A Great Read

As a woodturner I like to learn skills and techniques from others, whether it be in-person demonstrations, videos, books or articles. Always looking for a good woodturning magazine I found Woodturning from GMC Publications in the UK. Woodturning has well written articles on techniques, tool tests, safety, education opportunities and more. This month’s issue includes articles on steady rests, using pedestals on work, evaporative finishes, fundamentals of hollow turning and more.

Another standard feature is called Community Links, where the editors look for interesting woodturning content on the internet. As it turns out this months Community Links includes Eric Lofstrom’s site. The description says “His website is a rich visual feast as well as having lots of resource material that he has generated for turners to download, covering subjects such as translucent bowls, square-rimmed work, sharpening and much more.” If you are looking for a great resource I recommend Woodturning magazine.

p.s. Neither I nor the South Puget Sound Woodturners receives any compensation as a result of this post. Figured someone would ask.

demonstrator / finishing / Jigs / Lathes / techniques / tools

June Demonstrator – Fred Abeles

Fred AbelesFred was born and raised in Seattle, graduated from Seattle’s Queen Anne High School, attended the University of Washington and studied professional photography at Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. He has been married to his wonderful wife Donna for 53 years, has two sons Kevin and Ken and is a grandparent to 7 wonderful grandchildren and great grandparent to 3.

Fred has been woodworking most of his life and got interested in wood turning about 15 years ago when he watched John Swanson demonstrate pen turning at the Puyallup Fair.

He was hooked at that point and began gathering all of the tools necessary. He practiced, practiced and practiced.

He watched many demonstrations over the next few years and practiced, practiced and practiced. He made gifts for all of his family and friends but couldn’t stop there. He began selling his wares to friends and fellow workers, Saturday markets and Holiday Bazaars and has continued to do so.

Fred owned Kent Photography, a professional photography studio for 25 years followed by 18 years at Microsoft as the technical manager for Microsoft’s Visitor Center. He retired six years ago and is currently a part-time sales associate at Woodcraft of Seattle sharing his passion and hobby.

Fred’s demonstration will be pen making from start to finish including drilling of the blank, gluing the brass tube, shaping the pen on the lathe and finish sanding. He will then show you a new method of spray finish and final buffing and assembly of the pen.

Fred hopes that you enjoy his demonstration and that you are able to pick up some new tips and techniques.

AAW / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturner profile / woodturning events

New AAW Policy on Fractal Burning

The AAW has posted this information on its website at woodturning.org

The AAW and Board value your chapter’s continued collaboration and support.

In the spirit of sharing, this Chapter Bulletin is intended to notify you and your chapter about two important AAW policy initiatives: a) a policy on fractal burning (also known as “Lichtenberg Burning”), which advocates safety and helps to protect lives, and, b) a revised AAW Privacy Policy to clarify sharing AAW membership information with chapter officers is authorized for AAW business purposes. We also request your support to recruit reviewers for Video Source and are happy to announce the city for the 2019 Symposium.

POLICY ON FRACTAL BURNING
The AAW has always been a faithful advocate for woodturning safety. Recently, the subject of fractal burning has been in the news because of another tragic death.

The AAW Safety Committee has studied the issue and concluded there may be a distinct influencing benefit in adopting a policy against the use of Fractal Burning and publicizing it immediately to chapters and members. As a result, it was recommended that the AAW Board adopt a new policy against the practice, which was unanimously approved on May 17, 2017. The new policy is as follows:

It is the policy of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) that the process known as Fractal Burning is prohibited from being used in any AAW-sponsored events, including regional and national symposia, and that AAW-chartered chapters are strongly urged to refrain from demonstrating or featuring the process in chapter events. Further, the process of Fractal Burning shall not be featured in any written or online AAW publication, except for within articles that warn against its use. AAW publications will not accept advertisements for any products or supplies directly related to the process.

Additionally, the Safety Committee recommended that an article be published in the August 2017 issue of American Woodturner to highlight the dangers of the practice and publicize the new AAW policy.

