Our chapter is once again giving demonstrations at the Washingto State Fair. Our coordinator for this year is Ramon Lyn. Volunteers get 2 Fair admissions and free parking. If you would like to join us for demonstrating you can sign up here.
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Latest Demo Videos
The latest deomnstrations, Kathleen Duncan with Trembleurs and Devin Garlick with Wood Harvest for Interesting Figure, are now up in the members area under Demonstrator Videos.
July Membership Meeting – Devin Garlick
Our July demonstrator will be none other than our own Devin Garlick who is currently in his first year leading our chapter’s Wood Rats Team. Devin’s presentation will be Optimal Wood Harvest for Interesting Figure. During Devin’s demonstration he will guide our members using his woodturner’s eye as he presents various tree features that yield desirable and interesting figure. Are you able to see the bowl or vase inside the turning blank or even the freshly cut log? Devin can. He will share his knowledge and experience for seeing the figure inside the tree solely based on what can be observed on the outside of the tree. Knowing the tree species is also useful for predicting the appearance of the grain and other characteristics. And with our annual picnic and wood auctions later this month you won’t want to miss this informative demonstration.
June Membership Meeting – Kathleen Duncan
We are pleased to welcome Kathleen Duncan back to share her experience, skills and knowledge with us on June 18th. This time she will demonstrate making a Trembleur, also known as a trembler. Many of you might be scratching your head and wondering what on earth is a trembleur. Well, a trembleur is a very long, very thin spindle turning with a series of ornamental elements added in for fun along the length of the piece. In this case very long means 30” or even 42”+ if the lathe is long enough. Thin means 3/16”, 1/8” or even 1/16” in diameter between each of the ornamental elements. 
These whimsical turnings require focus, a few simple tricks to keep things steady, and a childlike imagination. Trembleurs fall near the difficult end and certainly at the most ridiculous end of ornate spindle turning capping the space that includes Magic Wands and Finials. All these take practice to master but are well within the potential of most turners interested in spindle turning.
Kathleen will share what she calls “Soft Hands” needed to be successful in this endeavor. She will also discuss and demonstrate the small tools that work well for these spindle projects as well as some simple but essential jigs called “string steadies”.
May 2026 Membership Meeting
Ethan Green is a talented woodturner who enjoys ignoring convention when the opportunity arises. His work ranges from simple well-made small bowls to technically challenging thin-walled vessels with nicely positioned wild organic openings and features. He often seeks unique, highly contrasting wood that will highlight and be highlighted by the predetermined form he intends to make. For our May meeting Ethan will demonstrate how to turn a multi-axis lidded box.
