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”.

Always entertaining, Doug is a reliable Member Demonstrator SPSW. His past contributions include Wood Stabilization (June 2022) and Chucks, Chucks and More Chucks (May 2024). Both of which may be found in the members only portion of our SPSW website under demonstration videos. In his latest rendition coming to the SPSW stage on February 19, 2026, Doug will share key insights for making a John Beaver type Wave Bowl. One of his goals is to demonstrate less involved techniques most of us could deploy in our own shops to safely cut a round object in half… You don’t want to miss this one, there might even be a golden reward at the end of the rainbow.

Rick Rich is a professional woodturner from Clark County, Washington. He is proud to be a founding member, and current president, of the SW Washington Woodturners. Rick is also a member the Cascade Woodturners Association in Portland, OR, the Northwest Woodturners of Tualatin, OR and the American Association of Woodturners. His strong preference is spindle turning, but he includes faceplate turning, bowls, small tabletops, dishes, and like items in his repertoire.

Rick’s description says, ‘This unique desk toy has a top which eventually tips over and stays on the tower, ready for the next spin.’ On Jan 15th, 2026, he will also demonstrate making a traditional spinning top with a small bowl to spin it in. This demo focuses on tool use techniques and exploring precision turning. No specialized tools are used—just the standard equipment most turners already have. Get ready to enjoy a fun and unique toy turning demo!

Due to a power outage at the Allmendinger Center in December, it was necessary to cancel our Holiday Party. We would like to invite you to our newly scheduled Holiday Party, “Turning Resolutions in 2026”.

Date: January 8, 2026 Time: 6pm*
Place: Allmendinger Center in Puyallup

What to expect:

Potluck food assignments by last name

• A—I: Main Dish
• J—P: Salad/Side Dish
• Q—Z: Dessert

Gift Exchange: Does not have to be a turned piece, but exchanging wood turned items is okay. No gag gifts, please. (“My favorite wood turned piece in my home isn’t something I turned.” ~Pat McCart)

General Raffle Tickets given 1 per membership

Help tin ticket raffle for prizes. If you have not filled out your ticket for helping this year, please make sure you get your name in the tin.
Pick up your 2026 meeting schedule.

Bring your BEST TURNED Piece for 2025 to show. All Skill levels encouraged to bring your best work this year. Item must be started and completed in 2025.
If you are brand new to turning or are a first year member with the SPSW, we encourage you to come and participate, let me know who you are because we have something just for you.

*We would never turn away a helping hand on the 8th. We can always use some help to set up the facility to greet our guests. We need help moving around tables and chairs before (@5pm) and after. Taking out the trash is a biggie at the end of the night. We will also be setting up tables for the raffle and helping hands drawing and a special table for our 2025 President’s Challenge Winner Display.

p.s. This does not replace the regularly scheduled January meeting/demonstration. Stay tuned for the January Newsletter for more details on that.

Here are the details:

• Potluck food assignments by last name
o A—I: Main Dish
o J—P: Salad/Side Dish
o Q—Z: Dessert
• Gift Exchange: Does not have to be a turned piece, but exchanging wood turned items is okay. No gag gifts, please. (“My favorite wood turned piece in my home isn’t something I turned.” ~Pat McCart)
• General Raffle Tickets given 1 per membership
• Help tin ticket raffle for prizes. If you have not filled out your ticket for helping this year, please make sure you get your name in the tin.
• Pick up your 2026 meeting schedule.
• Bring your BEST TURNED Piece for 2025 to show. All Skill levels encouraged to bring your best work this year. Item must be started and completed in 2025.
• If you are brand new to turning or are a first year member with the SPSW, we encourage you to come and participate, let me know who you are because we have something just for you.

In the beginning, sharpening is a mystery for all of us turners. For some, it remains a mystery for much longer than need be. Learning to sharpen your tools is as critical as learning to ride the bevel.

Fortunately for South Puget Sound Woodturners members who attend our November meeting, our own Director of Mentoring, Mike Poirier, will be on stage to de-mystify sharpening. He will fill the evening with information and key insights on different sharpening systems, jigs and techniques. He will show how he uses these tools to produce a sharp edge. Bring your questions.

This is a fun and simple project to experiment with multi-axis turning. These weed pots are miniature versions of the large vases I show in my multi-axis vase and spout off vase demos. They are turned using many of the same concepts, without the complexity of having to hollow out a vessel. As an added plus, they can be done on almost any size lathe. Optionally, this demo can also cover regular weed pots, which are a great exercise for those new to turning as a practice in spindle work and help in creating shapes and forms that are pleasing to the eye.

You can download the demo handout here.

• Club member Jim Robson will be demonstrating how he turns ornaments including tree and bulb shaped ornaments. He will cover materials and prep of the blank, tools needed, mounting the blank, turning the blank, sanding and finishing;

   

• Club Member Ethan Green will be demonstrating how he turns Mini-Hollow Forms with a bery cool mini-hollowing kit he has assemb.ed with simple components purchased online. Attendees will oearn about the tools used as well as the techniques for working through a 1/4″ hole to hollow these miniture delights;

   

• SPSW Webmaster Tim Spaulding will be available to aid club members with access to the SPSW website and the Member’s Only section. Do bring your own computer if you need assistance;

   

   

• Club Member John Howard and the Club Store Sales Team will be on hand to help you stock up on shop supplies. Support the SPSW club through your supply purchases;

   

   

   

• Club Member Devin Garlick will be heading up the wood sales table. Support the SPSW club through your wood purchases;

   

   

   

• Club Member Jimmie Allen his storefront of D-Way and BoxMaster tools for the ease of shopping for your favorite woodturner’s critical needs.