AAW / Message / safety / techniques

Discover Woodturning

The AAW has developed a a new online learning portal to introduce the art and craft of woodturning to the general public. The portal enable people to learn about woodturning, its origins, appeal and how to get started. There is information on wood essentials, safety and shop tips as well as access to a large number of videos and a coming gallery. If you know someone that you want to introduce to woodturning you can send them to the Discover Woodturning Portal.

BTW, SPSW member and woodturning demonstrator/teacher Eric Lofstrom contributed to the Discover Woodturning Portal.

AAW / safety / woodturners

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Woodturners in Beaverton, Oregon will be meeting on June 1st. Lloyd Johnson will be discussing the trends in segmented woodturning.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley are meeting on June 1st. The topic for the evening is jigs and members are encouraged to bring their own jigs to share your design.

The Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild in Abbotsford, B.C., will be meeting on June 1st. This will be a hands-on night focused on turning platters.

The Willamette Valley Woodturners in Salem, Oregon will be meeting on June 8th. Al Stirt will be the demonstrator for the evening.

The Seattle Woodturners are meeting on June 8th. World renowned turner Glenn Lucas will be the demonstrator for the evening. Glenn will also be holding three hands-on workshops – which are all full, and on June 10th Glenn will be doing an all-day demonstration at the Paccar Auditorium on the Bellevue Community College campus.
The South Coast Woodturners in CoosBay, Oregon will be meeting on June 10th. The program for the day has not been announced.

The Southwest Idaho Woodturners Association in Boise, Idaho will be meeting on June 13th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Northwest Washington Woodturners in Mt. Vernon will be meeting on June 15th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Cascade Woodturners in Portland, OR, will be meeting on June 15th. This meeting will feature club members showing nifty tricks and gizmos that don’t cost a bunch of money and make it easier or more fun to turn.

The Woodturners of Olympia will be meeting on June 22nd. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Beaver State Woodturners in Beaverton Oregon will be meeting on June 22nd. Nick Stagg will be demonstrating the Basic Bowl: Curves, Cuts and Technique.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island is holding their next meeting on June 24th. Jason Marlow, a long-time professional studio woodturner, will present an all-day demonstration.

The Strait Turners in Sequim, WA are meeting on June 27th at the Gardiner Community Center. Brad Stave will be demonstrating hollow vessels.

The Southwest Washington Woodturners will be meeting on June 28th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners will be meeting on June 28th. Ralph Lindberg will be demonstrating Holding Wood on the Lathe.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild in Vancouver, B.C. will be meeting on June 29th. Dan Gadassi will be demonstrating Marbling on Wood.

AAW / chapter profile / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturner profile / woodturning events

May Demonstrator – Eric Lofstrom

Eric Lofstrom, has been a SPSW chapter member since 2002. Eric will be demonstrating how to turn a Square-Ripple Bowl. Eric is a woodturning artist, demonstrator, passionate teacher and private instructor who is excited about the creative process and exploring the quest for clean forms and “pure” curves. Eric enjoys turning all styles of pieces – anything from pens, peppermills, fitted-lid boxes, utilitarian bowls and serving utensils, to sculptural one-of-a-kinds!

Thursday evening:

Square-Ripple Bowl: During this demonstration, Eric will create a bowl with an outward flowing square rim. Created from a square-corner blank with basic turning tools, this project will showcase the bowl gouge, finishing scrapers, and several methods of mounting a facegrain blank to the lathe for turning. He will emphasize tool control and creating a flowing form, while aiming for the cleanest cuts possible from my tools. The square-winged bowl demonstration is sure to tease your mind and resonate with your imagination!

Visit Eric’s website for a description of his woodturning experience, look at his Bio page: http://ericlofstrom.com/bio/

Photos can be found in the gallery section of his website: http://ericlofstrom.com/gallery_photos/

AAW / demonstrator / members / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturner profile / woodturning events