous craftsmen and artisans share their skills. I visited several “woodworkers” demonstrating their craft including: Paul Rolfe, woodcarver; Bill Wallace, woodturner; Keith Hartman, wooden folk toy maker; Max Woody, chair maker; and Jason Lonon, wood & iron worker, from whom I ordered some holdfasts. By the way, if you are 65 or older, admission is free and it only costs $2 for a round trip shuttle bus ticket. In 2013, plan on attending the NC State Fair and be sure to visit the artisans at the Village of Yesteryear.

This is also the time of year when the new woodworking shows begin on TV. Of course, WUNC/PBS (Broadcast Ch. 4 and TWC Ch. 170 or 172) carries some of the most informative shows. Below is a listing of the Fall 2012 woodworking lineup:

• The Woodwright’s Shop with Roy Underhill, appears on Saturday from 3:30-4:00 and Tuesday from 4:30-5:00. Roy has done approximately 390 shows over 31 seasons preaching the craft of woodworking with human powered tools.
• American Woodshop with Scott Phillips has been on PBS for 19 years and appears on Thursday from 9:30-10:00 and 2:30-3:00. Scott shares his unique woodworking style using both hand and power tools.
• Woodsmith Shop will begin it’s sixth season on PBS and this 30 minute show appears on Tuesday at 4:30 and Saturday at 3:30. This show focuses on power tool jigs and shortcuts when building projects.
• Rough Cut with Tommy MacDonald, who was trained at the famous North Bennet Street School, airs Thursdays at 10:30 & 3:30, then on Saturdays at 3:00. Tommy Mac continues in the fine tradition begun by Norm Abrams, New Yankee Workshop on WGBH Boston.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I am most thankful that I can join in fellowship with woodworkers at the monthly meeting and occasional workshop of the Triangle Woodworkers Association.
Look forward to seeing you at the next TWA meeting on November 13, 2012.

Now, let’s go make some wood shavings,

President: Steve Steinbeck